In France, the mouth cancer – or cancers of the Lip-Mouth-Pharynx (LBP) complex – affected 10,055 men and 3,637 women in 2018. While its most common symptoms may be sores inside the mouth, difficulty chewing or a swelling of the cheek, some can be confused with other less serious everyday pathologies, and do not push the patient to consult a doctor or a dentist (who can also carry out the diagnosis).
And yet, spotting the symptoms from the start of oral cancer will make it easier to treat it later. “Finding cancer early is crucial to beating the diseasesays Karen Coates of the Oral Health Foundation at MailOnline. Early detection increases chances of survival by 50% to 90%.”
If taken care of in time, the five-year survival rate is 80%. But some unknown symptoms could delay the diagnosis.
What are the risk factors for oral cancer?
If the tobacco and alcohol consumption are the major causes of the appearance of oral cancer, they can also result from genetic predispositions, germs such as the human papillomavirus (HPV), exposure to ionizing radiation or ultraviolet rays (sun, UV cabins) or to toxic substances such as wood dust or asbestos.
The risk of oral cancer is almost doubled in smokers and almost two out of three oral cancers are caused by cigarettes. Similar figures for alcohol. “Reducing alcohol consumption may also reduce your risk of seven different types of cancer, including oral cancer“says Dr Julie Sharp, Head of Health at Cancer Research UK.
Even if these unknown symptoms are not not always signs of oral cancer“it is important to tell your doctor or dentist if you notice any of these symptoms or anything else that is not normal for you“, concludes Dr. Sharp.
