Oral cancer is one of the types of cancer which occurs in the mouth. White or red patches on the lips, bleeding sores, and earache are some of the signs of oral cancer. It can affect your lips, gums, cheeks from inside, tongue, etc. This mostly occurs in men as compared to women. If it is not treated in time, it can spread to the head and neck, which may create serious complications in the future. With HealthCheckbox, international patients can get oral cancer treatment in India, Thailand, Dubai and many other countries by highly skilled oral healthcare experts who provide safe and personalised care.

Who is Affected by Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer can affect any person but it mainly affects men who are more than forty years of age. It is more likely to happen in men as compared to women. Here are some of the reason who have a higher chance of oral cancer:

A person who consumes tobacco.
Those people who are addicted to alcohol consumption.
If a person is infected with HPV.
Poor oral health conditions may also contribute to this.
If a person has a family history of oral cancer.
An individual who is consuming immunosuppressive drugs.
An individual infected with HIV.

Types of Oral Cancer

Check out the types of oral cancer below.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A very common type of oral cancer which appears as a red and white patch on the sides of the tongue, inside cheeks, gums and on the lips.
Verrucous Carcinoma: A rare type of mouth cancer which appears as a thick and wart like cauliflower shaped on the gums, inner cheeks and tongue. It is mostly found in people who have habits of chewing tobacco.
Salivary Gland Cancers: A type of oral cancer which can occur in a large number of minor salivary glands or in parotid, submandibular and sublingual.
Oral Melanoma: It is a very rare but serious kind of cancer which appears in the upper gum in the colour of black or brown.
Lymphoma in the Mouth: This cancer occurs in the lymph tissue of the back of the mouth and is considered a very rare type of oral cancer.
Sarcoma: A very rare type of oral cancer which affects the soft tissue of the jawbone or cheek and appears as a lump that increases fastly or may lead to numbness.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Here are some of the common signs of oral cancer which you should consider:

Grey or white patches appear on the mouth or lips
Red patches with bleeding in the mouth
Rough spots on the lips, tongue or gums
Numbness, pain in the face
Difficulty in moving your jaw
Sudden weight loss
Unexplained pain in the ear
Chronic bad breath

Diagnosis for Oral Cancer

Different medical tests and checkups usually diagnose oral cancer. The process may include:

Physical Examination: The dentist conducts the examination of the mouth, tongue, etc., to check for any abnormalities, such as lumps, discoloured patches, etc.
Biopsy: If any suspicious areas are found during the Physical examination, then a biopsy will be performed. It is used to obtain a small sample of tissue for another analysis. This process sample is examined under a microscope by a pathologist to see if cancer cells are present.
Imaging Tests: Tests such as X-rays, CT scans and many other tests, which help to check the size of the cancer.
Endoscopy: In some cases the doctor will use a thin flexible tube with a tiny camera, which is known as an endoscope. It helps to check the inside of the throat and the food pipe clearly.
Blood Tests: These tests are done to see the patient’s overall health. and to find the signs which may be related to cancer.

Note: After knowing the oral cancer, the doctor may do more tests to find the stage of the cancer. After that they will decide the best treatment option.

Oral Cancer Treatment Procedure

The treatment of oral cancer is all depend on the stage and the location of the cancer. There are some common treatment methods given, including:

Surgery: With this process, the doctor will remove the cancerous tumour and some surrounding tissue to stop the cancer from spreading.
Radiation Therapy: They will be used high energy rays to destroy the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy: The doctor will give the anti cancer medicines to kill the cancer cells or slow down their growth.
Targeted Therapy: They give the special medicines that are targeted to specific cancer cells with minimal effects on healthy cells.
Rehabilitation and Follow-up Care: After completing the treatment process, the patients needed speech therapy, dental care or daily checkups for recovery to happen faster.

HealthCheckBox: Oral Cancer Treatment in India

At HealthCheckbox, we provide support for every patient seeking oral cancer treatment in India. This platform helps to you to connect with experienced doctors and hospitals for diagnosis, surgery, and post treatment care. India provides the modern cancer treatment facilities with advanced technology and skilled specialists at a comparatively low cost.