Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the 6th most common type of human cancer with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50%, and its formation occurs in multiple steps.

In the majority of cases, a well-established, preventable risk factor is involved. Several potentially malignant disorders precede oral cancer, each of them showing a well-defined clinical presentation Oral cancer can form in any part of the mouth. Most oral cancers begin in the flat cells that cover the surfaces of your mouth, tongue, and lips.

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Symptoms & Complications
Risk Factors

Symptoms & Complications

Risk Factors

Past or current use of any form of tobacco
Heavy alcohol use
A lot of sun exposure
Fair skin
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
Lack of fruits and vegetables in your diet
Chronic mouth irritation, such as from dentures that aren't fitted correctly
Using betel quid or gutka chewing tobacco products
Some inherited conditions, such as Fanconi anemia
Weakened immune system

How is it diagnosed?

Tests may include:

Oral cancer is often found during routine dental exams. If your provider thinks you may have oral cancer, you'll need exams and tests to be sure. Your provider will ask you about your health history, your symptoms, risk factors, and family history of disease. An oral exam will be done. This includes looking at your head and neck, and checking inside your mouth. Your provider may also look at the back of your mouth and throat with small mirrors or with a thin, flexible, lighted tube. This tube is called a laryngoscope or a pharyngoscope. Based on the results, your healthcare provider may decide you need a biopsy to check for cancer.
A biopsy is the only way to confirm cancer. Small pieces of tissue are taken out and checked for cancer cells. Your results will come back in about 1 week.
After a diagnosis of oral cancer, you’ll need more tests. These help your healthcare providers learn more about your overall health and the cancer. They're used to find out the stage of the cancer. The stage is how much cancer there is and how far it has spread (metastasized) in your body. It's one of the most important things to know when deciding how to treat the cancer.

How is it treated?

Your treatment choices depend on the type of oral cancer you have, test results, and the stage of the cancer. The goal of treatment may be to cure you, control the cancer, or help ease problems caused by the cancer.

Oral cancer may be treated with:

Surgery (Oncoplastic surgery)
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
Supportive care

Consult with experienced Doctors

JNU is home to some of the most eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective arenas and are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary procedures