Immunotherapy for Cancer: Stages, Types, Side Effects
What To Know About Mouth Cancer And What It Looks Like
Mouth cancer can appear on the lips or anywhere in the mouth, including the tissues inside the cheeks, the tongue, and the gums. Mouth cancer may look like red, gray, or white patches of skin, thick growths, or sores that do not heal with time.
Mouth cancer is a type of head and neck cancer, and it often comes under the category of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
Oral cancer is cancer that starts in the mouth, or oral cavity, which includes the:
Cancer occurs when cancerous cells begin to reproduce and grow out of control. Cells virtually anywhere in the body may become cancerous, and the growth of cancerous cells may spread to other areas of the body.
Some signs of precancerous conditions may be indicators to see a doctor. In many cases, a person may have no noticeable symptoms at first.
In this article, we discuss the appearance of mouth cancer, its symptoms, and how to differentiate it from other conditions.
In the earliest stages of mouth cancer, many people experience no symptoms or mistake them for those of another condition. Regular checkups with the dentist may help identify any early warning signs.
Research suggests that more than 90% of cancers in the mouth are squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cells are flat cells that cover the surface of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Noticing a patch or thick tissue in these areas may be an early warning sign to see a healthcare professional for a diagnosis.
As cancer develops and progresses, a person may notice symptoms such as:
Oral cancer may appear differently based on its stage, location in the mouth, and other factors. Oral cancer may present as:
Dysplasia is a term that refers to the abnormal development of cells in tissues or organs. In adults, an increase in abnormal cell growth may suggest precancer.
Possible precancerous conditions for oral cancer may include:
Smoking and chewing tobacco are the most common causes of these conditions. Dysplasia will often go away if a person removes the causes, but there is not always a clear cause.
A biopsy is the only way to know whether the tissue contains precancerous or cancerous cells.
Most cases of leukoplakia do not develop into cancer. Erythroplakia and erythroleukoplakia are less common but usually more serious. Many of these lesions progress into cancer.
However, it is important to note that most oral cancers do not develop from preexisting lesions.
There are several types of oral lesions that can be concerning but are not signs of cancer.
Canker soresCanker sores are a common condition, with research suggesting that they may affect up to 20% of the general population. They are painful white lesions that occur in various areas inside the mouth.
Canker sores typically heal naturally within 2 weeks, whereas cancerous lesions do not go away with time.
Working with a healthcare professional may help a person identify their triggers of canker sores so that they can avoid them where possible.
Lichen planusOral lichen planus is chronic inflammation in the mucous membranes in the mouth. It causes white, lacy markings in the mouth, which are not similar to the patchy white marks of leukoplakia.
There is still debate regarding the association between lichen planus and cancer. However, some research suggests that people with lichen planus may have an increased risk of developing cancer of the lip, tongue, oral cavity, esophagus, and larynx.
Anyone with lichen planus should check in with their healthcare professional often for checkups and treatment.
Benign tumorsSome benign or noncancerous tumor-like growths may also occur in the mouth, including:
These noncancerous tumors and growths occur due to variations in different cells, and they have a variety of causes. While some may cause problems, they are unlikely to be life threatening. Typically, treatment for these growths involves surgery to remove them.
Anyone who is uncertain about their symptoms should see a healthcare professional if only to provide peace of mind. They may perform a physical exam to check for noticeable features of cancer. If necessary, they will order diagnostic tests.
Anyone with concerning symptoms, such as trouble chewing, swallowing, or breathing, should see a doctor immediately. Although cancer is not the only cause of these symptoms, they are concerning signs of an underlying issue.
Additionally, anyone noticing patches of tissue or growths in the mouth that do not go away with time should see a healthcare professional.
Learn more about early signs of oral cancer.
Here are some answers to questions people often ask about mouth cancer:
What are the signs of cancer in the mouth?Signs of cancer in the mouth include rough patches and painless bumps, lumps, or other tissue growths. People may also experience tissue of the mouth turning white, red, or gray. Mouth cancer may also involve open, oozing sores that do not seem to heal.
How long can you survive untreated mouth cancer?Whether or not a person has treatment for mouth cancer, various factors will affect the outlook. They include the stage at diagnosis, where the cancer starts, and other factors.
Overall, there is a 91% chance of surviving at least another 5 years after a diagnosis of mouth cancer that starts on the lip. Cancer of the lip has a better prognosis than other types of oral cancer.
If cancer that starts on the lip spreads to other parts of the body, however, the chance of surviving falls to 38%. If cancer starts on the floor of the mouth, the overall chance of survival for 5 years or longer is 53%, according to the American Cancer Society.
Is mouth cancer curable?Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The choice will depend on the individual and the stage of cancer. It is often effective. For people with early-stage mouth cancer that starts on the lip, there is a 94% chance of surviving at least another 5 years, if they have treatment.
Mouth cancer usually presents with distinctive symptoms and features, such as red or white patches in the mouth, changes in oral tissue, or difficulty chewing or swallowing.
While these symptoms are not unique to oral cancer, if they are persistent and do not heal over time, they may indicate cancer.
If people notice these or other concerning symptoms, they should see a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis provides a higher chance of successful treatment.
Throat Cancer: What To Know
There's no way to prevent throat cancer, but you can lower your risk by not smoking, drinking only in moderation if at all, and protecting yourself from HPV infection. (Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images)
Throat cancer is any cancerous tumor that grows in your throat or your voice box. Your throat, or pharynx, is muscular and starts behind your nose and stops in your neck. Your voice box, or larynx, is right under your throat. It's made of cartilage and contains vocal cords that allow you to speak.
About half of throat cancers happen in the throat itself, while the other half start in the voice box. Usually, cancer in your throat starts in the flat cells that make up your throat lining.
These diseases tend to grow quickly. That's why getting diagnosed and treated early on gives you the best chance to get rid of the cancer and keep a good quality of life. Learn as much as you can so you'll know what to expect.
Most types grow in the flat, thin cells that line the throat and voice box.
The two main types of throat cancer are:
Doctors break these groups down even further, identifying them by where they are. Pharyngeal cancer may happen in your:
Cancer can grow in the three parts of the voice box itself. Laryngeal cancer may happen in your:
Your doctor will tell you what stage your cancer is. This gives you an idea how much the cancer has grown and if it has spread to other parts of your body. The stage will help your doctor decide on the best treatment options for you. Each type of cancer has its own rules for staging, which describes how advanced the disease is.
Throat cancer has 5 stages:
Stage 0. You'll have abnormal cells in your throat that might become cancerous. Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ.
Stage I. Your cancer is in a very early stage. It is 2 centimeters or less in size and limited to your throat.
Stage II. Your tumor is 2-4 centimeters in size and hasn't spread to your lymph nodes.
Stage III. Your throat cancer is larger than 4 centimeters or it has spread to your nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV. Your cancer may be any size, but it has already spread to other places including:
Your throat cancer could be at any stage when it's first diagnosed. Many cases aren't caught until after throat cancer has spread to one or more nearby lymph nodes. Stage III and IV throat cancers are harder to treat and more likely to come back after treatment.
One of the challenges in medicine is that so many illnesses share the same symptoms. A plain sore throat or a cough usually isn't a big deal. More often than not, they go away on their own. But sometimes, they're symptoms of something more serious, such as throat cancer. When you have throat cancer you may have:
See your doctor right away if any symptoms last more than a few weeks. But keep in mind that many conditions that aren't cancer have these same symptoms.
What does throat cancer look like?
Usually, it doesn't look like much or will be hard to see. That's because throat cancer is usually in parts of your throat you can't easily see. They're usually small and may be under the surface. Only 20%-30% of people with this cancer will be able to see anything.
If you can see something, you may notice:
In most cases, your doctor will need to use a scope to see throat cancers. They'll look like a mass on one side of your neck.
Early throat cancer symptoms
Most people with early throat cancer don't have any symptoms. If you do, you may see a lump or mass on one side. Usually, it won't hurt, but sometimes you may have some pain in the back of your throat. You may also have trouble swallowing.
Nobody knows for sure why throat cancer happens, but some things can make it more likely. Like other cancers, it arises when cells in your throat pick up genetic changes that make them grow too much or spread to other places. Those rapidly growing cells can turn into a mass.
Many things can make throat cancer more likely, including:
Some other factors you can't change also influence your risk.
There are well over 100 kinds of HPV. About 40 of them can spread if you have sexual contact with another person's genitals, mouth, or throat. You can get oral HPV from oral sex. The more sexual partners you have, the more likely you are to get HPV and throat cancer. The infection goes away for most people in 1 or 2 years. But it doesn't always leave your system and can cause throat cancer years later.
Experts don't know if having HPV alone can lead to cancer, or if you have to have another risk factor for it to happen (like being a cigarette smoker). But it causes about 70% of oropharyngeal cancer in the U.S. Cases continue to grow here, and there are more cases of throat cancer in men than cervical cancer in women, which is also caused by HPV.
Getting the HPV vaccine can protect you from the types of HPV that can cause throat cancer. It may prevent it. Some evidence shows that there's possible herd immunity if enough people assigned female at birth get the vaccine. But it's still recommended for all young people. In the U.S., 54.5% of teens aged 13-15 got two or three doses.
You should get the HPV vaccine if you're:
You should get two doses spaced 6-12 months apart. If you start it later, you'll need a third dose. (Children can get the first dose as early as 9 years old.)
To prevent throat cancer from HPV:
Your doctor will examine you and ask about your general health, smoking and drinking habits, and sexual history.
They might use devices to get a closer look at your throat.
If the doctor thinks you may have cancer, they'll order tests and procedures depending on what kind they suspect. Here are some common ones:
A biopsy collects a tissue sample that gets examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells. It's the only way to know for sure if a tumor is cancer and what kind it is. The procedure may be done with surgery, fine needles, or an endoscope—a flexible tube with a camera that's lowered into the throat through your nose or mouth. A tool on the end will take the biopsy.
Imaging tests can help doctors find a tumor. They can also show how big it is and if it has spread. These include:
If cancer of the oropharynx is found, the sample may be tested for HPV. Usually, individuals diagnosed with this virus have a better health outlook than those diagnosed with smoking-related cancer.
How to check for throat cancer at home
If you think you're at risk for throat cancer, it's a good idea to check for it at home. But keep in mind that throat cancers are usually hard to see and may be hidden in parts of your throat you can't see. Not seeing throat cancer doesn't mean you don't have it. To check for throat cancer:
If you notice anything unusual that doesn't go away in a couple of weeks or gets worse or bigger, see your doctor.
Doctors will try to get rid of the tumor, keep the cancer from spreading, and protect your ability to swallow and speak as much as possible.
Your treatment will depend on:
You may have one or more treatments. Talk to your doctor about your options to decide which option you think is best for you. Treatment options include:
Radiation therapy
Radiation uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It's given outside your body by a machine, or inside by radioactive seeds planted near the cancer. Sometimes, radiation is the only treatment needed if your throat cancer is caught early. But it can be used with chemotherapy or surgery to treat more advanced stages of the disease.
Surgery
Surgeries to remove throat cancer will depend on where the cancer is and how advanced it is.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs can kill cancer and stop it from spreading. It may be used before surgery to shrink tumors, or after to keep the disease from coming back. Some chemo drugs can make radiation work better.
Targeted therapy
Targeted drugs can starve cancer cells by blocking substances they rely on to grow. For example, throat cancers often depend on a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). A drug called cetuximab works by targeting EGFR. Targeted drugs may be used together with radiation, chemotherapy, or other treatments.
Immunotherapy
Some immunotherapy drugs are approved for head and neck cancers, including throat cancers. They work by taking the brakes off your immune system so that it can help get rid of the cancer. You're more likely to use this if the cancer can't be removed with surgery or if other treatments don't work.
Rehabilitation
You may need other treatments to help after surgery or other treatment to remove or get rid of throat cancer. Your doctor may suggest you see specialists to help you:
Palliative or supportive care
Palliative care is focused on relieving pain or improving quality of life. Your doctor can prescribe medication to help you manage pain when you have cancer at any stage.
You can't prevent throat cancer. But you can take steps to lower your risk, including:
Having throat cancer and undergoing treatment is hard. You may have lasting side effects. But there's a lot you can do to live a long and happy life.
Throat cancer can be in your throat or voice box. It won't always be easy to tell if you have it, but to lower your risk you can take steps such as not smoking and protecting yourself against an HPV infection. Your treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or other medicines depending on how advanced your cancer is and where it is located.
Throat cancer can be curable, especially if it's caught early enough for a doctor to remove it with surgery. Ask your doctor what your outlook is based on your cancer.
The 5-year relative survival rate for cancer in the throat or larynx is about 60%-70% based on the most recent data. But recent treatment advances mean that your odds will be better. They also will depend on how advanced your cancer is.
Throat cancer symptoms can be similar to common conditions, such as colds, sinus infections, or allergies.
If you're worried you have signs of throat cancer or think you're at risk, you can try to look for signs of it at home. Keep in mind, however, that throat cancer doesn't always have symptoms and can be in places that are difficult or impossible to see without a scope or other tools. If you're worried you have throat cancer, see a doctor.
What Causes A Bump On The Roof Of The Mouth?
A bump or sore on the roof of the mouth can result from a burn or injury. It may also be a canker sore or cyst, or it may be a sign of an infection, such as candidiasis or hand, foot, and mouth disease.
In this article, learn what can cause a bump on the roof of the mouth, including possible additional symptoms and when to see a doctor.
Canker sores are round, whitish, open sores in the mouth. They more commonly appear on the inside of the lips or cheeks, but they can also form on the roof of the mouth, the gums, or the tongue.
The main symptom of a canker sore is pain. The sores are typically a few millimeters (mm) wide and have a sunken center with slightly raised, red edges. Some people may develop major canker sores, which can be 1–3 centimeters (cm) wide.
There are various causes of canker sores, including biting the cheek while chewing and scratching the roof of the mouth. They do not always appear due to injury. Stress can also be a contributing factor.
These sores usually resolve within a couple of weeks. They are not contagious, but they can be painful or uncomfortable and may make eating difficult.
Some over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription oral creams may numb the pain.
Hot beverages or foods that have just finished cooking can burn the inside of the mouth, including the roof. If the burn is severe enough, a bump or blister can form.
Minor burns usually heal without treatment as long as the person takes care to avoid irritating the sensitive skin.
Learn about how to treat a burn on the roof of the mouth.
The inside of the mouth is a sensitive area. Injury to the tissue on the roof of the mouth can lead to a bump forming.
This type of bump may result from:
An injury may cause scar tissue to form in the mouth, which might be lumpy and raised. The sore may be painful or sensitive but will usually heal on its own.
Regularly rinsing the mouth with warm salt water may help promote healing.
Cold sores occur when a person has a herpes simplex virus outbreak. The virus produces blisters on the lips and in the mouth. They may also form on the roof of the mouth.
The signs and symptoms of cold sores may include:
Unlike canker sores, cold sores are contagious. The outbreak usually clears up within one or two weeks without treatment, but it is important to avoid coming into close physical contact with anyone during that time to prevent transmitting the virus.
If necessary, a doctor may prescribe some medications to speed up the healing process.
Mucoceles are oral mucous cysts that form due to an irritated or inflamed salivary gland. Mucus builds up in the gland, leading to a round, fluid-filled bump or growth.
People usually develop a single mucocele, measuring 1 mm to 2 centimeters in diameter. They are dome-shaped lesions that have a clear or bluish hue.
Mucoceles are not usually a cause for concern and will heal without treatment. A healthcare professional can remove them if they keep coming back.
A very hard lump on the roof of the mouth may be a sign of torus palatinus. Torus palatinus is an extra bone growth that is typically benign and not indicative of an underlying condition.
It will not usually require treatment unless it causes discomfort and affects a person's ability to eat, drink, or talk. In these cases, surgery may be necessary.
Oral candidiasis is a form of yeast infection that may cause red or white bumps in the mouth. A person will be able to scrape these bumps off, but they will come back.
Other symptoms include:
It is vital to see a doctor or dentist to properly diagnose oral candidiasis, as the symptoms may mimic those of other conditions.
A doctor may prescribe oral antifungal medication that a person applies to the inside of the mouth for 1–2 weeks. They will also provide advice on how to prevent the infection in the future.
Coxsackievirus is the name of the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). HFMD is more common in young children, but it can affect anyone.
The virus can cause painful sores in the mouth. A rash can also develop on the hands and feet. Other symptoms include fever and body aches.
Doctors may prescribe medicated mouthwash to help relieve symptoms while they treat the virus.
A parent or caregiver may notice Epstein pearls in a newborn's mouth. These are also called gingival cysts.
Epstein pearls are white or yellow and will go away a few weeks after the birth without causing any additional problems.
Although rare, a bump in the top of the mouth may be an extra tooth. People with hyperdontia grow too many teeth.
In the upper jaw, these extra teeth can develop just behind other teeth, but sometimes they can appear further back toward the roof of the mouth.
A person with hyperdontia may experience pain in the area where the extra tooth is growing as well as jaw pain and headaches.
Hyperdontia is treatable, and dentists can usually remove any extra teeth without complications.
Oral squamous papilloma is benign growth that grow in the mouth. The commonly appear on the palate, lips, uvula, tongue, and gingiva. They develop as a result of the human papillomavirus.
These growths are usually 1 cm in size and painless. They can be pink or white in color and may have a bumpy, cauliflower-like texture.
A doctor may recommend removing oral squamous papilloma. This can help reduce the chance of recurrence.
In rare cases, sores or bumps on the roof of the mouth may be cancerous. Bumps that occur due to oral cancer may be white, gray, or bright red, depending on the underlying cause. They may feel smooth or velvety.
Possible signs of oral cancer include:
However, oral cancer is not the most likely cause of a bump on the roof of the mouth. Many people may confuse signs of oral cancer with other issues in the mouth.
It is crucial to give the sores time to heal. If a bump shows no signs of healing after 3 weeks, it is essential to speak to a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
This is particularly important for those who have risk factors, such as tobacco use.
While many bumps on the roof of the mouth will resolve without treatment, some may require medical intervention. A person should see a doctor for:
Anyone concerned about a bump on the roof of their mouth should speak with a doctor, who can help determine the underlying cause and recommend treatment if necessary.
There are many causes of a bump on the roof of the mouth. Some causes can include a canker sore, ulcer, trauma or injury to the mouth, and cold sores. Some bumps may be benign cyst, such as a mucocele.
However, in rare cases, the cause may be cancer. A person must contact a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.
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