What is Mouth Cancer
Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, is any cancer of the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, floor of the mouth, throat, the soft palate or the tonsils. For further information
Symptoms
Symptoms of Mouth Cancer are, not limited to but include, a sore or ulcer that does not heal, ear pain, a sore throat, bleeding in the mouth, swelling in the jaw and weakness of facial muscles. For further information
Treatment
There is two treatment routes for Mouth Cancer, surgery or radiation. The first, an invasive 12-hour surgery where the tumour is removed. A skin graft from your body is taken, and reconstructed to create a new part for your mouth where the tumour once was. Following this surgery, patients require many months of rehabilitation, speech therapy, occupational therapy; and, may need to learn (with the assistance of a speech pathologist) how to speak, eat and drink again. There is also the risk of infection or the skin graft not taking meaning multiple surgeries. The other option is radiation, often for quality-of-life reasons (i.e., to prolong the ability to eat, drink and speak), and for aesthetics and dignity reasons. For further information
Common Risks
There are some common risk factors which can increase the chance of being diagnosed with Mouth Cancer. These include; excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, a poor diet or poor oral hygiene. Other reasons for developing mouth cancer include a mouth ulcer that does not heal after three weeks, the HPV virus, or exposure to the sun. For further information
Incidence in Australia
In Australia approximately 2,500 people are diagnosed with Mouth Cancer each year. The statistics state this affects approximately 1 in 90 men, and 1 in 200 women. For further information