An overview of the common-sense steps you can take to lower your risk of oral cancer
What is mouth cancer?
Mouth cancer, also referred to as oral cancer or oral cavity cancer, affects the inside of the mouth. It can affect many different areas, including your lips, gums, tongue, the area below your tongue, the inner lining of your cheeks, and the roof of your mouth. The symptoms can be visible, such as a sore on your lip or mouth that lasts for many weeks without healing, a white or red patch in the interior of your mouth, or a growth or lump inside your mouth. It may also present as mouth or ear pain, or difficulty swallowing.
Oral cancer belongs to a broader category of head and neck cancers, which are very serious and often fatal. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most common cancers in the world. These cancers can also form in the throat, voice box, sinuses and nasal cavity, and salivary glands. Cancers that form in the oropharynx, which is a middle part of the throat, are called oropharyngeal cancer. Though the various kinds of head and neck cancers have distinct symptoms, there are common risk factors that make people more likely to develop them, and similar measures you can take to help lower your risk.
Can you prevent oral cancer?
While there is no proven way to prevent oral cancer, there are many basic, healthy lifestyle habits that greatly reduce your risk of developing the disease. The good news is, developing these habits doesn’t require any special equipment or expertise, and will contribute to your overall wellbeing. In addition to lowering your risk of various types of cancer, they’ll help you feel better on a day-to-day basis.
How to keep your mouth healthy
Avoid tobacco
One of the most crucial ways to limit your risk of oral cancer is to avoid smoking cigarettes (including e-cigarettes), cigars, and using other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco. The risk of getting oral or oropharyngeal cancer is significantly higher if you smoke. In fact, most people with these cancers have a history of using tobacco. Moreover, the more you smoke or chew, the higher your risk of developing oral cancer.
While the best way to help prevent head and neck cancers is to never start smoking tobacco in the first place, it’s never too late to make a healthy change. Even if you’ve been smoking tobacco for many years, quitting at any time can significantly lower your risk of developing oral cancer. This also applies to those who’ve already been diagnosed with cancer, as continuing to smoke while undergoing treatment can interfere with treatment, and result in more side effects and risk of infection.
Drink less alcohol
Drinking alcohol can greatly increase your risk of developing cancer in the mouth and throat, especially if you drink heavily and often.
Note that the combination of drinking and smoking is especially harmful, as drinking increases the cancer-causing effects of tobacco. People who both drink and smoke heavily have a roughly thirty times greater risk of developing head and neck cancer compared to people who do not drink or smoke.
Healthy nutrition
Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is a great way to help lower your risk of developing mouth and throat cancer. Studies have shown that fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of oral cancer. What’s more, quantity matters---making healthy foods a bigger proportion of your diet has more impact than only eating them occasionally. Experts recommend consuming five servings of produce per day.
Foods that contain carotenoid---a pigment that gives many fruits and vegetables their bright colors—can reduce cancer risk. Within that category, there are many vegetables to choose from depending on your preference, including carrots, squash, pumpkin, collard greens, sweet potato, leafy greens, tomatoes, and brussels sprouts. Fruits such as oranges, papayas, grapefruit, and cantaloupe also contain carotenoids.
Eating whole grains has also been shown to decrease the risk of many types of cancer. In contrast, a diet high in foods that contribute to inflammation can heighten the risk of developing oral cancer. This might include large amounts of fried food, red meat and pork, cheese, and foods high in sugar such as desserts, soda, and other sweet drinks. Eating a large amount of processed carbohydrates such as white bread and white rice, has also been linked to higher risk of oral cancer.
Sun exposure
Frequent sun exposure can contribute to your risk of developing cancers of the lip. Always remember your sunscreen. Make sure to read the directions about how often you should reapply it.
HPV and oral cancer
Certain kinds of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause mouth and throat cancer. Most commonly, HPV type 16 is linked to cancer in the oropharynx. Having HPV can cause cancer even in populations who would otherwise be at lower risk, such as younger people who do not have a history of smoking or heavy alcohol use.
Cancer screenings
The earlier you can catch signs of oral and throat cancer, the better. If you see or feel anything unusual in your mouth or throat, such as a sore, lump, or other discomfort, be sure to tell your dentist or doctor about it so that they can examine you.
If a dentist or doctor determines that you have unusual symptoms, they may recommend tests that help determine whether the area could be cancerous. If they find an abnormal area, they may recommend a biopsy and send a tissue sample to a lab, where it can be checked for cancer or pre-cancer cells.
Oral cancer: Treatment
If you are diagnosed with oral cancer and it’s caught early, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the top layers of tissue. According to the American Cancer Society, almost everyone diagnosed with stage 0 oral cancer survives a long time without additional treatment. If you’re diagnosed with stage I or II cancer, you may benefit from surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemoradiation. You’ll want to discuss options with your medical provider and weigh the pros and cons for your situation.
Oral Cancer: Management
In addition to undergoing treatment, you can help manage oral cancer, and cope with the effects of cancer treatment, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and sufficient rest. If you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, decreasing or quitting these activities is a crucial step towards lessening your risk of developing another cancer.
Meanwhile, educating yourself about oral cancer and the various treatment options available can help you make decisions that feel right for you.
