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Causes Of Mouth Cancer
By peace | July 4, 2006
Scientists aren’t sure of the exact cause of oral cancer. However, the carcinogens in tobacco products, alcohol and certain foods, as well as excessive exposure to the sun have been found to increase the risk of developing oral cancer. Risk factors for oral cancer may also be genetically inherited.
It is very important to detect mouth cancer early with self examination and regular dental check ups. It can strike anywhere in the oral region including the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. Fortunately, there is usually a good prognosis if detected and treated early. If an area of the mouth is suspect, the dentist may take a brush or tissue biopsy which is sent to an oral pathology laboratory for review. Fortunately, in most cases the result are usually negative but any unusual appearence should be investigated.
Anything unusual in the oral region could be the beginning of mouth cancer. Lumps, overgrowths or swellings on the gums or jaws, tenderness and swelling of the neck or unusual discharge from the nose. Dentures can become loose from overgrowths. There could be difficulty swallowing, chewing and/or moving any part of the mouth such as the tongue, cheeks or lower jaw. Sometimes this causes a feeling that there’s something caught in your throat. Persistent red or white patches, sores, or ulcers are not normal and should be investigated along with unusual numbness or sudden tooth mobility.
Smoking, chewing tobacco or snuff can cause mouth cancer. Poor oral hygiene causes chronic inflammation and infection that can lead to malignancies. Overexposure to the sun can severely damage lips and lead to serious problems. Excessive alcohol consumption predisposes patients to oral problems in general. Loose fitting dentures, dental appliances or jagged teeth can cause irritation.
Causes of mouth, nose and throat cancers
The exact causes of cancers of the mouth, nose and throat are not known. However, we do know that smoking and alcohol are important risk factors. More than 80% of these cancers occur in people who smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes. Heavy drinkers are also at increased risk. People who drink heavily and smoke are at greater risk again.
A few people who have never used tobacco or alcohol develop these cancers, indicating that other factors are also important.
Cancer of the lip can be caused by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. Pipe smokers are also especially prone to cancer of the lip.
Cancers of the nose can be linked to inhaling certain chemicals and hardwood dusts, usually in the workplace.
How oral cancer develops
We know that all cancers (neoplastic transformations) result from changes (mutations) in genes which control cell behaviors. Mutated genes may result in a cell which grows and proliferates at an uncontrolled rate, is unable to repair DNA damage within itself, or refuses to self destruct or die (apoptosis). It takes more than one mutation to turn a cell cancerous. Specific classes of genes must be mutated several times to result in a neoplastic cell, which then grows in an uncontrolled manner. When a cell does become mutated to this point, it is capable of passing on the mutations to all of its progeny when it divides. Genetic mistakes randomly happen each day in the course of our bodies replacing billions of cells. Besides these random occurrences, genetic errors can be inherited, be caused by viruses, or develop as a result of exposure to chemicals or radiation. Our bodies normally have mechanisms that destroy these cells. We are now discovering some of the reasons this fails to take place, and cancers occur.
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