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  1. Also known as: oral cavity cancer
    A growth that occurs in the mouth caused due to uncontrolled cell division. This causes mouth sore, white or reddish patch, lump inside the mouth, ear pain, and difficulty in swallowing.
    Condition Highlight
    Urgent medical attention is usually recommended by healthcare providers
    Condition Highlight
    May be dangerous or life threatening
    How common is condition?
    Very common (More than 3 million cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Requires lab test or imaging
    Time taken for recovery
    Can last several years or be lifelong
    Condition Highlight
    Common for ages 50 and older
    Condition Highlight
    More common in males
    Condition Highlight
    Family history may increase likelihood
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    Causes

    Verified Expert

    • The exact cause of oral cancer is not known but it is predicted that some of the cause may be:
    • Cigarettes, cigar or pipe smoking
    • Users of smokeless tobacco such as dip, snuff or tobacco chewing
    • Alcohol consumption that is excessive
    • History of cancer in the family
    • Exposure to excessive sun or certain human papillomavirus strains are at a risk

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    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms.

    Areas around the mouth such as the lips and gums experience:

    • Lumps or bumps
    • Swelling or thickening
    • Rough spots
    • Velvet, white, reddish specks
    • Bleeding or numbness that is unexplained

    Other symptoms include:

    • Persistent sores on the face, mouth or neck that do not heal for more than 2 weeks
    • Ear pain
    • Hoarseness, sore throat that is chronic, voice changing, change in the teeth and weight loss
    • Cervical lymphadenopathy

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    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    The doctor needs to do a series of test to be able to make a conclusion:

    Common tests & procedures

    Physical examination: The doctor checks for any changes in the mouth or lips such as cyst, patches or sores.

    Biopsy: Testing a tissue sample from the affected area.

    See more
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  1. Most people with oral cancer receive a diagnosis after age 55, but it can occur in younger people. People who consume tobacco products have an increased risk of developing oral cancer. A person who smokes cigarettes is about 5–6 times more likely to develop oral cancer than someone who does not.
    www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/oral-cancer-d…
    Smoking increases a person’s risk of developing mouth cancer, with the risk increasing the longer a person smokes. Quitting smoking can lead to marked decreases in risk over time. In addition, it is best to avoid chewing tobacco and drink only moderate amounts of alcohol to help reduce the risk of developing mouth cancer.
    www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-many-ye…
    Smoking tobacco increases your risk of developing mouth cancer by up to ten times, compared with never-smokers.This includes smoking cigarettes, pipes or cigars. Around two in every three (more than 60%) mouth cancers are linked to smoking.
    www.dentalhealth.org/mouth-cancer-risk-factors
  2. Mouth cancer - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

  3. Mouth cancer - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

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