Lip Cancer happens in the squamous cells of the lips and mouth. If there is a sore or a lump on your lips or in the mouth that does not show signs of healing then it is presumably an early sign of lip cancer.
Hence, you should visit a doctor for inspection. Treatment options depend against the stage, size, and position of the tumor present. However, this is remediable in the early stages. This type of cancer is very common in men with light skin and who is over 50 years in age.
Medical Healthcare facilities provide help to these patients at an early stage and at a speedy rate.
Causes of Lip Cancer
Your behaviors and lifestyle heavily influence the risk of lip cancer. The causes of this disease are:
- Smoking or using tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewing tobacco.
- Heavy alcohol use
- Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight
- Having light-colored skin
- Being male
- Having Human Papillomavirus which is a sexually transmitted infection
- Being older than 40 years of age
Symptoms of Lip Cancer
Lip cancer may not have any symptoms. Dentists often first notice it during regular dental checkups. If you have a sore or a lump on your lip, it does not necessarily mean you have lip cancer. Some of the signs and symptoms of this disease are:
- A sore, lesion, blister, ulcer, lump on the mouth that does not heal.
- A red or white patch on the lip.
- Bleeding or pain on the lips.
- Swelling of the jaw.
Complications of Lip Cancer
Lip Cancer can cause certain complications like:
- It may spread to other organs.
- Changes to the appearance of the mouth.
- Difficulty talking.
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing.
- Depression and anxiety.
Treatment
This is treated through the following procedures:
- Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the usage of drugs to suppress cancer cells. It usually stops the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. So, a chemotherapy schedule typically consists of a definite number of cycles over a period of time. A patient may receive one drug at a time or a blending of different drugs given at the same time.
- Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy which is also known as biologic therapy is designed to raise the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer. Thus, it uses materials either by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function. It can be given sectionally or everywhere in the body.
- Targeted Therapy – Targeted therapy is a procedure that targets cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. Nature of this treatment obstructs the growth and spread of cancer cells while restricting the damage to healthy cells.
- Radiation Therapy – Radiation Therapy is the application of high-energy x-rays or other particles to defeat cancer.
So, many instances of lip cancer are first detected by dentists. Hence, it is important to go for regular dental checkups with a licensed professional, especially if you are at an increased risk of this disease.