Oral Cancer

Introduction

Oral cancer is part of a cancer group called head and neck cancers, and is defined as an uncontrollable growth of cancerous cells that invades the mouth (called oral cavity) and the part of the throat behind the mouth (called oropharynx).

Oral cancer starts within the mouth or pharynx cells. Normally, these cells grow and divide to form new cells, and when they get old, they die, allowing new cells to take their place. When this process is impaired, the cells start to divide and grow abnormally, the old cells do not die when they should, and the result is an abnormal tissue mass or tumor.

There are two types of tumors: benign (a term that refers to a non-cancerous mass or growth which is not life threatening, because it does not spread and damage adjacent tissues, structures, and organs) and malignant (a term that refers to a cancerous mass or growth which can invade and destroy adjacent tissues and organs inside the body causing death).

Oral cancer accounts for 2 to 4 percent of all cancers diagnosed every year in United States, but it registers a low survival rate compared to other cancers. Unfortunately, only half of the patients diagnosed with oral cancer are alive five years after the diagnosis.

Worldwide, oral cancer prevalence varies. In Western countries, such as United States, England, or Wales, oral cancer accounts for 2 to 5 percent of all cancers, while in Sri Lanka and India, oral cancer accounts for 40 to 50 percent of all cancers. Southern Asia also has a high incidence of oral cancer.

Oral cancer can spread quickly if left untreated or diagnosed too late. It can affect the lungs, neck, or lymph nodes from the neck area.

Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Three rendered Illustrations of how cancer cells appear. The lower right is an actual cancer cell under high-scale magnification.

Oral Cancer Pictures from our Medical Image Search Engine

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