Oral Cancer

  • Oral Cancer
    Oral cancer refers to cancers of the head and neck. It includes cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, salivary glands, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and pharynx. Brain cancer falls in a different category.  
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 12 October 2015
Oral Cancer Overview

Oral cancer refers to cancers of the head and neck. It includes cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, salivary glands, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and pharynx. Brain cancer falls in a different category. The leading causes of oral cancer are smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Ninety per cent of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinoma of oral mucosal origin. Squamous cells line the lips and the oral cavity.

The oral cavity is bounded above and laterally by the upper jaw and lower jaw bones, teeth and gums; above by the palate; and below by the tongue. The oral cavity opens at the back into pharynx. 

Changed
26/Apr/2024
Community
Cancer
Condition
Oral Cancer

Stories

  • I Can No Longer Delight In Chewing Solid Food
    Avenindra Mann, who was addicted to pan masala or smokeless tobacco for nearly 20 years, was devastated when he developed oral cancer and his left jaw had to be removed. Today, as survivor, he is committed to spread awareness and save lives from oral cancer. I was diagnosed with mouth cancer at age 44 in 2012. Early signs of mouth cancer My early symptom was routine discomfort in the mouth. There was a burning sensation and I had problems opening my mouth wide. On closer self-examination I saw…
  • Profile pic of a middle aged man in a partially visible grey and white striped shirt
    Faith And Support Are Important When A Family Member Is Affected By Cancer
    Dipanwita Mukherjee was a small girl when her father Bibhuti Bhusan Chakraverty was diagnosed with throat cancer. This is his story, how he overcame his condition and also how he reached out to many others to alleviate their pain. A recent Bengali film, Kontho, based on Mr Chakraverty’s life and struggles has also brought the story back in focus. When was your father diagnosed with throat cancer? My father, late Bibhuti Bhusan Chakraverty was detected with throat cancer in the year 1972. He was…
  • A pic of a bowl of oats porridge with spoons on the right with flax seeds spilling over
    Soft Food Snack Recipes
    In the second part of the soft food but nutritious recipes for oral cancer patients, we bring you snacks that you can quickly put together. If you have recipes for specific conditions that you would like to share write in to our editor.   Power Oats Porridge for breakfast is a great way to start the day! Oats are loaded with fibre and can be very useful for patients having constipation, a common side-effect of cancer treatment.  Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber,…
  • Nutritious and protein rich spinach soup in 2 bowls for oral cancer patients
    Soft Food Options For Lunch and Dinner
    Oral cancer patients struggle with eating regular meals.  However, it is important for them to eat nutritious meals to keep their strength up during treatment. Here are three simple recipes for lunch and dinner.  Hearty rainbow soup In this recipe, varied vegetables of all colours are used to create a multi-vitamin rich meal. It works well for lunch or dinner, as it fills the stomach but is also not too heavy for patients who may have nausea from treatment. Ingredients: 1/3 cup…
  • A picture of Stage 2 Oral tongue cancer survivor Amita Modi and how she fought cancer
    My Daughter Kept Me Going Through The Difficult Times Of My Cancer Journey
    Amita Modi, 44 from Ahmedabad, was diagnosed with Oral Tongue Cancer survivor when she was 28. Her 18 month old daughter motivated her to stay strong and positive through her cancer treatment. She still worries about her stress triggering off a relapse of cancer. When were you diagnosed, Amita? What were the early symptoms? In November of 2002, I noticed a small sore on my tongue. I tried some home remedies but got no results and it seemed to have grown bigger. During the December holidays, we…
  • Cancer Is A Blessing In Disguise
    Shrenik Shah, 67 from Ahmedabad, India was diagnosed with Larynx (Vocal Folds) cancer, stage IV A 22 years ago. He now speaks with an Electrolarynx to motivate and inspire others. What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? I started getting hoarseness in my voice in late 1996. It was followed by breathlessness at night time and weight loss. I also would get so drowsy that I would sleep while standing. I am a non-smoker and have never had alcohol, tobacco, gutka, masala etc.…
  • Image Description: Head shot of a 77 year old survivor of cancer of the vocal chord
    I Now Realise The Value Of Life
    Dilip Kumar Kanjilal, 77 from Kolkata has fought cancer of the Vocal Chords and emerged a winner. He looks back to recall his struggle which has also reiterated his faith in life. Professionally, I used to be a driver of the long-distance state bus for 30 years. I had the responsibility to take the passengers to their destinations safely and I was good at it. Likewise, when I was attacked by the big C-Cancer, I was not engulfed by fear, tension, agony. I faced it bravely like a warrior. What is…
  • Stock image of a woman in blue scarf in the foreground and a group of people in the background pointing to her
    "Its Time For Film Characters That Survive Cancer!"
    Cancer stigmas are often barriers for seeking diagnosis, as well as treatment and rehabilitation. Shubha Maudgal and Susmitra Mitra of Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), Mumbai give us an insight into the current taboos surrounding cancer and the challenges such stigmas pose for patients and society. 1. What does cancer stigma entail? There are two kinds of stigma involved with cancer. One is Self which is in the mind of patients themselves, stemming from guilt or shame.  The other is…
  • Image: Sanjay Jaiswal, with black hair and a moustache is an Oral Cancer survivor and stands in a red shirt against a yellow background
    At 42, I Learned To Speak Again With The Help Of Tongue Twisters
    Early detection of mouth cancer helped Sanjay Jaiswal minimize postoperative challenges, discomfort and deformities. Here, he recounts his difficult journey and how he worked hard to get back his life. I developed a small ulcer in the mouth when I was 42, sometime in August 2010. It was at the back of my tongue, actually between my tongue, gums and jaw bone. I ignored it initially thinking it to be some kind of a boil. But when it became bothersome I went to an ENT specialist. He gave me some…
  • Non Healing Ulcer in Mouth Could be Cancerous
    There is almost 10 times higher risk of developing head and neck cancers in persons consuming both alcohol and tobacco, warns Dr Shaikh Muzammil, consultant medical oncologist, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical, and advises cutting down on risks to stay protected. Head and neck cancers account for more than 5.5 lakh of the total cancer cases reported in India every year, putting India in the sixth place worldwide. What are main types of head and neck cancers? The most common type of head and neck…

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