Oral or mouth cancer includes cancers of the tongue, sinuses, cheeks, throat, the floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate.

It is a serious life-threatening condition.

Signs: Lesions inside of the mouth are typically the first sign of mouth cancer. The most common early sign of mouth cancer is a sore in the mouth that doesn't heal or persistent canker sores.

Other signs are lumps, or soreness inside the mouth, and persistent mouth pain. There may be voice changes, difficulty chewing or swallowing and numbness of the tongue or tingling sensations. As well, chronic ear pain, jaw stiffness, tooth pain or loose teeth and a feeling of having something caught in the throat may also be signs.

Risks: It isn't always known how oral cancer develops, but the main risk factors are smoking, an unhealthy diet or alcohol abuse. Then again, oral cancer can also spread as metastases from cancer elsewhere in the body.

In addition, oral cancer can also be sexually transmitted by the human papilloma virus-HPV, an on the increase sexually transmitted infection. Oral cancers resulting from an HPV infection often do not exhibit visible lesions or tissue discolouration early on enough to signal something is wrong.

Reduce Risks: Poor oral hygiene and not looking after teeth and gums increases your risk. Its a best health practice to look after your teeth and gums and always check for problems in your mouth, neck and throat. Have regular dental hygiene visits and attend oral cancer screenings.

Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption to lower your risk of developing oral cancer. Ban usage of chewing tobacco or of other tobacco products. Limit sun exposure and wear  U/V protective lip balms.

Diagnosis: A diagnosis will involve examining the mouth, asking about symptoms and checking your medical history. Testing for mouth cancer generally involves a physical exam and may use laser light can also discover abnormal cells.

Testing can also include a biopsy of tissue from the mouth. Further tests may include X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan or PET scan. 

Outcome: If oral cancer is detected early, treatment can be very successful. When detected and treated early, oral cancer is usually curable. Particularly during the early stages of mouth cancer, when cancer has not spread to the local lymph nodes.

But oral cancers have a high death rate because they often go undetected until later stages and this limits treatment effectiveness. Self-examination helps early detection.

Treatment will depend on the severity and location of the disease, as well as your age and health status. Surgery alone in the early stages and surgery with radiotherapy and /or chemotherapy in the later stages of detection. Reconstruction of bones or facial features may be needed after surgery.