Contents:
In this article, we will take a look at
- What is gum cancer?
- How does gum cancer occur?
- Who is prone to gum cancer?
- Symptoms of gum cancer
- Diagnosis of gum cancer
- Complications of gum cancer
- Treatment for gum cancer
You can click on any of the links above to navigate to the section of your interest.
What is gum cancer?
Any type is cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth and division of the cells. Cancerous cells lose the ability to recognize when to stop growing. This gives rise to tumors which may be benign or malignant.
Gum cancer is a type of oral cancer which affects gums. The worst aspect of this one is that it is often confused with gingivitis, leaving patients vulnerable to late treatment. Gum cancer leads to uncontrolled cell division in upper or lower or both gums, giving rise to lesions.
How does gum cancer occur?
A cancerous cell takes stages to develop. In humans, researches have shown that certain cells are carcinogenic which when triggered, develop into cancerous ones. Otherwise, they are in a dormant stage. Gum cancer develops through these stages:
Stage 1: The cells do not show any distinct sign of being cancerous. They look like normal oropharyngeal cells. Patients and even doctors find it hard to detect at this stage as there are no obvious signs of it being diseased. The patient seldom feels any discomfort.
Stage 2: The cancerous cells begin to look slightly different from the normal oropharyngeal cells. The patient may begin to feel slight discomfort. With proper tests, cancer can be detected. However, as mentioned earlier, the symptoms may mislead the physician to label it as gingivitis.
Stage 3: The cells begin to look clearly different from the normal ones. The symptoms and discomfort are obvious. The doctors find it hard to differentiate between the normal oropharyngeal cells and cancerous oropharyngeal cells.
Stage 4: This is the most advanced stage of gum cancer. The cells look completely abnormal. Even in the tissue culture, it becomes impossible to pinpoint the cancerous ones. The patient needs urgent treatment.
Who is prone to gum cancer?
One is prone to gum cancer if he/she shows the following risk factors:
- Smokes
- Is an alcoholic
- Consumes betel quid excessively
- Maintains poor oral hygiene
- Has a genetic predisposition to it
- Has Fanconi anemia
- Has dyskeratosis congenital
- Is continuously exposed to UV rays
What are the symptoms of gum cance? How is gum cancer diagnosed?
So how is gum cancer detected and differentiated from gingivitis? Here are the signs and symptoms of this disease:
- Red, white or unnatural dark areas on the gums
- Bleeding gums
- Cracks in gums
- Unusual thick patches of the gums
- Loosening of teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Difficulty in moving jaws
- Continuous oral sore
- Continuous pain
Diagnosis
The primary diagnosis is commonly done by the dentist during routine dental examinations. They detect the unusual gum features and will recommend the patient to consult an oncologist.
If an oncologist suspects your gums to be cancerous, they may perform a biopsy to study the cells in detail. If the cancer is still in its primary stage, they may remove the affected part. But if the cancer is in its advanced stages, the doctor may opt for endoscopy to determine the extent of infection. They may also take help of various imaging techniques like X-rays, CET to be more sure of the cancerous stage.
What are the complications of gum cancer?
Gum cancer is treatable if diagnosed at early stages. If the patient ignores the symptoms and the disease reaches advanced stages, it may lead to various complications. The important ones are:
- Metastasis to different organs
- Difficulty in speaking
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Persistent pain
What is the treatment for gum cancer?
Treatment of gum cancer depends on the stage in which it is diagnosed. Basically, the treatment involves 4 treatment procedures:
If the cancer is detected at an early stage, then the affected part is removed by surgery. Chemotherapy involves the use of certain chemicals to kill the cancerous cells. In radiation therapy, high energy beams are used to kill the cancer cells. And with targeted drug therapy, specific medications are used that alter particular aspects of the cancer cells to stop their growth.
Questions answered by trusted doctors
Did you know?
Avoid Smoking
Avoiding smoking, alcohol and betel quid can significantly lower your chances of getting gum cancer.
What leads to Gum Cancer
A recent research showed that a mutation in the TP53 gene leads to this condition. Normally, this gene produces a protein which works to prevent uncontrolled division and growth of the cells. A mutation in the gene leads to disruption of this function.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Poor Oral Hygiene leads to Gum Cancer
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