Gum Cancer (Oral Cancer)

What is Gum Cancer?

Gum cancer, which also may be referred to as oral cancer, is a type of cancer that attacks areas in the mouth, such as the gums. Usually it is men over 40 who develop this type of cancer the most frequently, especially if they are heavy users of tobacco and alcohol; however, women do get it as well. If gum cancer is not detected early on it can lead to a variety of problems that result in surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and in some cases even death. Unfortunately the reason this type of cancer is so dangerous is because many people do not recognize the symptoms until it is too late. Sadly about 11,000 people get this type of cancer each year and about ΒΌ of them end up dying from the cancer.

What Causes Gum Cancer?

There are a variety of different things that seem to attribute to the risk of developing gum cancer. One of the big ones is using tobacco, whether you smoke it or chew it. While no one is quite sure why tobacco causes gum cancer, it definitely seems to be linked together. Alcohol can also contribute to the development of gum cancer, especially when used together with tobacco. People who drink and smoke drastically increase their chances of getting this type of cancer. Some people have also thought that not eating enough fruits and vegetables could cause gum cancer; however, this has yet to be proven as a cause.

Symptoms of Gum Cancer

It is extremely important that you understand the symptoms of gum cancer so that you can recognize them early on if they happen to you. More than likely some of the earliest signs of gum cancer will be beyond your ability to recognize, which is why it is so important that you see a dentist on a regular basis. Your dentist is trained and will be able to spot the earliest symptoms before you can. Some of the symptoms that you need to be aware of include sores on your gums, white or red patches on the gums, numbness on the gums, and swelling of the gums. If you experience any of these symptoms it is important that you seek professional medical help as soon as possible.

Treating Gum Cancer

Once you have a final diagnosis that you truly have gum cancer, a team of specialists, usually including a dentist and oral surgeon, will decide on a specific treatment plan for you. Usually the first step in treating gum cancer is some type of oral surgery to help remove the cancer from the gums. Most of the time this type of surgery is also followed up by radiation treatments to the area as well to help make sure that all of the cancer cells are killed. In more extreme cases of gum cancer, chemotherapy may also be used along with the other treatments to help treat the cancer.

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