Understanding Oral Cancer: A Comprehensive Overview

Oral cancer is a serious health condition that affects thousands of people worldwide each year. Understanding this disease is the first step toward prevention, early detection, and effective treatment.

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer, primarily oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), accounts for over 85-90% of all cases. It originates in the squamous cells that line the mouth, lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, floor of the mouth, and throat. When DNA in these cells mutates, it causes uncontrolled growth and tumor formation.

Types of Oral Cancer

While squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type, oral cancer can also include:

• Salivary gland tumors

• Lymphoma

• Metastases from other parts of the body

Who is at Risk?

Oral cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors increase the risk. The disease is more common in people over 60 years of age, and at diagnosis, up to 21% of patients already have lymph node involvement, typically affecting the jugulo-digastric nodes first.

The Importance of Awareness

Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. Approximately 63% of oral cavity cancer patients survive 5 years post-diagnosis, with early-stage detection greatly improving curability. This is why regular dental check-ups and self-examinations are crucial.

At Jehangir OraCare Dental Centre, we are committed to educating our patients about oral cancer and providing comprehensive screening services. Stay tuned for our upcoming posts in this series, where we'll dive deeper into causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment options.

📍 Visit the Best Dental Clinic in Pune

Jehangir Oracare Dental Centre

📍 Jehangir Hospital, Ground Floor, Dental Department, 32, Sassoon Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411001

📞 +91 84120 50597

🌐 www.jehangiroracare.com

🕙 Timings: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM – 7 PM

Remember: Knowledge is power when it comes to your oral health.