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Lower lip cancer is a type of oral cancer that almost always occurs in men, mostly between the ages of 50 and 70. It is usually characterized by hard, crusted lesions on the lip. Over time, ulcers begin to form, which become inflamed and cause pain. Treatment of an early neoplasm is based on radiotherapy.
Lower lip cancer – definition
Lower lip cancer is one of the cancers of the mouth that typically occurs in males between the ages of 50 and 70. For example, in the USA, there are 26000 cases of oral cancer every year, of which up to 15% cancer of the lower lip. This condition is characterized by the presence of hard lesions that are crusted and develop into painful ulcers over time. Lifestyle and age are factors that predispose to cancer formation. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin usually occurs, and it comes from the flat cells on the surface of the mouth.
Causes of cancer of the lower lip
The causes of this type of cancer are very diverse, among them we can mention:
- excessive consumption of high-percentage alcohol,
- smoking (80-90% of cases),
- exposure to ultraviolet radiation,
- HPV infection,
- inadequate oral hygiene,
- the presence of inflammation in the mouth,
- precancerous conditions (e.g. leukoplakia or white keratosis).
Lower lip cancer symptoms
Lip cancer manifests as a flat scab-covered sclerosis that quickly ulcerates at the apex. The ulcer is initially painless, but over time it becomes painful as the inflammation becomes active. Lip cancer grows slowly but steadily and systematically damages the lip and the surrounding tissues. Such development of the process takes several months, and sometimes several years.
In addition, patients with lower lip cancer may complain of:
- bleeding and difficult to heal wounds in the mouth,
- the formation of red or white spots on the gums (also on the tongue or inside the mouth)
- swellings in the cheek area that can be felt with the tongue,
- swelling of the jaw or jaw
- changing the pitch of the voice,
- trouble chewing and swallowing food,
- pain in the mouth
- numbness in the mouth.
Diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the lower lip
When detected in time, lower lip cancer is treated with radium or radioactive isotopes. Therefore, with any suspicious lumps on the lip, you should immediately go to a surgeon or oncologist, because the detection of cancer at an early stage gives a good chance of a cure (even 70% chance). Cancer diagnosis is usually based on a biopsy. Typically, in the treatment of cancer of the lower lip, surgery is first performed, followed by subsequent radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy. However, these methods can cause side effects, such as:
- a feeling of dry mouth
- irritation of the oral mucosa,
- trouble swallowing
- taste disturbance
- caries risk (with radiotherapy).
In the case of lower lip cancer, as in all malignant neoplasms, metastases may occur. They typically attack adjacent tissues, including the skin around the mouth. Other sites for metastasis can be the mouth, lymph nodes, the lower jaw, or the tongue. There are also cases of metastases to distant organs.
Complications of lower lip cancer
Ignoring the tumor or treating it incorrectly can lead to complications and even death. The most common complications include:
a) problems with swallowing food,
b) drinking problems,
c) breathing problems.
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