Lip cancer is a type of mouth cancer that occurs in the lip skin. It first develops in the squamous cells, also known as thin flat cells that line your lips and tongue. Though lip cancer can develop anywhere along the upper and lower lips, it mainly occurs on the lower lips. Fortunately, the survival rate of patients with lip cancer is much higher than other cancers.
Although anyone can develop lip cancer, certain lifestyle choices and environmental factors can raise the risk of developing the disease. Excessive alcohol use, regular use of tobacco products, and overexposure to natural or artificial sunlight are some factors that put you at risk of this disease. Lip cancer is easily noticeable by dentists during an oral examination and the disease is curable if detected early.
Symptoms of Lip Cancer
You may notice a flat or slightly swollen patch of discolored lip skin during the early stages of lip cancer. The lesions may initially resemble a cold sore, with the only difference being that cold sores often clear within a few days. Lip cancer sores do not heal quickly and linger for a few weeks.
Generally, the symptoms of lip cancer include:
• Ulcer, lump, or sore that lingers
• Red or white patch on the upper or lower lip
• Pain or numbness in the lips and skin around the mouth
• Bleeding lips
• Swollen jaws
Sometimes, the symptoms of lip cancer may appear similar to those of other illnesses. A qualified dentist can quickly pick up the early signs during a routine check-up. Visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa for an accurate diagnosis and treatment if you notice any of the above symptoms.
Diagnosis for Lip Cancer
Lip cancer may be difficult to detect during the initial stages of the illness. Dentists are often the first to notice lip cancer in patients. If your dentist suspects you have lesions that could be lip cancer, you may be requires to have one of the following diagnostic tests below conducted:
• Physical assessment: Your dentist examines your lips and other mouthparts during for any abnormalities. They will also check your lymph nodes for signs of swelling.
• Soft tissue biopsy: A soft tissue biopsy helps to confirm the diagnosis of lip cancer. The specialist extracts a small tissue sample from the affected lip area for the biopsy. This tissue sample undergoes further scrutiny under a microscope in a pathology lab. If the biopsy confirms lip cancer, they will perform more tests to assess how far it has progressed.
• Endoscopy: A medical specialist may perform an endoscopy if they suspect the cancer cells have spread to other mouthparts. The process entails passing a flexible camera down the patient’s throat to check for cancer signs.
• Imaging test: Besides endoscopy, your doctor may recommend a computed tomography (CT) scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, or a chest X-ray. The imaging test results will confirm how far cancer has spread beyond the lip.
• Complete blood count (CBC): Doctors may perform a CBC whenever there’s a significant fluctuation in blood cell count. CBC tests help in diagnosing many illnesses, including cancer.
Your doctor may request the following details during the diagnosis to assess the risk factors:
• Past illnesses
• Smoking history
• Alcohol history
• Notable family illnesses
Treatment for Lip Cancer
Though several treatment options exist for lip cancer patients, doctors often consider the patient’s medical history, size, and stage of the lip cancer when deciding on an appropriate treatment plan. Below are the most common lip cancer treatment options:
• Surgery: Here, the surgeon removes the tumors or lesions and then fixes the lip. Reconstructive surgery is an option for patients with abnormally large tumors.
• Chemotherapy: The procedure entails administering drugs through pills or an injection to destroy the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is an appropriate treatment if the illness has spread to other mouthparts.
• Radiation therapy: This treatment involves the use of potent X-ray beams to destroy cancerous cells. Doctors can use radiotherapy as a standalone treatment or combine it with other treatments.
• Immunotherapy: Sometimes, lip cancer may be at an advanced stage, making surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy unsuitable for the patient. Immunotherapy aims to boost the patient’s immune response to help fight and neutralize cancer cells.
If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms of lip cancer, contact your doctor or dentist immediately. Visit us at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa for an oral cancer screening. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
