CAUSE
Highest risk was found in alcohol drinkers and tobacco smokers. Approximately two-thirds of oral cancers occur in men. Cigarette smoking is more likely to cause oral cancer than smoking a cigar or pipe. Spotting smokers (flat brown spots) may appear on the side where a cigarette or a pipe is usually placed on the lips. With biopsy, can be known whether these spots are malignant or not.

Repeated irritation due to the sharp edges of broken teeth, fillings or dentures can be an additional risk for oral cancer. People who have suffered from oral cancer have a higher risk of developing other cancers.

SYMPTOMS
Oral cancer is most prevalent on the edge of the tongue, floor of the mouth and soft palate (the back of the roof of the mouth). Cancer of the tongue and floor of the mouth is usually a squamous cell carcinoma. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a cancer of the blood vessels near the skin. Kaposi’s sarcoma is often found in the mouth (usually on the roof of the mouth) with AIDS.

In people who chew tobacco and tobacco smoke, the inside of the cheeks and lips are often found where cancer. This cancer is slow-growing carcinoma verukosa. Melanoma is a cancer that usually occurs in the skin, and more rarely occur in the mouth.

An area in the mouth that turn into brown or darker than normal may be a melanoma and should be sent to the doctor or dentist. Melanoma should be distinguished from normal pigmented area found in the mouth, which often occurs in some families and especially the Mediterranean people and black people.

- Tongue
In the early stages, cancer of the tongue is not painful and is usually found on routine dental examination. Cancer usually grows at the edge of the tongue. Almost never at the base of the tongue except to someone who had suffered from untreated syphilis for several years. Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue often looks like open sores (ulcers) and tend to grow into the tissue beneath.

Erythroplakia (red areas in the mouth) is a sign of cancer. Someone with erythroplakia on the edge of his tongue should immediately see a doctor or dentist.

- Basic Mouth
In the early stages, the cancer floor of the mouth do not cause pain and are usually found on routine dental examination. Floor of mouth cancer is usually a squamous cell carcinoma, which looks like an open wound and tend to grow into the underlying structures.

Anyone who has a reddish patches (erythroplakia) on the basis of his mouth, should immediately see a doctor or dentist because it could be an indication of the presence of cancer.

- Ceiling Software
Cancer in the soft palate can be a squamous cell carcinoma or cancer that starts in the minor salivary glands in the soft palate. Squamous cell carcinoma often looks like an open wound. Cancer that begins in the small salivary glands commonly appears as a small swelling.

- Layers Mouth
If the inner layer of moist mouth (oral mucosa) become irritated for a long time, can form a flat white patches (leukoplakia). Spots is white because it is a thickening of the keratin layer, the material that covers the outermost layer of the skin and in normal circumstances present in an amount not too much in the oral mucosa.

Unlike the other white patches in the mouth (due to the buildup of food, bacteria or fungi), leukoplakia can not be cleaned. Most of leukoplakia is a response of protection against further injury. But in the process of formation of this protective covering, some cells can become malignant. In contrast, erythroplakia (reddish patches in the mouth) is the result of thinning the mucous membranes. The area looks red because the capillaries (small blood vessels) in the bottom more easily visible.

Erythroplakia is more a marker of a worse cancer than leukoplakia. Someone with red spots on the mouth should immediately see a doctor or dentist. Ulcer is a hole formed in the mucosa when the top layer of mucous cells were destroyed and damaged, so the tissue underneath looks. An ulcer appears white because of the cells that die in the hole.

Mouth ulcers often occur due to injury or irritation of the tissue, such as if by accident the inside of his cheek bitten or scratched. Another cause is thrush and irritant substances, such as aspirin smoked in the gums. A benign ulcer is always painful. An ulcer is not painful and persist until more than 10 days may be pre-cancerous or cancerous and should be evaluated by a physician or dentist. In a person who has a habit of chewing tobacco or tobacco smoke, can occur white bumps on the inner cheek. These bumps may develop into carcinoma verukosa.

- Gum
A bump or protrusion on gum is not something that makes us wary. If the cause is not a periodontal abscess or dental abscesses, may be a non-cancerous growth that is caused by irritation.

Non-cancerous growth is relatively common and, if necessary, be easily removed through regular pembdahan. In 10-40% of patients, non-cancerous growth of this happens over and over again because of irritation continues. If irritation is causing the false teeth that are less precise location, it must be repaired or replaced.

- Lips
Lips (especially the lower lip), is the site of sun damage (actinic keilosis), so that the lips look chapped and red, white or a mixture of red and white. To determine whether these spots are malignant or not, can do a biopsy.

Cancer in the outer lip is more common in hot climates. Cancer of the lips or the mouth often feel rock hard and stick to the underlying tissue, while non-cancerous lumps in this area can be moved. Abnormalities in the upper lip is less common than with the lower lip, but it is more likely to be malignant and require medical attention.

In tobacco chewers or suckers, can grow white bumps on the inside lip. These lumps can grow into verukosa carcinoma.

- Salivary Glands
Salivary gland tumors can be benign and malignant. Tumors can occur in any of the three pairs of major salivary glands:
- Parotid gland (at the edge of the face, in front of the ear)
- Submandibuler glands (under the edge of the jaw)
- Sublingual gland (at the bottom of the mouth, in front of the tongue).

Tumors can also occur in minor salivary glands scattered throughout most of the oral mucosa. Growth in the early stages can be no pain. Malignant tumors tend to grow fast and hard palpable.

- Jaws
Various types of non-cancerous cysts cause pain and swelling of the jaw. These cysts often grow in addition to having wisdom teeth are impacted (stuck in the jaw so it can not grow out) and although not malignant, the cyst can damage a number of jaw bone area. Certain types of cysts tend to be recurrent.

Odontoma is a non-cancerous growth of the tooth-forming cells that looked like a small tooth with a shape that change. Odontoma can take the place of the normal teething or impede normal growth of teeth, so it is often removed surgically.

Cancer of the jaw often causes pain and numbness. X-rays are not always able to distinguish cancer from cyst, non-cancerous bone growth or cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body. X-ray usually shows an irregular edge of jaw cancer and can show that the cancer has undermined the roots of nearby teeth. A biopsy performed to confirm the diagnosis of cancer of the jaw.

TREATMENT
Avoiding sunlight reduce the risk of lip cancer. Avoiding excessive alcohol and tobacco, can prevent almost all oral cancers. Another prevention is to soften the edge of a broken tooth or a patch. Anti-oxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene) provide additional protection.

If sun damage on a wide lip area, could be shaving the lips, which raised lip around the outer layer, either by surgery or by laser, to prevent the development of cancer. Successful treatment of cancer of the mouth and lips are very dependent on how far the cancer has progressed. Oral cancer rarely spreads to distant areas of the body but tends to infiltrate into the head and neck.

If all the cancer and normal tissue around the cancer removed before the cancer spreads to lymph nodes, the high recovery rate. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, rare healing. At surgery, in addition to remove the cancer in the mouth, also raised the lymph nodes under and behind the jaw and along the neck.

Patients with cancer of the mouth or throat can undergo radiation therapy and surgery or just radiation alone. Radiation therapy often damage the salivary glands and causes the patient’s mouth becomes dry, which can lead to cavitation (dental caries) and other dental problems.

Jaw bone exposed by irradiation will not heal properly, so dental problems treated prior to radiation therapy. Teeth that are suspected to cause problems, should be revoked only. Oral hygiene is very important for patients who have undergone radiation therapy for oral cancer. Gains from chemotherapy are very limited. Primary therapy is surgery and radiation.