13) Weight loss
Weight loss occurs in all types of cancer. Mouth cancer can also cause severe weight loss due to many causes. Lesion in the mouth, sore ulcers, dysphagia and painful chewing of food can contribute towards malnutrition of the patient. Most of the mouth cancers are squamous cell carcinomas occurring in men with a low socioeconomic condition. Weight loss of more than 10 pounds is one of the first signs of mouth cancer. Daily fatigue, loss of energy and weakness are other symptoms that accompany weight loss. More than 90% of the patient of mouth cancer develop severe weight loss and cachexia. If you are suffering from unexplained weight loss accompanied by some of the symptoms mentioned above, it is inevitable to consult your doctor immediately. It is also wise to give a visit to a registered dietician or nutritionist to get nutrition counseling.
Conclusion
Mouth cancer is 10th most common cancer in the world. It mostly affects men above the age of 40 years. Gums, cheek, the floor of the mouth, gingiva, and tongue are major sites affected by mouth cancer. Major risk factors of the disease are heavy alcohol intake, chronic smoking and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The most significant warning symptoms are dysphagia, unexplained bleeding from the mouth, sore ulcers in the mouth, painful chewing, pain in the ears, white or red thickened patches, tongue pain, and weight loss. Leukoplakia and erythroplakia are major pre-cancerous lesions of mouth cancer. Consult your doctor immediately after observing any of these warning symptoms. Earlier diagnosis of the disease can improve chances of survival of the patient. Biopsy is taken from the suspected lesion to evaluate it under the microscope. Surgery and radiotherapy are major treatment options depending upon the stage of cancer.
