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Lip cancer develops when aberrant cells proliferate uncontrollably, resulting in tumors or lesions on the lips. Lip cancer is a kind of squamous cell carcinoma that can appear on either the upper or lower lip, but it is more common on the lower lip.
Lip cancer can affect anyone, although it is most common in men over the age of 50 with fair skin. People who smoke, drink significant amounts of alcohol, or are exposed to the sun for an extended period of time are more likely to get the illness. People who are immunocompromised as a result of an organ transplant may also be at risk.
Although lip cancer is the most frequent type of oral cancer, it only accounts for about 0.6 percent of all malignancies in the United States. Each year, around 40,000 instances of lip cancer are diagnosed.
Lip cancer frequently appears as an unhealed mouth sore. This sore may appear crimson in those with fair skin. It may seem dark brown or gray on persons with darker complexion. Lip cancer can appear differently in each person, so if you notice anything unusual, contact your healthcare practitioner to schedule an examination.
When they first occur, lip cancer lesions can resemble cold sores. Cold sores, on the other hand, normally heal on their own in approximately 10 days. Lip cancer lesions will be present for a long time.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LIP CANCER?
Lip cancer signs and symptoms include:
- a persistent pain, lesion, blister, ulcer, or lump in the mouth
- a patch of red or white on the lip
- lip bleeding or pain
- swelling of the jaw
There may be no symptoms of lip cancer. Lip cancer is frequently discovered during a normal dental exam by a dentist. However, if you have a sore or lump on your lips, it does not necessarily indicate that you have lip cancer. Discuss any symptoms you are experiencing with your dentist or doctor.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LIP CANCER?
Experts aren't sure what causes lip cancer, but there are a few risk factors that significantly raise your chances of having the ailment. The following are major risk factors:
- Tobacco consumption. (This includes using snuff and chewing tobacco, as well as smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.)
- Abuse of alcoholic beverages.
- Excessive exposure to the sun.
- Having fair skin.
- Having reached the age of 40.
- Being a male.
- HPV infection (human papillomavirus virus).
- Immune system deficiency.
Tobacco usage is linked to the majority of lip malignancies. People who drink in addition to smoking are at a greater risk of having the condition.
HOW IS LIP CANCER DIAGNOSED?
Dentists are often the first to detect lip cancer during routine checkups and cleanings. If your doctor or dentist suspects you have lip cancer, they may recommend the following tests:
- Physical examination: Your healthcare professional will inspect your lip and ask about your symptoms during this assessment. They will also examine your lips, face, and neck for symptoms of malignancy.
- Complete blood count (CBC): This test can tell your doctor if your blood cell counts are increasing or decreasing noticeably. A complete blood count (CBC) is useful for diagnosing a wide range of illnesses, including cancer.
- Soft tissue biopsy: A tiny sample of the damaged tissue is taken and sent to a pathology lab for further examination.
- Imaging tests: To determine whether cancer has progressed beyond the lip, your healthcare provider may do a CT (computed tomography) scan, a PET scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Endoscopy: If your doctor feels that cancer cells have gone beyond your lip, an endoscopy may be performed. A small, flexible camera is passed down your throat during this procedure to look for signs of malignancy.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR LIP CANCER?
Lip cancer treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Other alternatives include targeted therapy and experimental treatments like immunotherapy and gene therapy.
Treatment, as with other cancers, is determined by the stage of the cancer, how far it has progressed (including the size of the tumor), and your overall health.
If the tumor is tiny, it is usually removed surgically. This entails removing all cancerous tissue as well as reconstructing the lip (cosmetically and functionally).
If the tumor is larger or at a later stage, radiation and chemotherapy may be administered before or after surgery to shrink the tumor and lower the risk of recurrence. Chemotherapy treatments distribute medications throughout the body, lowering the danger of cancer spreading or reoccurring.
Quitting smoking prior to treatment can improve treatment outcomes for smokers.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS OF LIP CANCER?
A lip tumor, if left untreated, can spread to other parts of the mouth and tongue, as well as distant sections of the body. If the cancer spreads, treatment becomes much more difficult.
Furthermore, treatment for lip cancer might have a variety of functional and cosmetic effects. People who have surgery to remove big tumors on their lips may have difficulty speaking, biting, and swallowing after the procedure.
Surgery might also result in lip and face deformity. Working with a speech pathologist, on the other hand, can help improve speech. Face bones and tissues can be rebuilt by reconstructive or cosmetic surgeons.
Chemotherapy and radiation can have the following adverse effects:
- hair thinning
- fatigue and weakness
- a lack of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- numbness in the hands and feet
- anemia that is severe
- loosing weight
- flaky skin
- sore throat
- Taste change
- infection
- mucosal membranes in the mouth that are inflamed (oral mucositis)
IS LIP CANCER DEADLY?
Normally, no. Because lip cancer lesions form in plainly visible sites, this type of cancer is usually discovered and treated early. As a result, the total five-year survival rate for lip cancer is 92 percent. This means that 92 percent of persons diagnosed with the disease are still alive after five years. Remember that survival rates are only approximations. They are unable to provide information about your situation or predict how long you will survive. Inquire with your healthcare practitioner if you have any further inquiries about survival rates.
HOW TO PREVENT LIP CANCER
Prevent lip cancer by avoiding all forms of cigarettes, excessive alcohol use, and minimizing exposure to both natural and artificial sunshine, particularly tanning beds.
Dentists are often the first to notice signs of lip cancer. As a result, it's critical to schedule regular dental appointments with a competent dentist, especially if you're at a higher risk for lip cancer.
CONCLUSION
A lip cancer diagnosis can be frightening or depressing, especially if treatment results in facial deformity. However, advanced cancer therapies and reconstructive surgical methods can restore your health and look. Discuss your treatment options with your doctor, and consider joining an oral cancer support group. Being in the company of others who are going through similar experiences can be beneficial to your mental, emotional, and spiritual health.