Mouth cancer, a type of head and throat cancer, is more common after age 40 and affects men more often than women. In India this year, “77,003 new cases of mouth cancer have been registered” and “52,067 people have died.” Early detection greatly improves survival, but many cases are found only after spreading to lymph nodes.

Types include lip, tongue, inner cheek, gum, and lower mouth cancer. Dentists recommend a checkup “at least twice a year,” especially for people who smoke or drink.

Symptoms often appear late. They include “non-healing blister on the lips or mouth,” mouth enlargement, bleeding, loose teeth, pain or difficulty swallowing, sudden lumps in the neck, earache, weight loss, numbness, and “red and white patches on the mouth or lips.” These may signal other illnesses, but if persistent, they must not be ignored.

The main causes are smoking, tobacco in any form, and heavy alcohol use. These habits significantly increase risk.

Mouth cancer has four stages. Stage 1 tumors are small and localized, while Stage 4 cancers spread to surrounding tissues or the body. “The stages of cancer tell how it can be treated as well as how likely it is to be cured.”