The best way to prevent lip cancer is to avoid smoking and heavy alcohol consumption
Cancer in your lips can happen when squamous cells that line certain oral and facial features begin to multiply abnormally, resulting in tumours. According to experts, being a type of oral cancer, lip cancer does have a high survival rate as it can be diagnosed in the early stages and cured with surgery. However, it is also preventable.
Lip cancer is the most common type of oral cancer, but it makes up less than 1 per cent of all cancer cases diagnosed globally. Doctors say the best way to prevent lip cancer is to avoid smoking and heavy alcohol consumption, two of the main factors behind this otherwise deadly condition. A few risk factors for lip cancer include:
Tobacco use
It includes smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, and using snuff and chewing tobacco. Studies say most lip cancers are linked to tobacco use.
Heavy alcohol consumption
Your risk for lip cancer goes up 30 times if you use tobacco and also consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Excessive sun exposure
Too much exposure to sun or artificial light in tanning beds can lead to lip cancer.
Having fair skin
According to experts, those who are mostly white with light features are most at risk.
Being over 40
Doctors say most people are diagnosed with lip cancer in their 50s and 60s.
Gender
Males are up to three times more likely to develop lip cancer
Weakened immunity
A weak immune system is one of the most important reasons why you can get lip cancer.
According to experts, you can definitely reduce your risk for lip cancer by avoiding these common risk factors, but most importantly, it is imperative that you get regular screenings done at hospitals to occasionally check for abnormalities.
What is lip cancer?
Lip cancer happens when abnormal cells grow out of control, resulting in solid tumours or lesions on your lips. Doctors say more than 90 per cent of lip cancers are squamous cell carcinoma, which starts in the cells located in your skin’s outer layer. Less common types are basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Lip cancer also develops on either your upper or lower lip, but it is more likely to start on your lower lip.
Signs and symptoms of lip cancer
Doctors say the earliest sign of lip cancer often looks like a mouth sore that does not heal at all. However, it is also easy to mistake tumours for cold sores when they first appear. The difference is that cold sores go away on their own in about a week, but lip cancer lesions linger. Other signs of lip cancer include:
- A flat or slightly raised colored spot on your lips
- Pain, numbness, or tingling on your lips or in your mouth
- Loose teeth, and if you wear dentures, they stop fitting
- Bleeding or thickening lips
- A swollen jaw
What are the complications that lip cancer can cause?
According to experts, if you had surgery to remove a large tumour on your lips, you may also need reconstruction surgery so that your mouth looks like it used to before. You may also need to work with a speech pathologist or therapist if you have trouble speaking or swallowing after the treatment.
However, doctors say if you are worried about how you will look after surgery, make sure to know that there are several procedures that can help restore your appearance and can be discussed with your healthcare provider before surgery to remove the tumour.
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