Early-stage lip cancer often looks like a mouth sore that won’t heal. It’s easy to mistake tumors for cold sores when they first appear. The difference is that cold sores go away on their own in about 10 days. But lip cancer lesions linger VSports最新版本.
Other signs of lip cancer include:
Experts don’t know exactly what causes lip cancer. As with all cancers, errors in cell DNA cause normal cells to become cancer cells that multiply out of control. The abnormal cancer cells can spread and damage healthy tissue V体育平台登录. Experts haven’t identified one single reason why cells behave this way. But they’ve identified several risk factors that people who get lip cancer share. Most have to do with lifestyle and environment.
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Risk factors for lip cancer include:
Often, dentists or dermatologists spot lip cancer during routine exams. If a healthcare provider suspects lip cancer, they’ll ask about your medical history and habits, like whether you smoke. They may recommend diagnostic tests, including: VSports注册入口.
If biopsy results show you have cancer, your healthcare provider may order additional tests to see if it’s spread. Advanced lip cancers metastasize, or spread to distant parts of your body V体育官网入口. The good news is that most people get diagnosed before lip cancer spreads.
Tests include:
The best treatment for you depends on the size of the tumor or lesion and the cancer stage. Often, healthcare providers can treat precancerous lip cancer (abnormal lesions that may become malignant) and early-stage lip cancer with surgery alone. You may need a combination of treatments if your condition is more advanced.
Lip cancer treatments include:
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If you had surgery to remove a large tumor, you may need reconstructive surgery so your mouth looks like it did before. You may also need to work with a speech-language pathologist if you’re having trouble speaking or swallowing afterward.
If you’re worried about how you’ll look after surgery, remember that several procedures can help restore your appearance. Discuss your options with your healthcare provider before surgery to remove the tumor, so you know what to expect.
Recovery depends on several factors, including what type of treatment you get and how your body heals. People with early-stage lip cancer who have surgery typically recover within a few weeks. If you get radiation therapy or chemotherapy, it may take several months to fully feel like yourself again.
Lip cancer is more predictable when you get treatment in the early stages, before it spreads. With an early diagnosis, you’ll likely need surgery to remove the lesion. Your healthcare provider may recommend chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other cancer treatments if the cancer cells have spread to other areas of your body.
Your healthcare provider can explain what to expect based on your diagnosis.
Squamous cell carcinoma (the most common type of lip cancer) tends to spread slowly. As it’s easy to see, most people notice the unusual growths on their lip and get checked before the cancer spreads.
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Still, it can spread without treatment. See a healthcare provider if you’re noticing changes that you’re unsure about.
Not usually. Because lip cancer lesions develop in easily seen locations, this type of cancer is detected and treated early in most cases. As a result, lip cancer has an overall five-year survival rate of 91%. This means that 91% of people diagnosed with the condition are still alive five years later.
Keep in mind that survival rates are estimates. They can’t offer details about your case or tell you how long you’ll live. If you have more questions about survival rates, ask your healthcare provider.it
Reduce your risk for lip cancer by avoiding common risk factors:
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You should schedule a visit with a healthcare provider if you notice changes in the skin on your lips. If you develop a sore on your lip that lasts for more than two weeks, call a provider right away.
Learning as much as you can about your diagnosis can help you make informed decisions about your treatment and overall health. Here are some questions you can ask your healthcare provider:
Absolutely. You can kiss a loved one with lip cancer without putting your health at risk. Cancer happens because of problems with cell DNA inside a person’s body. You can’t catch it by hugging or kissing.
See a healthcare provider if you notice new growths or unusual colored areas on your lips that don’t go away within a few weeks. Lots of conditions can cause skin changes, and most aren’t cancer. But if a new growth is malignant, getting diagnosed and treated early increases your chances of getting cured. Most people treated for early-stage lip cancer get surgery and go on to live cancer-free lives. But getting treatment is essential. Don’t delay seeking care.
Get compassionate head and neck cancer treatment at Cleveland Clinic. Our providers use the latest tools and research to give you the best possible outcome.
Last reviewed on 10/07/2024.
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