✅ Oral Cancer – Affects the tongue, lips, gums, and inner cheeks.
✅ Pharyngeal Cancer – Affects the throat, including the tonsils and the back of the tongue.
✅ Laryngeal Cancer – Affects the voice box, leading to hoarseness and difficulty speaking.
✅ Nasopharyngeal Cancer – Affects the area behind the nose and above the throat.
✅ Salivary Gland Cancer – Develops in the glands that produce saliva.
✅ Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer – Forms in the spaces inside the nose.

🔵 Non-healing mouth sores – Open wounds or ulcers in the mouth that don’t heal even after two weeks.
🔵 Persistent mouth pain – Continuous pain or discomfort in the mouth without an obvious reason.
🔵 Difficulty swallowing – Feeling like food is stuck in the throat or pain while eating.
🔵 Red or white patches inside the mouth – Unusual colored patches on the tongue, gums, or cheeks, which may indicate early cancer changes.
🔵 Lump in the neck – A swollen or hard lump that doesn’t go away, which could be an enlarged lymph node due to cancer spread.
🔵 Unexplained weight loss – Losing weight without trying, which may be a sign of advanced cancer.

✅ Tobacco use – Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco damages mouth cells and increases cancer risk.
✅ Excessive alcohol consumption – Drinking too much alcohol can irritate mouth tissues and lead to cancer.
✅ HPV infection – Human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus, can cause oral and throat cancers.
✅ Poor oral hygiene – Long-term infections, irritation, or gum diseases can contribute to cancer risk.
✅ Excessive sun exposure – Can cause lip cancer, especially in people who work outdoors.
✅ Genetic factors – A family history of oral cancer may increase the risk.

🔵 Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ) – Abnormal cells are present but haven’t spread to deeper tissues.
🔵 Stage I & II – Small tumors (less than 4 cm) are localized to one area.
🔵 Stage III – The tumor is larger or has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
🔵 Stage IV – The cancer has spread to distant organs.

✅ Physical Examination – A doctor checks the mouth, throat, and neck for lumps or abnormal patches.
✅ Biopsy – A small sample of tissue is removed and tested under a microscope to confirm cancer.
✅ Imaging Tests (CT scan, MRI, PET scan) – These scans help determine the tumor size and whether cancer has spread.
✅ Endoscopy – A thin tube with a camera is inserted into the throat to check for abnormalities.

🔵 Surgery – Removal of the tumor and, in some cases, part of the affected tissues.
🔵 Radiation Therapy – High-energy X-rays target and destroy cancer cells.
🔵 Chemotherapy – Cancer-killing drugs are used to stop the disease from spreading.
🔵 Targeted Therapy – Specific drugs attack cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
🔵 Immunotherapy – Boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

Oral cancer is a serious but preventable disease. Avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, maintaining good oral hygiene, and getting regular dental check-ups can lower the risk. Early detection leads to better treatment outcomes and improved survival rates.