What is Gum Cancer?
Gum cancer is the malignancy of the soft tissue around the teeth, including the bones of the jaw underlying the teeth. Gum cancer is a type of oral cancer that affects predominantly males. It is also often called gingival cancer.
Gingival cancer can occur as a primary malignant tumor or as a metastatic site of other head and neck cancers. Gum cancer occurs in the form of squamous cell carcinoma, which means that the lining of the gums and mouth are affected.
Gum cancer is also highly metastatic because of being lymphoproliferative. This means that gum cancer cells are able to spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system. In fact, the most common site of metastasis is in the lymph nodes especially in the neck. Despite this, the progression of the disease is slow and early stages may be asymptomatic.
Signs & Symptoms of Gum Cancer
Signs and symptoms of gum cancer include those that affect the gums, teeth and oral cavity. These include:
- Pain in the gums
- Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums
- Tumor growth in the gums, (grows bigger overtime)
- Gum sores that do not heal
- Gum ulcerations
- Gum bleeding
- Discolorations in the gums (usually dark, reddish or white patches)
- Abnormal gum texture
- Loose teeth
Gum cancer can affect the teeth and may eventually cause complete absence of teeth. The roots of teeth can be affected, leading to dislocation, despite absence of cavities or damage. The earliest sign of gum cancer is gum bleeding. Often, people disregard this symptom thinking that it is just caused by trauma from brushing. However, gum bleeding in gingival cancer may occur, despite using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Smoking also masks discoloration of the gums caused by cancer since tar contained in cigarettes also causes gum discoloration.
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