These are the signs that he is?!
Mouth cancer, a form of head and neck cancer, is alarmingly prevalent among men over 40 and continues to claim thousands of lives each year. In India alone, 77,003 new cases and 52,067 deaths were reported this year, a grim reminder of how serious this illness remains. Despite being treatable when caught early, many individuals don’t realize something is wrong until the disease has already progressed and spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.
Mouth cancer doesn’t refer to just one condition—it includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor of the mouth. What makes this especially concerning is that many of the early signs can seem minor or unrelated to something serious. Symptoms such as persistent mouth sores that don’t heal, swelling, unusual bleeding, pain in the mouth or on the tongue, numbness, sudden weight loss, or red and white patches in the mouth are all red flags. These signs on their own may not confirm cancer, but if they persist, they should never be dismissed.
Regular dental checkups are a vital part of early detection. Dentists can often identify abnormalities that might go unnoticed by patients. This is especially important for people who smoke or consume alcohol regularly—two habits that dramatically increase the risk of developing mouth cancer. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, and chewing tobacco are all linked directly to this disease. When these habits are combined with heavy alcohol use, the risk multiplies significantly.
If symptoms are caught in time, treatment can be highly effective. Mouth cancer is categorized into four stages. Stage 1 involves a small, localized tumor, while Stage 4 indicates that the cancer has spread to other tissues or organs. Depending on how advanced the disease is at diagnosis, treatment may involve surgery to remove tumors, radiation therapy to kill cancer cells, chemotherapy, or targeted drug therapy.
In India and many parts of the world, there’s still a major problem with late-stage diagnosis. This is often due to a combination of limited awareness, stigma, lack of access to healthcare, or simply neglecting oral health. As a result, patients miss the critical window when cancer is most treatable. It’s estimated that nearly 80% of mouth cancer cases are connected to tobacco use, and when diagnosed in the early stages, the survival rate can be as high as 82%.
Doctors like Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit in Delhi are helping lead the way in both treatment and awareness. But no matter where one lives, prevention and early intervention remain the most powerful tools. Prioritizing oral hygiene, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and not ignoring changes in the mouth could be the key to saving lives. Mouth cancer is preventable and, when caught early, often survivable. Awareness, vigilance, and proactive health care are the difference between life and tragedy.