It is group of cancer affecting oral cavity.
It includes cheek/buccal mucosa, tongue, alveolus(gum), palate etc.

Smoking, Spirit(alcohol), sharp tooth, Sexually transmitted disease (HPV, syphilis), Sun exposure are some of causes of oral cancer.

White patch (leukoplakia) and red patch (erythroplakia), Submucous fibrosis (restricted mouth opening) are precancerous lesions.
If they are treated, we can prevent oral cancer.

Any ulcer or growth in oral cavity which is not going in 3 weeks despite treatment is suspicious.
Earache, pain, neck swelling, pain while swallowing are few other symptoms.

Biopsy is an OPD procedure done giving anaesthesia locally. Patient can go home after 10 minutes once diagnosis is done, CT scan is done to assess spread.

Surgery is main pillar in oral cancer treatment. Tumor removed widely with neck gland removal even though nodes are not affected on examination and CT scan.
It increases chance of cure.

Plastic surgery has changed oral cancer treatment a lot. We can reconstruct tongue, we can replace bone (mandible) with bone from leg, removing its blood supply and attaching to blood vessels in neck. It helps in better cosmesis, near normal look, better swallowing and speech function.

In few limited cases, radiation can be used as curative treatment.
But most often, it is used as supportive treatment after surgery to decrease recurrence.
Radiation is given, tumor involves skin/bone or thickness of more than 5 mm/margin positive.
Chemotherapy is given if >1 node in neck node involved.