Rajesh was 54 when a sore appeared inside his cheek. “It will heal,” he told his wife. He chewed tobacco for thirty years. Weeks passed, the sore grew, swallowing became painful. By the time he came in, doctors confirmed oral cancer.

Another man, 40, also chewed tobacco. He noticed a white patch on his tongue. This time he didn’t wait. He got tested. A biopsy showed early changes. It wasn’t full-blown cancer yet. Surgery was quick. He walked out cured.

That’s the difference timing makes.

Why It Happens

The biggest oral cancer causes in India are tobacco and gutka. Smoking, heavy drinking, poor oral hygiene add to the risk. Betel nut and sharp teeth causing chronic irritation also matter. HPV infection plays a role too. Most of these are preventable.

The Signs That Get Ignored

A sore that refuses to heal. A lump in the cheek. Red or white patches on the tongue. Pain while chewing. Difficulty swallowing. Many people think it’s a dental problem or acidity. They wait. That waiting lets the disease spread.

How Doctors Find It

A biopsy is the surest way. Before that, an oral exam by a specialist points the way. Imaging CT, MRI, PET shows how far it has gone. These cancer diagnostic testing services are done at the best cancer hospital in India, where surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists meet as a team.

Treatment Options

Early disease: surgery, removing the patch or tumor.
Advanced disease: surgery plus radiation, sometimes chemotherapy.
Reconstructive surgery helps restore appearance and function. Newer targeted therapies are part of oral cancer prevention and treatment in some advanced cases.

Prevention First

This is one cancer where prevention works better than cure. No tobacco. No gutka. Limit alcohol. Maintain oral hygiene. Regular dental check-ups save lives because dentists often catch it first.

Final Word

Oral cancer is common, but it doesn’t have to be deadly. A sore, a patch, difficulty swallowing they’re not small. They may be early warnings. Don’t ignore them. Get tested. Early treatment saves lives.

Consult us at any of our locations across IOCI Noida, Greater Noida, Mumbai, Indore, Chh. Sambhajinagar, Agartala, Saharanpur, Kanpur and Jodhpur.