What is the difference between oral cancer and mouth cancer? Most people do not know when they see a sore inside their mouth that it is a simple pest or it may be a sign of oral cancer. Therefore, in this article, we will fully examine the difference between canker sores and oral cancer, and we will examine their differences in terms of appearance, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment methods. At the end of this article, you can easily recognize the difference between oral cancer and mouth cancer and take timely treatment if necessary. Difference between mouth mouth cancer and mouth mouth The difference between oral cancer and mouth cancer is in the nature and degree of their risk. Canker sore is a kind of benign and non-cancerous ulcer that is usually small, round and painful and resolves within one to two weeks without special treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic website, these ulcers are included in the category of mouth ulcers in the non-cancerous lesions group. On the other hand, oral cancer is a malignant lesion that, if not treated, can spread to surrounding tissues and even threaten life. Unlike canker sores, canker sores are usually painless, remain in the mouth for a long time, and grow or change shape over time. photo of oral cancer and plague Oral thrush usually appears as a small lesion with a white or yellow center and a red border inside the mouth. These sores are often seen in areas such as the inside of the lip, the sides of the tongue, or the roof of the mouth, and are usually painful. In contrast, ulcers caused by oral cancer usually appear as a raised mass, a sunken ulcer, or a lesion with hard, irregular edges. The most important difference between canker sores and oral cancer is in their duration and progress; Canker sores usually heal in a short time, but canker sores are permanent and progress and change shape over time. The difference between cancer and mouth sores in terms of symptoms Difference between pest and cancer in the mouth in terms of the cause One of the important points in examining the difference between plague and mouth cancer is the causes of these two diseases. Oral thrush is usually caused by temporary, non-cancerous factors, while oral cancer is directly related to risk factors and genetics. ### The cause of mouth sores Some of the causes of canker sores are as follows: - Stress and anxiety - Deficiency of group B vitamins (especially B12) - Iron and folic acid deficiency - Physical damage to the mouth (like biting the lip) - Food allergies ### The cause of oral cancer Some of the causes of oral cancer are as follows: - Smoking (cigarettes and hookah) - Continuous alcohol consumption - HPV virus infection - Family history of cancer - Exposure to the sun for a long time (in lip cancer) Difference between plague and oral cancer in terms of diagnosis method Another difference between plague and mouth cancer is the way they are diagnosed. Pests can usually be diagnosed by a simple examination by a doctor or dentist; But oral cancer needs more investigation. To ensure the type of lesion and the possibility of it being cancerous, the doctor uses more accurate diagnostic methods, which include the following: - Clinical examination by an oral and maxillofacial specialist - Sampling (biopsy) of suspicious tissue - HPV test if needed - Imaging (CT scan or MRI) - Additional blood test in some cases The difference between mouth sores and oral cancer in terms of treatment The difference between canker sores and mouth cancer is clearly evident in their treatment methods. Canker sores usually heal on their own without the need for treatment, and only in some cases when the pain is too much, topical medications are used for the immediate treatment of canker sores. On the other hand, oral cancer is a serious and dangerous disease whose treatment requires specialized medical interventions and combined treatments. Some of the methods of oral cancer treatment are as follows: ### Radiotherapy In radiation therapy, high-powered rays (often X-rays or high-energy particles) are used to destroy cancer cells. This method is usually used in the early stages of cancer either to shrink the tumor before surgery or to destroy the remaining cells after surgery. ### Chemotherapy (chemotherapy) Chemotherapy is a type of drug treatment in which anticancer drugs travel throughout the body through the bloodstream, killing cancer cells. According to Cancer Research UK, chemotherapy is usually used to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery and when the cancer has spread. ### Target therapy (targeted treatment) Target therapy is a newer method in which certain drugs or chemicals identify and destroy cancer cells directly; Without damaging healthy cells. This method is often used along with other treatments or in inoperable patients. ### Surgery Oral cancer surgery is performed when the tumor is in a condition where it can be removed completely. In this method, in addition to the cancerous mass, some of the surrounding healthy tissue is also removed to ensure the complete removal of cancerous cells. If the disease has spread to the lymph nodes of the neck, these areas are also removed during surgery. Comparison of mouth cancer and mouth cancer in terms of side effects Another important point in the difference between plague and mouth cancer is the complications of these two diseases. Although mouth sores are painful, they do not cause serious and long-lasting complications, and after recovery, no traces of it remain. For this reason, there is no special concern about its side effects. But oral cancer can have dangerous side effects if it is not diagnosed and treated on time. In advanced stages, this disease, in addition to affecting the oral tissues, metastasizes to the jaw bone, lymph nodes and even other organs and threatens life. Some of the complications of oral cancer are as follows: - Difficulty in swallowing and speaking - Chronic mouth and throat pain - Spontaneous bleeding from the lesion - Bad breath - Weight loss and physical weakness Jaw bone involvement and metastasis to other organs As you have seen, **the difference between mouth cancer and mouth cancer** is quite evident in many cases, including appearance, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and side effects. Although most mouth sores are simple and harmless, sores that last more than 2 weeks or change shape need to be checked by a specialist. I recommend that you see a dentist if you see any suspicious sores in your mouth.