If stomatitis persists for more than three weeks, it could be cancer.

The reason why we need to pay close attention to stomatitis

It is said that half of the cases of oral cancer are in people under 50.

It's scaryㅠ

Usually, when people hear the word cancer, they perceive it as a disease of the elderly.

In reality, most cancers occur frequently in middle-aged and older individuals who have been exposed to carcinogens such as smoking or alcohol for a long period.

However, tongue cancer can also occur relatively frequently in the younger age group under 30 years old.

Oral cancer is classified as a head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers of the oral cavity (mouth), nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers (nose), pharyngeal cancers, laryngeal cancers, thyroid cancers, and salivary gland cancers, encompassing all cancers that occur from the base of the skull to the mediastinum (the empty space within the thoracic cavity), excluding the brain and eyes.

According to the National Cancer Registration Program annual report, the number of new head and neck cancer patients has increased by 29% over the past five years, from 32,147 in 2017 to 41,460 in 2021. Among these, tongue cancer cases increased by 33%, from 748 in 2017 to 993 in 2021. Notably, new tongue cancer patients in their 20s to 50s accounted for 46%, nearly half of all patients.

The tongue is a highly flexible muscular organ that detects the taste, temperature, and texture of food, and allows us to gather and swallow food. It is also one of the common sites where oral cancer can develop.

The early symptoms of oral cancer include inflammatory ulcers with a circular white necrosis, white leukoplakia with thick white patches, and red spots. More than half of oral cancers originate on the sides of the tongue, and initially may be painless. However, if the tumor spreads to the nerves around the tongue, severe pain is experienced.

Oral cancer often resembles stomatitis symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Generally, stomatitis occurs when the immune system weakens due to excessive stress or fatigue, when wounds are caused by physical stimuli, when infected by bacteria, or as a result of spicy foods or allergic reactions.