A type of oral cancer in which the tumor begins to develop in the squamous cells that line the oral cavity and certain facial structures (including the lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat) is called lip cancer. Furthermore, this type of cancer has a high survival rate because doctors often diagnose it in the early stages. While the most common treatment is surgery, physicians may also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy to make sure there are no remaining cancerous cells.
In other words, lip cancer is a type of cancer that happens when certain cells grow and multiply out of control, causing tumors or lesions (abnormal areas of skin) on the lips. Approximately 90% of all diagnosed lip cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. The remaining 10% are basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. The most common symptom is a sore, blister, ulcer, or lump on the bottom lip that does not heal for more than 2 weeks.
Generally, lip cancer is one of the most common types of oral cancer. However, it accounts for less than 1% of all diagnosed cancers in the U.S.
What Are The Symptoms of Lip Cancer?
An early form of lip cancer often causes a mouth sore that does not heal. That’s why it is easy to mistake it for cold sores. However, this type of cancer may also cause other symptoms. Check some examples below:
- Numbness, tingling, or pain on the lips or in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Swollen jaw
- Bleeding or thickening lips
- A flat or raised spot on the lips
If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately contact your healthcare professional. Otherwise, it may lead to serious complications.
Causes and Risk Factors
Healthcare providers do not fully understand what exactly causes this type of cancer, but it happens due to DNA changes that cause certain cells to grow and multiply abnormally. These cells often spread and cause damage to healthy cells. While physicians do not know the cause, they have identified some factors that could elevate your risk. Check some of them below:
- Tobacco products – For example, smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, and using snuff or chewing tobacco. Most of the time, lip cancer is linked to tobacco use.
- Misuse of alcoholic drinks – The risk of developing lip cancer increases by up to 30 times if you are drinking alcoholic drinks in heavy amounts and use tobacco products.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun – This includes artificial light in tanning beds. Moreover, this risk factor may also increase the risk of other types of cancer (such as melanoma).
- Fair skin – Those who are white with light features are at increased risk for lip cancer.
- Age – Usually, lip cancer affects people between the ages of 50 and 60, but it may occur at any age as well.
- Sex – According to some data, this type of cancer occurs more frequently in men than women.
- Weakened immune system – The immune system can become weakened due to multiple reasons. Examples include immunosuppressants (a group of medicines that are used to suppress the immune system), organ transplant medicines, cancer, HIV infection, and others.
Does Lip Cancer Spread Quickly?
The most common form of lip cancer spreads slowly, and people do not notice it in the early stages. Early diagnosis and treatment often help prevent the spread of abnormal cells to other parts of the body.
What Are The Potential Complications of Lip Cancer?
People who leave lip cancer untreated may also experience some complications. Check some examples below:
- Metastasis – This complication occurs when the cancer spreads from its original position. For example, the tumor on the lip grows large enough and spreads to nearby tissues or organs.
- Disfigurement and tissue loss – In more advanced stages, this condition may cause erosion of the lip tissue, nerve damage, and chronic (long-term) bleeding.
- Secondary infections – Broken skin significantly increases the risk of developing bacterial as well as other types of infection.
- Treatment complications – These include functional deficits, poor wound healing, oral fistulas, oral mucositis, xerostomia, anemia, fatigue, stiffness, bone damage, nutritional deficiencies, and others.
The previous list does not contain a full list of complications, but you can talk with your doctor about measures to reduce the risk or even prevent them.
Is There a Way to Prevent Lip Cancer?
The following tips may help reduce the risk of developing lip cancer because there is no sure way to prevent it. Examples include:
- Stop using tobacco products – If you face problems with smoking cessation, it is advised to discuss it with your physician.
- Limit or avoid alcoholic drinks
- Get protection against UV rays – Doctors often recommend using sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 even on cloudy days. You can also use lip balm and avoid being outdoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Avoid tanning beds
- Regular oral examinations
Diagnosis
In most cases, the diagnosis of lip cancer starts with a physical examination in which doctors will check for irregularities linked to the disease. Thereafter, they will ask you some questions about the symptoms and medical history to get more clues about your condition. However, to confirm or rule out this condition, physicians will perform the following tests and procedures. These include:
- Soft tissue biopsy – During this procedure, physicians will take a sample of the affected tissue for testing. They will examine this sample under a microscope for cancerous cells.
- Imaging tests – Usually, doctors perform CT (computerized tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, or PET (positron emission tomography) scans to get detailed images of the mouth.
- Endoscopy – This test is used to check whether the cancer has spread.
Treatment
Healthcare professionals usually prescribe different treatments for people with lip cancer. It depends on the severity, location, and size of the tumor, overall health, age, sex, and preferences. Check some examples below:
- Surgery – During this procedure, surgeons will remove the tumor or lesion and repair the lip. In some cases, they may also remove nearby lymph nodes.
- Radiation therapy – This therapy delivers powerful energy beams to the tumor and destroys it. While this energy often comes from protons or X-rays, it may also come from other sources. Commonly, doctors recommend external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) for people with lip cancer.
- Chemotherapy – This option involves strong medications that kill cancerous cells throughout the body. Sometimes, physicians recommend this cancer treatment along with radiation therapy to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
- Targeted therapy – This cancer treatment also involves medicines that block a specific protein in the cancer cell, causing it to die.
- Immunotherapy – Most cancerous cells produce specific chemicals that help them hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps boost the immune system to find and destroy these abnormal cells. It is usually prescribed by doctors when other options do not work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lip cancer curable?
Yes. Lip cancer is often curable, especially when it is diagnosed and treated in its early stages. Because many tumors develop on the visible part of the lip, they are often detected sooner than other oral cancers, improving the chances of successful treatment.
What does lip cancer look like in its early stages?
Early lip cancer may appear as a sore, ulcer, blister, scaly patch, lump, or thickened area on the lip that does not heal within two weeks. It may also bleed easily or develop a crust. Any persistent lip lesion should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Can lip cancer be mistaken for a cold sore?
Yes. Early lip cancer can resemble a cold sore or a cracked lip. However, unlike a cold sore, lip cancer does not heal on its own within a few weeks and may continue to grow or change in appearance over time.
Which part of the lip is most commonly affected by lip cancer?
The lower lip is affected far more often than the upper lip because it receives greater exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Most lip cancers develop on the lower lip.
Who is at the highest risk of developing lip cancer?
People with prolonged sun exposure, tobacco users, heavy alcohol users, individuals with fair skin, adults over 50 years of age, and those with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of developing lip cancer. The risk is even greater when several of these factors are present together.
Can lip cancer return after treatment?
Yes. Even after successful treatment, lip cancer can recur. Regular follow-up visits, routine oral examinations, and avoiding risk factors such as tobacco use and excessive sun exposure can help detect recurrence early.
How long does recovery take after lip cancer surgery?
Recovery depends on the size and location of the tumor and the extent of surgery. Minor procedures may heal within a few weeks, while more extensive surgeries that require reconstructive procedures may take several months for full recovery. Your surgeon will provide personalized recovery instructions.
Does lip cancer always require chemotherapy?
No. Many people with early-stage lip cancer are successfully treated with surgery alone or surgery combined with radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is generally reserved for advanced cancers, recurrent disease, or cancers that have spread to other parts of the body.
Can wearing lip balm help prevent lip cancer?
Yes. Using a lip balm with broad-spectrum sun protection (SPF 30 or higher) may help reduce UV damage to the lips, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. It should be used along with other sun-protection measures, such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat and avoiding excessive sun exposure.
When should I see a doctor about a sore on my lip?
You should see a healthcare provider if a sore, lump, ulcer, scaly patch, or other abnormal area on your lip lasts longer than two weeks, bleeds repeatedly, becomes painful, or continues to enlarge. Early evaluation can lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment, especially if the cancer is already present. Ask your healthcare professional if you have any other questions.
