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Sore lips that won't heal quickly? Don't ignore them, could be early signs of lip cancer

There could be no one reason attributed to the cause of lip cancer since it happens due to DNA mutations. The abnormal growth of cells tend to form lesions or tumours on the lips.

TN Digital

Updated Jun 5, 2022, 10:18 IST

Sore lips, discoloured lips and bleeding lips could all be symptoms of lip cancer

Photo : iStock

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Tobacco used in any form; cigarettes, pipes or even chewing tobacco could be the cause of lip cancer
Although exposure to the sun or UV light may help maintain vitamin D levels, exposure may result in a higher risk for developing skin cancers
Heavy use of alcohol could also be a cause of lip cancer

New Delhi: Lip cancer occurs when there is the growth of thin, flat cells in the middle and outer layers of the skin called squamous cells. With the abnormal growth of these cells, they tend to form lesions or tumours on the lips.

Causes of lip cancer:

There could be no one reason attributed to the cause of lip cancer since it happens due to DNA mutations. But listed below are a few causes of lip cancer:

Use of tobacco: Tobacco used in any form; cigarettes, pipes or even chewing tobacco could be the cause of lip cancer as tobacco contains numerous poisonous substances (toxins), cancer-causing agents (carcinogens), and nicotine - which is an addictive substance, reports Johns Hopkins Medicine. (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/oral-cancer-and-tobacco)

Consumption of alcohol: Heavy use of alcohol could also be a cause of lip cancer because one never knows what exactly causes DNA mutations. Alcohol, particularly when associated with tobacco use, has been recognised as an important risk factor for mouth cancer for almost 50 years, says a report by the University of Dundee (UK). (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16054978/)

Exposure to sun: Long exposures to the sun could be a cause of lip cancer because like the skin even the lips need to be protected with an SPF. Although exposure to the sun or UV light may help maintain vitamin D levels, exposure may result in a higher risk for developing skin cancers, reports a study by Cleveland Clinic Foundation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445124/). This is especially true of summer and winter outdoor athletes, who are exposed to higher amounts of UV light due to training and competition schedules.

Early detection of lip cancer: Symptoms to look out for:

A sore or ulcer in the lip that doesn’t heal
Discolouration of the lips
Bleeding and tingling pain in the lips
Swelling of the jaws

Tips to prevent lip cancer:

Since it is difficult to dissect what actually causes lip cancer, here are some tips that would help to prevent the growth of cancer cells:

Stop the use of tobacco: Tobacco is a foreign object for the body and hence it could be a cause of mutations in the DNA giving rise to the growth of cancer cells.
Stop drinking alcohol: Much like tobacco, even alcohol is foreign to the human body and could be a cause of cancer.
Use SPF: It is important that your lip remains protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Therefore, it is important that one uses SPF even on their lips when out in the sun as well as inside their houses.
Maintain good immunity: Since a weakened immune system is one of the causes of oral cancer, it helps if one keeps tweaking lifestyle factors to retain peak immunity. It could include exercising regularly, de-stressing (yoga and meditation help), eating a nutritious and easy to digest diet, etc.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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