Can oral cancer ulceration with pus infect others?

Written by Liu Ping
Oncology
Updated on September 29, 2024
00:00
00:00

Oral cancer ulceration and pus discharge indicate that the tumor cells and cancer cells are locally invasive and infiltrative, which is quite severe. Since the mouth communicates and comes into contact with the external environment, bacterial infection is inevitable. Thus, ulceration often coincides with bacterial infection, leading to inflammation and pus discharge, which can infect others. In terms of infection, bacteria can definitely be transmitted through direct contact and bodily fluid contact. However, it is generally believed that tumor cells are not transmitted to others via direct contact or bodily fluids, considering that a normal person has a functioning immune system capable of recognizing and destroying a small number of tumor cells. Additionally, the likelihood of tumor cells from one person being transmitted to another through bodily fluids is considered very low.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
38sec home-news-image

Can oral cancer be transmitted through saliva?

Oral cancer, unlike some other cancers, cannot be transmitted to others through bacteria or pathogens via saliva or other means. Thus, oral cancer is not contagious. The cancer cells in oral cancer can only metastasize within the individual themselves, causing proliferation and spreading of the disease. Therefore, even if it leads to cancer in other parts of the body, it is not transmissible to others. Based on these symptoms, living or sharing meals with someone suffering from oral cancer does not pose a risk of contagion through saliva.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
43sec home-news-image

Where does oral cancer commonly metastasize to?

Oral cancer poses a significant threat to human health, thus early detection and treatment are crucial for effective outcomes. In addition to chronic, non-healing ulcers, early signs of oral cancer include abnormal growths, pain, bleeding, and relatively early metastasis. It can infiltrate nearby muscles involved in chewing and biting, the throat affecting swallowing and speech functions, and also spread to cervical lymph nodes, causing enlargement of these nodes. Therefore, besides the symptoms in the mouth, attention must also be given to adjacent organ tissues, especially the condition of the cervical lymph nodes, to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment for effective results.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
38sec home-news-image

Can oral cancer be detected by a CT scan?

Oral cancer cannot be detected through a CT scan. Oral CT, also known as cone beam CT (CBCT), is referred to by dentists as CBCT. This type of scan is more effective for assessing hard tissues. If one wants to examine soft tissues, the results are not as good. CT scans are only effective for observing the teeth and jawbone within the mouth, and can only identify the presence of a tumor, but cannot differentiate between benign and malignant tumors. Therefore, oral cancer cannot be detected using this method.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
51sec home-news-image

Does oral cancer cause an increase in carcinoembryonic antigen?

When oral cancer occurs, there is a possibility that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels may be elevated. Among the current mainstream tumor markers, CEA is the most broadly applicable. Elevated levels of CEA can occur in a variety of tumors. However, an increase in CEA does not necessarily mean that oral cancer is present. Due to the relatively superficial location of the oral cavity, specific physical examinations of the mouth, or direct visualization of the inside of the mouth using auxiliary instruments, can be used to detect lesions associated with oral cancer. Once oral cancer is diagnosed, the primary treatments are surgery and radiotherapy. After surgery and radiotherapy, adjunctive chemotherapy can be used to improve treatment efficacy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
36sec home-news-image

Oral cancer is prone to metastasize to locations

If you have oral cancer, the most likely place for it to spread is the throat. The mouth is connected to the throat, and cancer cells in the mouth grow very quickly. These cancer cells also have a high tendency to spread. If left unchecked over time, there is a possibility that they will spread throughout the body. Moreover, since the mouth and throat are so close to each other, the throat is the most likely first place to be affected. If a patient discovers they have oral cancer, they should seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent the condition from spreading.