Lip Cancer

Lip Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Lip Cancer: The lips are important structures both for aesthetic appearance and for essential functions such as speaking, swallowing, and eating. However, various environmental and genetic factors can cause malignant cellular changes in lip tissue, leading to the development of lip cancer. Lip cancer is a disease that can be successfully treated, especially when detected at an early stage. ENT specialist Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen, who practices at his own clinic in Istanbul, provides patients with high success rates in lip cancer diagnosis and treatment using modern surgical techniques, individualized treatment plans, and a multidisciplinary approach.
In this article, we will comprehensively answer all questions such as what lip cancer is, which risk factors are associated with it, what its symptoms are, how it is diagnosed, and what treatment options are available.

What Is Lip Cancer?

Lip cancer develops when cells in the lip tissue grow abnormally and uncontrollably, forming a malignant tumor. Squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) is the most common form. More rarely, basal cell carcinoma or other uncommon cancer types may develop on the lip.
Lip cancer most frequently occurs on the lower lip. This is because the lower lip is more exposed to sunlight and external factors.

With early diagnosis, the chance of successful treatment is quite high; therefore, any unusual changes in the mouth and lip area should be monitored closely.

Causes and Risk Factors of Lip Cancer

Many factors can contribute to the development of lip cancer. The main known risk factors include:

• Prolonged sun exposure: Especially in fair-skinned individuals, UV radiation can damage DNA and increase the risk of lip cancer.
• Tobacco use: Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or chewing tobacco can cause chronic irritation of the lip mucosa and lead to cancer.
• Alcohol consumption: Alcohol, especially when combined with tobacco, multiplies cancer risk.
• HPV infection: Human Papillomavirus (particularly types 16 and 18) can play a role in lip cancer development.
• Poor oral hygiene: Dental prostheses or poor oral care habits that cause constant irritation in the mouth can increase cancer risk.
• Immunosuppression: Conditions that weaken the immune system, such as organ transplantation or HIV, can facilitate cancer development.
• Genetic predisposition: Individuals with a family history of head and neck cancers have a higher risk.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen evaluates his patients’ risk profiles and provides consultancy on both preventive measures and early diagnosis strategies.

What Are the Symptoms of Lip Cancer?

Lip cancer can present certain symptoms in its early stages. Early recognition of these symptoms directly affects treatment success. The most common symptoms include:

• A non-healing sore on the lip: Sores lasting more than two weeks are alarming.
• Thickening or a lump on the lip: Hardened, raised areas may form.
• Pain or tenderness: Persistent pain or sensitivity on the lip may develop.
• Bleeding: Lip lesions that bleed easily from minor trauma.
• Color changes: Areas may become whitish, redder, or darker compared to normal lip color.
• Restricted lip movement: Reduced lip mobility can be seen in advanced stages.
• Neck swelling: Painless swellings in the neck may occur if lymph nodes are involved.

If any of these symptoms are observed, it is crucial to consult an ENT specialist without delay. Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen carefully evaluates these signs and initiates the diagnostic process.

How Is Lip Cancer Diagnosed?

Accurate and swift diagnosis is essential in lip cancer. The diagnostic process typically follows these steps:

• Clinical examination: The lip area is examined in detail. Suspicious lesions are assessed by palpation.
• Biopsy: A small tissue sample is taken from the suspicious lesion for pathological examination. Biopsy is the only definitive way to confirm diagnosis.
• Imaging studies: MRI, CT, or PET-CT are used to determine the extent, depth, and any metastases of the tumor.
• Lymph node evaluation: Ultrasound or imaging methods assess the status of neck lymph nodes.

Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen manages the diagnostic process quickly and effectively so that his patients can begin treatment as soon as possible.

Stages of Lip Cancer and Their Importance

Staging lip cancer is critical for determining the extent of disease spread and for planning treatment. Staging is performed using the TNM system:

• Stage 0 (Carcinoma in situ): Cancer cells are confined to the epithelial layer and have not invaded surrounding tissue.
• Stage I: Tumor is smaller than 2 cm and confined locally, with no lymph node involvement.
• Stage II: Tumor is between 2–4 cm but still localized, with no lymph node involvement.
• Stage III: Tumor may be larger than 4 cm or there is spread to ipsilateral neck lymph nodes.
• Stage IV: Tumor has invaded surrounding tissue, spread to contralateral lymph nodes, or metastasized to distant organs.

Staging provides crucial information regarding disease prognosis and survival rates. While early stages often allow curative surgical intervention, advanced stages may require combined treatment approaches.
Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen performs detailed staging for his lip cancer patients to plan the most appropriate, personalized treatment protocol.

Treatment Options for Lip Cancer

The goals of lip cancer treatment are to completely remove the tumor, preserve function, and minimize aesthetic loss. The treatment approach is determined by the patient’s age, tumor location, size, stage, and overall health status.
The main treatment methods include:

• Surgery
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapies (especially for advanced disease)

Treatment often involves a combination of surgery and radiotherapy.

Surgical Treatment in Lip Cancer

Surgery is the cornerstone and often first-choice treatment for lip cancer. The aim is to excise the cancerous tissue completely with clear margins.
Surgical options include:

• Excision: Removal of the tumor with a margin of healthy tissue for small lesions.
• Complex reconstruction: For larger resections, free flap or local flap techniques are used for aesthetic and functional repair.
• Neck dissection: If lymph node metastasis is present, surgical removal of neck lymph nodes is performed.

Modern surgical techniques allow for preservation of both appearance and lip function.
Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen adheres to oncological principles in lip cancer surgery while also considering his patients’ aesthetic expectations.

Radiotherapy in Lip Cancer

Radiotherapy can be used as an adjuvant treatment after surgery or as a primary treatment when surgery is not feasible.
Radiotherapy is applied for:

• Eradicating microscopic residual cancer cells post-surgery.
• Serving as the main treatment modality when surgery is not possible.
• Reducing tumor size before surgery (neoadjuvant radiotherapy).

Techniques such as IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy) allow focused irradiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen plans his patients’ radiotherapy needs with a multidisciplinary approach to optimize treatment.

Chemotherapy in Lip Cancer

Chemotherapy is incorporated especially in advanced-stage or metastatic lip cancer cases.
Main uses of chemotherapy include:

• Concurrent chemoradiotherapy to enhance treatment efficacy.
• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery.
• Adjuvant chemotherapy to eliminate residual cells in high-risk cases post-surgery.

The appropriate chemotherapy regimen is determined based on the patient’s condition and tumor biology.
Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen collaborates with experienced oncology teams to manage chemotherapy processes.

Post-Treatment Follow-Up

Regular monitoring after lip cancer treatment is vital for early detection of recurrence and for preserving quality of life.
The follow-up schedule generally proceeds as follows:

• Every 3 months for the first 2 years with detailed examination and imaging as needed.
• Every 6 months between years 3–5.
• Annual check-ups after 5 years.

During follow-ups, the lips, oral cavity, and neck regions are thoroughly evaluated.
Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen provides long-term support to his patients after treatment, supporting both physical and psychological recovery.

Is Early-Stage Lip Cancer Completely Curable?

Yes, early-stage lip cancer cases diagnosed promptly have a high chance of complete cure with surgery.

Does Sun Exposure Increase Lip Cancer Risk?

Yes, prolonged and unprotected UV exposure significantly raises the risk of lip cancer.

Are Lip Functions Affected After Treatment?

Depending on the extent of surgery, there may be slight functional impairment, but modern surgical techniques minimize these losses.

Is Lip Cancer Contagious?

No, lip cancer is not transmissible from person to person. However, viruses like HPV can be transmitted and may increase cancer risk.

Could Cosmetic Revision Be Necessary After Treatment?

In some advanced cases, additional surgical interventions may be required to improve aesthetic and functional outcomes.
Lip cancer is a serious disease but can be treated successfully when diagnosed early. Preventive measures such as sun protection, cessation of tobacco and alcohol use, and regular oral examinations play a major role in preventing lip cancer.

ENT specialist Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen, practicing at his Istanbul clinic, offers patients high success rates and a comfortable treatment journey through evidence-based approaches, individualized treatment plans, and multidisciplinary collaboration in lip cancer diagnosis and treatment.

If you notice any unusual changes in your lip area or would like more information about lip cancer, contact Prof. Dr. Ozan Seymen to explore early diagnosis and effective treatment options.