Oral Cancer Screening

 

Oral Cancer - What You Need to Know

Each year in the U.S. alone, approximately 34,000 individuals are newly diagnosed with oral cancer. The death rate from oral cancer is very high; about half of those diagnosed will not survive more than five years. While these statistics are alarming, this high death rate is directly related to two factors. These may be directly influenced by your choices.

First, Be Aware

Knowing that lifestyle choices you make are causes of this disease, such as the use of tobacco and other risk factors listed further down on this page, is part of that process. Approximately 75% of all oral cancer patients are tobacco users. Avoidance of risk factors greatly reduces your chance of developing oral and throat cancers. Knowing the signs and symtoms of this disease is also part of awareness.

Early Detection is the Second Factor that will Reduce Your Risk

Once knowledgeable, you will wish to engage in a regular annual screening to look for signs and symptoms at your doctor's office, ensuring early detection. Oral cancer can be caught early, even as a pre-cancer. With early detection, survival rates are high, and side effects from treatment are at their lowest. These screenings are painless, quick, and inexpensive.

• Be aware
• Avoid risk factors
• Get an annual screening  

Risk Factors - Factors you can control

1. Tobacco use. In all forms, tobacco is the largest contributor to the development of oral or mouth cancers. Not using tobacco is the single most important thing you can do to avoid oral cancers.
2. Excessive alcohol consumption. More than 15 alcoholic beverages per week may put you at greater risk. If you must drink, do so in moderation.
3. The combined use of tobacco and alcohol. This significantly increases the risk of oral cancer more than either by itself.
4. Excessive unprotected exposure to the sun. Unprotected exposure to sun will increase the likelihood of lip cancers. Use at least SPF 30 sunblock on your lips.
5. Low intake of fruits and vegetables. A diet that does not contain the protective nutrients found in these foods increases the risk of developing a variety of illnesses including oral cancer.
6. Use of betel nut and bedis. When chewed or smoked, these are causative agents of mouth cancers. Avoid their use.

Risk Factors - Factors not in your control, or in which control is limited

1. Age.  Older individuals tend to develop more disease in general, including oral cancer, as their immune system becomes less efficient.
2. HPV viral infection. Increasing numbers of young, non-smoking individuals are being diagnosed with oral cancer. The likely causative factor is HPV viral infection, the same virus responsible for more than 95% of all cervical cancer. It can also be a co-factor and facilitator in tobacco induced cancers. While testing for the virus at the time of cervical exams and PAP smears is becoming more common, individuals carrying this virus are not likely to know that they have it, as there are no outward symptoms. Currently there are no preventative or avoidance measures that will prevent sexual transmission of this virus. However, limiting the number of sexual partners decreases your risk of contracting the virus.
3. Race, ethnicity, and economics. There are socio-economic factors that influence the development of cancers in different groups of people. For instance, while not related to biology, blacks are diagnosed with oral cancer 2 to 1 over other races. In addition, people who live in areas with poor access to healthcare, or for economic reasons do not routinely visit a dentist or doctor, are also at increased risk.
4. Recurrence. Previous head and neck cancer patients have a higher risk of a cancer recurrence which may occur in the mouth or other areas of the aero-digestive tract.
5. Gender. Statistically males get oral cancer more often than females. Again, this is not related to biology but lifestyle issues. 

Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer

In the early stages of oral cancer's development, it often is painless, and the physical signs may not be obvious. This makes it a very dangerous disease. Regular screenings by a qualified medical or dental professional, combined with a person's knowledge of the warning signs and symptoms, will allow its discovery in the earliest possible stages, when cure and survival are most likely. Even pre-cancerous tissue changes can be detected by a trained professional.

Early Indicators

1. Red and/or white discolorations of the soft tissues of the mouth.
2. Any sore which does not heal within 14 days.
3. Hoarseness which lasts for a prolonged period of time.

Advanced Indicators

1. A sensation that something is stuck in your throat.
2. Numbness in the oral region.
3. Difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue.
4. Difficulty in swallowing.
5. Ear pain which occurs on one side only.
6. A sore under a denture, which even after adjustment of the denture, still does not heal.
7. A lump or thickening which develops in the mouth or on the neck.  

For more information, contact our office today, or visit The Oral Cancer Foundation, Inc. website.  

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