Oral Cancer

Mouth and throat cancers will hit more than 30,000 Americans this year, making the disease the sixth most common cancer, just ahead of cervical cancer and melanoma of skin. In the U.S.

Like many other cancers, early detection can improve the chances of successful treatment, and one person dies form oral cancer every hour! Currently only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years. In most cases, the disease will strike people over the age of forty, and males are twice as likely to get oral cancer than females, according to reports.regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. You may have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of it. As part of a regular examination dentists should routinely check your oral tissues for signs of cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions. Dentists carefully examine all areas of your mouth (as well as the lymph nodes around your neck and jaws). In about 10% of patients, we may notice a flat, painless, white or red spot or a small sore in the mouth. Although most of these are harmless, some are not.

Harmful oral spots or sores often look identical to those that are harmless - testing can tell them apart.

If we find a sore with a likely cause, we may treat it and ask you to return for re-examination. If we ever notice a spot or sore that looks harmless but does not have a clear cause we may choose to perform a simple test, such as a brush biopsy (similar to a PAP smear), which usually is painless and can detect potentially dangerous cells when the disease is still at an early stage.

If we something that looks very suspicious and dangerous, a scalpel biopsy may be recommended. This usually requires local anesthesia, and an oral pathologist will evaluate the sample.

Adults also can take an active role in the early detection of oral cancer by doing self-examinations. This means looking into a mirror and checking the lips, gums, cheek lining, tongue as well as the throat, and floor and roof of the mouth for symptoms of the disease.

What you should know about oral cancer.

• Often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth.
• Occurs most often in those who use tobacco in any form. Alcohol use combined with smoking greatly increases risk.

Still, more than 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors.

Signs and symptoms to look for include:

• a sore that bleeds easily or does not heal;
• a color change of the oral tissue;
• a lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small-eroded area;
• pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips;
• difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue;
• a change in the way the teeth fit together;
• a lump or thickening in the cheek;
• a white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil or lining of the mouth;
• loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw; or
• swelling of the jaw.

If any of these signs or symptoms are noticed, contact us immediately for an evaluation.
In addition to age, other factors can increase the risk of developing oral cancer. As mentioned previously, oral cancers are more likely to occur among people who use tobacco products -- including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless varieties.

In fact smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers. Smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) is associated with cancers of the cheek, gums and lining of the lips, increasing the risk by about 50 times.

The risk of developing oral cancer rises with increased alcohol consumption. According to the American Cancer Society, alcohol consumption strongly increases the risk of oral cancer. Approximately 75 percent to 80 percent of all patients with oral cancer frequently consume alcohol. Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers. People who smoke and drink alcohol have an even higher risk of cancer than those using alcohol or tobacco alone.

Adults also may be able to reduce the potential for oral cancer by adopting healthful eating habits. Some research suggests that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may help prevent the development of oral cancer lesions.

Knowing the risk factors and taking steps to prevent pre-cancerous lesions from developing can go a long way toward limiting the influence oral cancer can have on your life.