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How common and how serious is oral cancer?
Oral cancer, the sixth most common cancer, accounts for about
3.6 percent of all cancers diagnosed, with roughly 40,000
new cases of oral cancer reported annually in the United States.
The vast majority of oral cancers occur in people older than
45 years, with men being twice as likely as women to develop
the disease.
The most frequent oral cancer sites are the tongue, the floor
of the mouth, and soft palate tissue areas in back of the
tongue, lips, and gums. If not diagnosed and treated in its
early stages, oral cancer can spread, leading to chronic pain,
loss of function, irreparable facial and oral disfigurement
following surgery, and even death. Your general dentist can
perform a thorough screening for oral cancer.
What causes oral cancer?
Scientists aren't sure of the exact cause of oral cancer.
However, the carcinogens in tobacco products, alcohol and
certain foods, as well as excessive exposure to the sun have
been found to increase the risk of developing oral cancer.
Risk factors for oral cancer may also be genetically inherited.
What are the warning signs to watch out for?
Oral cancer--represented by red, white or discolored lesions,
patches or lumps in or around the mouth--is typically painless
in its early stages. As the malignant cancer spreads and destroys
healthy oral tissue, the lesions or lumps become more painful.
However, oral cancer is sometimes difficult to self-diagnose
so routine dental exams are recommended.
See your dentist immediately if you observe: any sore that
persists longer than two weeks; a swelling, growth or lump
anywhere in or about the mouth or neck; white or red patches
in the mouth or on the lips; repeated bleeding from the mouth
or throat; difficulty swallowing or persistent hoarseness.
How does a dentist screen for oral cancer?
Your dentist should screen for oral cancer during routine
checkups. He or she feels for lumps or irregular tissue changes
in your neck, head, cheeks and oral cavity, and thoroughly
examines the soft tissues in your mouth, specifically looking
for any sores or discolored tissues.
How is oral cancer treated?
If your dentist suspects oral cancer, a biopsy of the lesion
is required to confirm the diagnosis. Surgery is required
to remove the tumors, which may cause disfiguration. Radiation
therapy may be used as part of the treatment.
What can I do to prevent oral cancer?
Oral cancer accounts for roughly 9,000 deaths annually (about
3 percent of all cancer-caused deaths). Of all major cancers,
oral cancer has the worst five-year survival rate at about
54 percent. Because oral cancer is usually not diagnosed in
its early stages, less than half of all oral cancer patients
are cured.
You can help prevent oral cancer by not smoking, using spit
tobacco and drinking excessive alcohol. When tobacco use and
alcohol use are combined, the risk of oral cancer increases
15 times more than non-users of tobacco and alcohol products.
Research suggests that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables
may safeguard against oral cancer. Because successful treatment
and rehabilitation are dependent on early detection, it is
extremely important to see your dentist for an oral cancer
screening and regular checkup at least every six months. Survival
rates greatly increase the earlier oral cancer is discovered
and treated. During your next dental visit, ask your dentist
to do an oral cancer screening.
Sources:
American Cancer Society;
Luke F. Matranga, DDS, MAGD, CBGD, past president of the AGD;
"The War on Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer,"
by Dr. Harold Slavkin, JADA, April 1996; "U.S. Adult
Knowledge of Risk Factors and Signs of Oral Cancers: 1990,"
by Dr. Alice Horowitz, et. al., JADA, January 1995; "The
Early Warning Signs of Oral Cancer," by Edmund Cataldo,
Dental Hygienist News, Spring 1994.
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