What Is Oral Cancer?
Were you aware that November is Mouth Cancer Action Month? As a part of this month of awareness, we encourage you to learn everything you can about the causes of oral cancer, as well as what can be done to detect, treat, and prevent this possibly fatal disease. Oral cancer (also known as mouth cancer) is a form of cancer that develops in the mouth, tongue, gum tissues, or the back of the throat. It comprises around 3% of cancers diagnosed each year in the United States, accounting for around 53,000 cases annually. You are more likely to be diagnosed with oral cancer if you are over the age of 40, but it can happen to you no matter what age you are.
Maintain your dental health and ensure that you receive regular oral cancer screenings by booking a checkup and cleaning with your dentist in Michigan today!
What Do I Need to Know About Oral Cancer Symptoms?
Knowing the signs of oral cancer can help you detect it when it is in its early stages and more likely to respond successfully to treatment. Being “mouth aware” will let you know when you need to contact your dentist for an oral cancer screening. Any of the below symptoms that last for longer than three weeks warrant a call to your dentist.
- An ulcer or sore that does not heal
- An irritation or thick lump or patch in your mouth, lip or throat
- White or red patches in your mouth
- A sore throat or the feeling that something is caught in your throat
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking
- Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue
- Swelling of your jaw
- Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth
What Do I Need to Know About the Causes of Oral Cancer?
While there are some cases of oral cancer that are caused by unknown origins, the majority (approximately 90%) can be directly attributed to risk factors that are completely within your control. For instance, smoking increases your risk of oral cancer up to 10 times. Two out of every three cases of oral cancer diagnosed each year are linked to smoking. Heavy alcohol usage is another risk factor that makes it more likely that you will develop oral cancer. Combining smoking with drinking alcohol further increases your risk. Other high-risk activities are using chewing tobacco and smokeless tobacco. Both of these types of products contain toxic ingredients that are known to cause cancer.
Eating a diet that doesn’t contain the right vitamins and minerals is another factor that can contribute to oral cancer, as are sun exposure and a person’s age.
Diagnosing Oral Cancer
Finding oral cancer in its early stages is difficult to do without the trained eye of your dentist. However, due to the rapid spread of oral cancer to other areas of the body it’s important that it is caught early so that the cancer can be treated promptly. Seeing your dentist on a routine basis allows him or her to check for signs of oral cancer while you’re having your routine checkup and cleaning. Oral cancer screenings consist of your dentist examining your face, lips, tongue, cheeks, neck, jawline and other areas of your mouth for lumps or any other signs of cancer.
Treating Oral Cancer
People who have oral cancer are usually treated by a team of specialists consisting of a general dentist, an oral surgeon and an oncologist (a type of doctor who treats cancer). Most treatment plans include one or all of the following: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
The exact type of treatment that you will be given will depend on several factors. These include the status of your physical health, the location of the cancer, the size and type of any tumors present, and if the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body. You will most likely need to undergo surgery to have the cancer and any surrounding tissues removed. If the cancer is advanced, you will probably also need to undergo radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. One newer type of treatment is known as targeted therapy. This type of therapy utilizes medication that finds and kills off cancer cells inside of your mouth.
Maintain your dental health and ensure that you receive regular oral cancer screenings by booking a checkup and cleaning with your dentist in Michigan today!
How Can I Prevent Oral Cancer?
While most cases of oral cancer are preventable, it is a disease that can be found in anyone. Educating yourself on what you need to look out for is important so that you can contact your dentist for a screening if anything abnormal pops up in between your routine checkups. The best thing you can do to prevent oral cancer is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Refrain from smoking, chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and heavy alcohol usage. Be sure that you visit your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings, checkups, and oral cancer screenings. This allows your dentist to find issues early on, as well as keeps your oral health in great shape.
Oral cancer is a very treatable disease when it is detected early on. Be sure that you stay mouth aware so that you can notify your dentist whenever you detect anything that could point towards mouth cancer. Make healthy lifestyle choices such as eating a nutritious diet and refraining from participating in activities and habits that increase your risks. If you ever have any questions or concerns about your oral health, be sure to contact your dentist so that he or she can perform a prompt examination.
Maintain your dental health and ensure that you receive regular oral cancer screenings by booking a checkup and cleaning with your dentist in Michigan today!
