When most people think about cancer, they might not be thinking about oral or mouth cancer and that’s a problem. This year close to 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease and more than half of them will die within five years. Many of these deaths are preventable. If oral cancer is caught in its earliest stages, it is over 90% treatable.
Risk Factors
Although Americans over the age of 40 are at the greatest risk for oral cancer, the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population appears to be non-smokers under the age of fifty. This appears to be associated with exposure to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Other very high risk groups include heavy alcohol users and people who smoke or chew tobacco. If you fit into any of these categories, you will want to make sure that you are seen by your dentist regularly.
Other risk factors include the following:
Sun/Sunbed/Sunlamp Exposure – especially on the lips.
Diet – data suggests that people who consume too much red meat and high fat foods are more likely to develop oral cancer.
History of radiation treatment (radiotherapy) – particularly in the head and/or neck area.
Chemical Exposure – especially asbestos, sulfuric acid and formaldehyde.
GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) – people who suffer from GERD are at higher risk.
Symptoms
Although there are often no visible symptoms at the earliest stages of the disease, your dentist is trained to see or feel changes in your mouth that can detect the possibility cancer. If you have any of the risk factors associated with mouth cancer, it’s very important to schedule appointments regularly.
When a patient does begin to develop symptoms they often appear quite benign, such as a sore or discoloration in the mouth which does not heal within 14 days. Other symptoms include the following:
A swelling in the mouth that persists for over three weeks.
A hoarse voice.
A lump or thickening of the skin or lining of the mouth.
Pain when swallowing.
Painful tongue.
Loosening tooth/teeth for no apparent reason.
Pain or stiffness in your jaw and/or neck.
Changes in your mouth, for example your dentures don’t fit properly.
A sore throat or the feeling that something is stuck in your throat.
If you experience any of these, it is important that you are seen by a health care professional.
Diagnosis
Following a physical exam, your dentist or medical doctor can refer you to a specialist where they will do a biopsy of the tissue to see if any cancer cells are present. This is often preformed under general anesthesia. Once they have the results, they can advise you of proper treatment.
Prevention
Keep in mind, there are things that you can do to help prevent mouth cancer. If you smoke or have a problem with alcohol, get help to stop. If your diet consists of too many fatty foods, switch to a low fat diet.
And most importantly, don’t forget to schedule routine dental appointments: your dentist is often able to detect cancer in its very early and most treatable stages.