Fight oral cancer with good oral hygiene

According to the American Cancer Society about 36,540 cases of oral cancer were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2010. Predicted in 2010, approximately 7,880 men and women would die of the cancer. The most commonly affected sites in oral cancers are within the tongue, the back part of the top half of the throat, the floor of the mouth, gums, hard palate, pockets of the cheek and lips. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, those who survive oral cancer are 20 times more likely than the average person to develop a second cancer.

Oral Cancer Risk Factors
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 75% of all oral cancers are associated with tobacco use including smokeless tobacco. Alcohol also increases risk. Those who smoke and drink have a 15 times greater risk than the overall population.

In the past, most oral cancers have been more commonly seen in people over the age of 40. However, physicians are now diagnosing pre-cancerous and cancer lesions in the younger population. An alarming finding includes those who have never used tobacco products or alcohol. A recent finding has shown that some factors that cause oral cancers in younger adults is the infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is mostly seen in cervical cancer, yet it has been linked to oral cancer in men and women. HPV is now found in more than 40% of all oral cancers. Of those, HPV 16 is the most common type, accounting for more than 63% of the cases. Another type, HPV 18, accounts for more than 30% of all HPV-related oral cancers.

Detecting Oral Cancer
Research through The Oral Cancer Foundation and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons report that only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer will have a survival rate of 5 years or longer. As in all cancers, early detection leads to early diagnosis. However, with oral cancer, early diagnosis is difficult due to cancerous lesions that may lie in hidden areas within the mouth. Early signs of oral cancer may not be obvious until the cancer has advanced. It is recommended that as part of a routine annual dental check, people also should be provided an oral cancer screening.

Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Signs and symptoms of oral cancer can include the following.

• A sore inside the mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks
• A lump or mass on the tongue, cheek or neck
• Persistent red or white patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils or other area inside the mouth
• Trouble chewing, swallowing or speaking
• Numbness or difficulty moving the tongue or jaw
• Persistent earache on one side of the head.

There are various treatments for oral cancers depending on the specific area that has developed it. Speak with your doctor right away if you experience any of the above symptoms or for regular exams. If you need a physician, call 1.877.UT.CARES (1.877.882.2737).


Oral Cancer Resources
University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute     
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
Oral Cancer Foundation