Every year, over 50,000 North Americans are diagnosed with oral or throat cancer, which has a higher death rate than many other common cancers, including cervical cancer, testicular cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and thyroid or skin cancers. The high death rate results from the fact that most oral cancers go undiagnosed until the disease is well advanced and has spread to another part of the body, most often, the lymph nodes in the neck.
Because oral cancer is typically painless in its early stages and often goes undetected until it spreads, many patients aren’t diagnosed until they are already suffering from chronic pain or loss of function. However, early detection of oral cancer improves the survival rate to 80 percent or more.
If you are a our patient, you have received an oral cancer screening and didn’t even realize it. That’s because the exam is quick and painless; Our team checks your neck and mouth for signs of oral cancer such as discolorations, lumps, or any changes to your tissue. Oral cancer is typically found on the tongue, lips, gums, the floor of the mouth, or tissues in back of the tongue.
There are risk factors for oral cancer that include: use of tobacco products, excessive consumption of alcohol, excessive sun exposure, older age, males, history of viral infections and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. You should be vigilant with your oral health especially if you see a sore or irritation that doesn’t disappear, red or white patches, pain, tenderness, or numbness in mouth or lips, difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving your jaw or tongue or a change in the way your teeth fit together when you close your mouth.
Regular visits can be the first line of defense against oral cancer because we can identify early warning signs of the disease. Give us a call today!