Oral Cancer

By Brent C. White, Jr., DDS

Thunderbird Dental Office

. https://www.thunderbirddentaloffice.com/

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Oral Cancer

One of the most common cancers is oral cancer, with approximately 41,000 new cases along with 7,900 deaths reported annually in the United States. Most oral cancers occur in people over the age of 50, where men are twice as likely to develop the disease as women. Oral cancer is most commonly found at the base of tongue, the floor of the mouth, soft palate, lips, cheeks and gums.

Early detection, diagnosis and treatment are very critical as it pertains to any cancer. Oral cancer can be very destructive, leading to chronic pain, loss of function, irreparable facial damage, oral disfigurement or even death. Your dentist or health care provider can perform a screening for oral cancer.

Oral cancer is represented by red lesions (erythroplakia), white lesions (leukoplakia) or discolored patches or lumps in or around the mouth. Cancers are classed into five stages (0, I, II, III and IV). 0 indicates a very early form of cancer and IV indicates an aggressive form of cancer that has spread to other organs.

If you find that you have a red or white patch, lesion or sore, please do not diagnose yourself. If your lump or lesion persists longer than two weeks you should be seen by your dentist or healthcare provider. A biopsy of the area may be required to confirm the diagnosis. CT scans, MRI or PET scans may also be utilized to help further diagnose and to predict treatment modalities.

Smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol use, excessive sun exposure and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are some risk factors that may increase the susceptibility of getting mouth cancer. If you smoke tobacco and drink alcohol you increase your risk of oral cancer more significantly.

Since successful treatment and rehabilitation are dependent on early detection, it is extremely important to get periodic examinations of your mouth. See your dentist or healthcare provider for an oral cancer screening on a regular basis. Survival rates greatly increase the earlier oral cancer is diagnosed and treated.