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Do you know anything about oral oancer?
Oral cancer is an unknown disease for many. It may occur in a vast number of areas of the mouth and throat, for example the tongue, the lips, the roof of the mouth, the tonsils and salivary glands.
A deadly cancer
Each and every yeard, more than 700 Quebecer find out they have some type of oral cancer, and approximately 300 die from it, or 1 person per day. In Canada, about 3100 new cases per year, and 1100 will die from the disease.
Heavy smoking and alcool consumption are the highest risk factors. Each of them alone may be responsible for oral cancer, while both factors togheter drive the risks to the ceiling.
Men of the 45+ group are 2 or 3 times more likely to have oral cancer than women.
According to a number of scientific researches, a poor diet content in fresh fruits and vegetables would be a possible risk factor.
Early detection of oral cancer
Your dentist can perform early detection of oral cancer, while performing your clinical examination during your recall visit. This examination is very simple and takes only minutes.
Early detection can save lives
Chances of survival raise with early detection and early treatment. In fact, 8 persons over 10 positive early diagnosis will survive after 5 years concerning mouth cancer. On the other hand, late detecton will save only 2 lives on 10 positive diagnosis of the same (US data).
What you should look for:
- An open wound on your lips or in your mouth, may look like an ulcer, lasting more than 2 weeks.
- Some swelling or mass, in your mouth or in your throat.
- A red spot on your gums, your tongue or at the lip borders.
- Hard time to chew or swallow, or sensation of pain while chewing or swallowing.
- Swelling in the cheek.that renders uncomfortable wearing dentures.
- Change in voice tone, feeling that something is caught in your throat.
- Unusual bleeding, tongue numbness, or numbnes of lips or facial skin.
Don't wait for your dental checkup
Many people hesitate to see the dentist or the doctor, because most pleaes do not hurt. DO NOT wait, especially if tou have lesions that persist after 2 weeks.
The original of this text was published by L'Ordre des Dentistes du Québec, in collaboration with Santé et Services Sociaux Québec.
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