According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer
– which includes mouth cancer, tongue cancer and
throat cancer – is a serious worldwide concern, with
approximately 37,000 new cases in 2007 diagnosed in
North America alone.
You can lower your risk of oral cancer by refraining
from tobacco products in any form, avoiding alcohol or
drinking only in moderation, and using a lip balm that
contains sunscreen to protect your lips from harmful UV
rays. Awareness of the telltale signs of the disease is
also important, so take a moment to familiarize yourself
with these possible signs and symptoms of oral cancer:
n Any ulcers or sores in the mouth that do not heal.
Irritation or swelling of the lip or in the mouth, or
a lump in the neck, lip, mouth, gums or tongue
that lasts longer than two weeks.
n A white or red patch in the gums, tongue or lining
of the mouth.
n A feeling that something is caught in the throat,
or a sore throat that doesn’t go away.
n Thickening in the cheek.
n Bleeding, or pain or numbness in the mouth.
Diffi culty or pain with chewing or swallowing.
n Loose teeth, or dentures that no longer fi t due to
swelling in the jaw.
Oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent cure rate if the
cancer is found early. Unfortunately, the majority of
oral cancer cases are discovered as late stage cancers,
which accounts for the very high death rate of about
50 percent at fi ve years from diagnosis. When you
apply this statistic to the one provided by the National
Cancer Institute, that 1 in 98 people born today will be
diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx
during their lifetime, you can understand why we so
strongly recommend regular dental checkups.
It’s easy to dismiss a small lump or irritation in the
mouth as a cold sore or a bite to the inside of your
cheek. However, knowing now how critical early
diagnosis is to long-term survival, if you have any doubts
about suspicious spots or sores on your lips, tongue or
anywhere in your mouth, please
make sure that you call us for
an appointment so we can
examine it more closely. If
we detect anything unusual,
we will conduct further
testing to ensure that you
receive the appropriate care
and follow-up.