Oral Cancer: The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Fall 2008
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, mouth and throat cancers are the sixth most common cancers identified in U.S. males, and the fourth most common in African American men. Thirty-thousand people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer each year, and 8,000 die of these cancers. That's almost one per hour, every day of the year. Similarly, the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 3,200 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in Canada in 2007, with an estimated 1,100 patients succumbing to the disease.
Even more tragic about these death rates is that oral cancer has an 80 to 90 percent chance of being cured if it is diagnosed and treated immediately. The key is to recognize the symptoms early.
You may think of your regular dental checkup only as a chance to check for dental decay, and an opportunity to clean and shine your teeth a couple of times a year. What you may not be aware of is that while we're checking your gums and teeth, we're also looking all around your mouth for early signs of oral cancer, which in most cases doesn't hurt and therefore may not be noticed by a patient.
Here are some indicators you can watch out for:
- Any irritation or swelling on the lip or in the mouth.
- A lump in the neck that lasts longer than two weeks.
- Velvety red or white patches in the mouth.
- Ulcers or sores in the mouth that do not heal.
- A lump in the lip, mouth, gums, tongue or neck, or a thickening in the cheek.
- Bleeding in the mouth.
- Pain in the mouth that won't go away.
- Loose teeth, or dentures that no longer fit.
While these symptoms do not automatically mean you have cancer or a pre-cancerous condition, they do necessitate an immediate appointment with your doctor or dentist.
Please call us if you have any questions about oral cancer, and about its signs, symptoms and treatment.
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