Protect yourself against Oral Cancer!



What is Oral cancer?

The word oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and the pharynx (the back of the throat). Cancer is a disease where cells in the body grow abnormally. Oral cancer is a chronic disease where cancer cells form in the mouth, lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, hard palate, tonsils and the throat.

Every day in each hour a person dies due to oral cancer. Oral cancer has been associated with the chronic and uncontrolled use of tobacco and alcohol. More recently it has been shown that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is also associated with oral cancer.

What is the risk factor for developing oral cancer?
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  1.     Tobacco and alcohol use: Most cases of oral cancer are linked to cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol use, or the use of both tobacco and alcohol together. Using tobacco plus alcohol lead to a much greater risk than using either substance alone.
  2.      HPV: Infection with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (specifically the HPV 16 type) has been linked to a subset of oral cancers.
  3.       Age: Risk increases with age. People over the age of 40 have more risk of oral cancer.
  4.       Sun exposure: lip cancer can be caused by sun exposure.
  5.       Diet: A diet low in fruits and vegetables may play a role in oral cancer development.

What are the realizable signs and symptoms of oral cancer?

•         A aching, irritation, lump or thick patch in the mouth, lip, or throat.
•         A white / red spot in the mouth part.
•         A feeling that something is grab in the throat.
•         Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
•         Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue.
•         Insensibility in the tongue or other areas of the mouth.
•         Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become unease.
•         Pain in one ear without hearing loss.

A person who has any of above symptoms for more than two weeks should see a dentist or doctor for an oral cancer exam. Most often, symptoms like which are listed above do not mean cancer. An infection or any other problems can cause the same symptoms. But it’s important to have the symptoms checked out, because if it is cancer, it can be treated more successfully if it’s caught early.

What is the detection and diagnosis of oral cancer?

Only 30% of oral and pharyngeal cancers are identified at an early stage, while 50% are diagnosed at an advanced stage of metastasis (stage III or IV). This is largely due to late presentation, delayed diagnosis, and lack of clear referral pathways between dentists and medical doctors. Oral cancer screening must therefore be an essential component of the routine head and neck examination conducted in the primary dental care settings.

Early diagnosis is essentially important to decrease oral cancer mortality.

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