Oral Cancer ! EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT SAVES LIFE

 ORAL CANCER

Oral cancer or mouth cancer is a cancer of the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat. In the mouth.

It can affect lips, tongue, cheeks, the floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat), can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

Causes

Smoking. Cigarette, cigar, or pipe smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.

Smokeless tobacco users. Users of dip, snuff, or chewing tobacco products are 50 times more likely to develop cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips.

Excessive consumption of alcohol. Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers.

Family history of cancer.

Excessive sun exposure, especially at a young age.

Human papilloma virus (HPV)

It is important to note that over 25% of all oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol occasionally.

SYMPTOMS

 It commonly starts as a painless white patch, that thickens, develops red patches, an ulcer, and continues to grow.

• Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth.
  
  
• The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth oral cancer
  
  
• Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
  
  
• Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
  
  
• Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks
  
  
• A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
  
  
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
  
  
• Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or change in voice
  
  
• Ear pain
  
  
• A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together
  
  
• Dramatic weight loss

If you notice any of these changes, contact your dentist or health care professional immediately.

Prevention

There's no proven way to prevent mouth cancer. However, you can reduce your risk of mouth cancer if you:

• Stop using tobacco or don't start.
• If you use tobacco, stop. If you don't use tobacco, don't start.
• Using tobacco, whether smoked or chewed, exposes the cells in your mouth to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
• Chronic excessive alcohol use can irritate the cells in your mouth, making them vulnerable to mouth cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. 
• For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure to your lips.
• Protect the skin on your lips from the sun by staying in the shade when possible.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat that effectively shades your entire face, including your mouth.
• Apply a sunscreen lip product as part of your routine sun protection regimen.
• See your dentist regularly.
• As part of a routine dental exam, ask your dentist to inspect your entire mouth for abnormal areas that may indicate mouth cancer or precancerous changes.

EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT SAVES LIFE

BY,

DR.RENJU T GEORGE,

INDIA