Cancer

According to the American Dental Association, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year making it the sixth most common cancer in the world. This is more than cervical, brain, or ovarian cancers. The American Cancer society states that better than 80% of oral cancer is survivable with early detection. It is important to note that more than 25% of oral cancer victims have no predisposing fac- tors.

Factors increasing the risk of oral cancer:

* Use of Tobacco Products
* Overexposure to sunlight
* Repeated injury like lip chewing, cheek biting, or sharp edged teeth.
* Poorly fitting Dentures
* Over-use of alcohol

Warning signs of oral cancer:

* Neck, Face, Mouth or Tongue sores that don't heal within two weeks
* Lumps or swollen ares inside your mouth
* Red, White or Dark patches in your mouth
* Repeated bleeding
* Loss of feeling or pain in the face, mouth, or neck

How To Look For Oral Cancer:

1. look at your face and neck in a mirror. Normally, the left and right sides of the face have the same shape. Look for any lumps, bumps, or swellings that are only on one side of your face
2. examine the skin on your face. Do you notice any color or size changes, sores, moles, or growths?
3. press along the sides and front of the neck. Do you feel any tenderness or lumps?
4. pull your lower lip down and look inside for any sores or color changes. Next, use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps, or changes in texture. Repeat this on your upper lip
5. use your fingers to pull out your cheek so you can see inside. look for red, white, or dark patches. Put your index finger on the inside of your cheek and your thumb on the outside. Gently squeeze and roll your cheek between your fingers to check for any lumps or areas of tenderness. Repeat this on the other cheek
6. tilt your head back and open your mouth wide to see it there are any lumps or if the color is different than usual. Run your finger on the roof to feel for lumps
7. Stick out your tongue and look at the top surface for color and texture. Gently pull your tongue forward to look at one side first and then the other. Look for any swellings or color changes. Examine the underside of your tongue by placing the tip of the tongue on the roof of your mouth.
8. Look at the floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for color changes that are very different from normal. Feel for lumps under your tongue.

Anything unusual that doesn't clear up within two weeks needs to be looked at by your physician or dentist.

Part of your regular exam is a screening for oral cancer. One new aid to preventing this disease is a screening tool produced by Zila pharmaceuticals. “Vizilite” marks potentially cancerous lesions in the mouth which then show up under a special light. When combined with a complete oral exam, this new technology greatly improves The dentist's ability to find problems early and provide better service to you.

More Information on Cancer

• Cancer Wise
• National Cancer Institute
• Cancer Education