Oral Cancer Screening
At Elison Dental Center, we provide a thorough oral cancer evaluation during our standard exams. However, if you have a concern, please give us a call so we can evaluate any concerns you may have.
We field many questions about oral cancer daily. Here are some great questions and answers from webmd.com
What are the symptoms of Oral cancer?
According to www.webmd.com, the most common symptoms of oral cancer include:
- 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.
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth.
- Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, neck, or ear.
- 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 (especially slurred speech).
- Ear pain.
- A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together.
- Dramatic weight loss.
- A lump in the neck.
If you notice any of these changes, contact Elison Dental Center immediately for an exam.
Who Gets Oral Cancer?
Men account for 70% of oral cancers with men over the age of 50 having the greatest risk. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer among men. Risk factors for oral cancer include:
- Smoking: Cigarette, cigar,or pipe smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.
- Smokeless tobacco users: Users of snuff or chewing tobacco increase their risk of cancer to the oral cavity.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol: Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers. Although alcohol is less potent than tobacco in causing oral cancers, the combination of alcohol with tobacco results in a much higher risk of developing oral cancers, compared to either agent alone.
- Family history of cancer.
- Excessive sun exposure for lip cancer.
- Poor dietary habits.
- Smoking marijuana.
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. In these people, viral infections may be the cause. The human papilloma virus (HPV) has been detected in up to 36% of patients with oral cancers. This is the same virus responsible for the majority of cases of cervical cancer.
The presence of an oral infection with this virus increases the risk of developing an oral cancer by 14.6 times that of the general population. The presence, though, of the HPV virus in oral cancers indicates a better prognosis. This includes a lower risk of developing a second cancer and a lower risk of dying from other tobacco related illnesses, such as heart disease or lung disease.
What is the Outlook for People with Oral Cancer?
For oral cancer, the survival rates, by stage are as follows:
- Stage I: 80%-85%
- Stage II: 60%-75%
- Stage III 35%-66%
- Stage IV: 15%-30%
The five and 10-year survival rates for all stages are 56% and 41% respectively.
How Is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?
As part of your routine dental exam, Dr. Elison conducts an oral cancer screening. More specifically, he will feel for any lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and oral cavity.
When examining your mouth, your Dr. Elison will look for any sores or discolored tissue as well as check for any signs and symptoms mentioned above.
An oral brush biopsy will be conducted if Dr. Elison sees tissue in your mouth that looks suspicious. This test is painless and involves taking a small sample of the tissue and analyzing it for abnormal cells.
Alternatively, if the tissue looks more suspicious, your Dr. Elison may recommend a scalpel biopsy. This procedure usually requires local anesthesia and may be performed by your dentist or a specialist. These tests are necessary to detect oral cancer early, before it has had a chance to progress and spread.
How Is Oral Cancer Treated?
Oral cancer is usually treated with surgery alone or radiation along in the early stages. In more advanced cases, a combination of surgery and radiation is the most common treatment. In the late stages of oral cancer, a combination of radiation with chemotherapy, with or without surgery, is usually used.
What Can I Do to Prevent Oral Cancer?
These steps may help you to prevent oral cancer:
- Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products
- Drink alcohol in moderation. (Refrain from binge drinking.)
- Eat a well-balanced diet, especially with vegetables containing vitamin A.
- Limit your exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure increases the risk of cancer on the lip, especially the lower lip. When in the sun, use UV-A/B-blocking sun protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.
- Because there is a link with the HPV virus, young people engaging in oral sex have a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
- Avoid using marijuana.
You can take an active role in detecting oral cancer early by doing the following:
- Conduct a self-exam at least once a month.
- Using a bright light and a mirror, look and feel your lips and the front of your gums.
- Tilt your head back and look at and feel the roof of your mouth. Pull your cheeks out to view the inside of your mouth, the lining of your cheeks, and the back gums.
- Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces; examine the floor of your mouth.
- Look at the back of your throat.
- Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of your neck and under your lower jaw.
- See Dr. Elison on a regular schedule.
Call Elison Dental Center immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer mentioned above.
Even though you may be conducting frequent self-exams, sometimes dangerous spots or sores in the mouth can be very tiny and difficult to see on your own.
The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screening exams every three years for persons over age 20 and annually for those over age 40. Early detection of oral cancer can improve the chance of successful treatment.