Signs Of Oral Cancer: What Not To Ignore | Oceanside Dental Excellence

Today’s article focuses on a very serious issue—oral (oropharyngeal) cancers. The medical community identifies oral cancers as a subset of head and neck cancers.

Oral cancers can develop in the following locations:

The tongue
The roof of the mouth and under the tongue
The inside of the cheeks
The oropharynx (the part behind the soft palate)
The salivary glands
The lips

Oral Cancers Are Particularly Deadly

Over 50,000 men and women annually are diagnosed with a type of oral cancer. They are more than twice as prevalent in men. There is no disparity when it comes to blacks or whites. Oral cancers claim over 10,000 victims per year.

The statistics reveal that only 57 percent of those diagnosed this year will be alive in five years. Talk about a grim outlook.

Let’s discuss the common—and the not-so-common—warning signs of oral cancer.

Any sore or lump in the mouth or throat should be taken seriously. Any white or red patch could also be a symptom.

Receiving an oral cancer screening is another reason to visit Oceanside Dental Excellence twice a year for an exam. Healthcare providers who don’t have the specific training for early onset oral cancer may confuse or miss early symptoms.

Here, at Oceanside Dental Excellence, Drs. Dankworth can tell you if you should be worried or not.

The Cold Sore Connection

Firstly, we know cold sores are not dinner-talk for most individuals. However, did you know that if you have a history of cold sores, you are at an incresed risk for receiving oropharyngeal (oral) cancer?

Don’t Ignore These Signs!

You will want to get checked out if you:

Have a lump or thickening in your throat
Have white or red patches on your tongue, tonsils, or lining of your cheeks and gums
Notice numbness of any oral feature
Have any type of lesion, cut, or canker-type sore that doesn’t heal within 14 days

Less-common symptoms include tongue pain and loose teeth. A hoarse voice that doesn’t go away should be a concern. Unexplained tooth discoloration is rare but not unheard of.

It’s a misconception to think any of these signs can’t lead to problems.

Early Diagnosis Can Save Your Life

Getting checked for oral (or any) cancer regularly is vital for multiple reasons, but it is ultimately necessary because you want to catch it early. So you have the highest chance of survival. While it generally does not start to show symptoms until around age 40, it occurs in younger patients as well.

Smokeless Tobacco

It is also more prevalent for those who use smokeless, (chewing or spit) tobacco to get oral cancer. Many people argue that these are safer than smoking standard cigarettes. This may be true when it comes to lung cancer. But you need to consider contracting other conditions like oral cancer(s), pancreatic cancer, and/or chronic infections that can bring about heart issues later on.

Also, don’t suppose vaping is less harmful. Though there is less research on the health risks of vaping, it certainly hasn’t been proven to be risk-free.

Smoking + Alcohol = A Dangerous Combination

While we are talking about tobacco and vaping, we also need to mention alcohol. For many men and women, they go together. Those who both smoke and drink have a 15 times greater likelihood of developing oral cancer than those who do neither.

Exposure to UV Rays Advances Risk of Lip Cancer

Lip cancer can be considered both an oral cancer and a skin cancer. Most of us have been warned that unprotected sun exposure is dangerous. But many of us overlook the lips when applying sunscreen. Pick up some SPF balm when you buy sunscreen. Don’t forget that eating, drinking, and licking your lips can wipe it away. Reapply often. Wear wide-brim hats as protection. Be especially careful between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Sources:

https://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/about/key-statistics.htm