ORAL CANCER: NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SPOT

ORAL CANCER: NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SPOT

Don’t wait for oral cancer symptoms to appear. Consult with dentist or ENT specialist for oral and throat cancer screening. If you have any related symptoms, consult with doctor for diagnoses and treatment.

Cancers of the oral cavity (including the lips, cheeks, gum and tongue) and the oropharynx (including the soft palate, tonsils and throat) can crop up in a variety of ways and are not always easy to spot. That's a big reason why these cancers often go undiagnosed until the later stages, after they have spread to the lymph nodes in neck.

The good news is that even at the later stages, these cancers are treatable. With current treatment advances, survival rates for oral cancers have improved over even a decade ago. In fact, some opharynx cancers have been found to have to survival rates of 80 to 90 percent at three years. And many oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers can be prevented altogether with sensible self-care, healthy lifestyle choices and regular screening by a doctor.

In general, men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with these cancers as women. The number of patients under 50 years old has been steadily increasing; and sometimes, these cancers occur in young adults in their 20s and 30s. Examination and inspection of the oral cavity, IDL (Indirect laryngoscopy) FiberOptic laryngoscopy and biopsy of the suspicious lesion is usually done for proper diagnosis.

You might be at increased risk for oral cancer if you:

• ·        Chew or smoke tobacco
• ·        Drink alcohol.
• ·        Have a certain type of human papillomavirus (HPV)
• ·        Have an immune system that has been weakened by certain medications
• ·      Have the skin disease lichen planus, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or              certain inherited conditions of the blood

SYMPTOMS

• ·        White or red patches or ulcer on lips, gum, tongue or mouth lining
• ·        A lump which can be felt inside the mouth or on the neck
• ·        Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking
• ·        Hoarseness lasting a long time
• ·        Numbness or pain in any area of the mouth that doesn’t go away
• ·        Swelling of the jaw
• ·        Loosening of teeth
• ·        Difficulty wearing dentures
• ·        Bleeding in the mouth
• ·        A sore on the lips or in the mouth that doesn’t go away
• ·        An earache that doesn’t go away

If you experience any of these symptoms, visit to dentist/ENT specialist or primary care doctor as soon as possible. "If it is cancer, the earlier it's diagnosed, the better the chance we can successfully treat it

PREVENTION

• ·        Oral cancer is a highly preventable disease and also very treatable, if caught         early.
• ·        Don’t use tobacco in any form. If you use tobacco, quit it today.
• ·        Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• ·        Have an oral cancer screening by your dentist at your regular check-up.
• ·        Look at your mouth in a mirror once a month. If you see something different,       tell your dentist.

Dr T. P. Soni

Consultant

Radiation Oncology Department

BMCHRC