The stark figures associated with oral cancer in the United States are startling. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 53,000 people will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. Nearly 10,000 Americans will die of the disease this year. The overall five-year survival rate for oral cancer is 65%. The better news, though, is that when oral cancer is detected early — before it spreads to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes — that five-year survival rate increases to 84%.
Your dentist is committed to early detection of oral cancer by performing oral cancer screening in Naples. What does this mean? It means that, at every dental check-up, we will examine all of the soft tissues in your mouth for any indications of abnormal cells that may indicate the presence of oral cancer. If we detect any signs of potential disease, we will support you in seeking appropriate medical care as soon as possible.
In addition to providing oral cancer screening in Naples, we believe it is essential that all patients have the most accurate and current information about oral cancer risks. Here’s some basic information you should know about oral cancer.
Oral cancer can affect any of the tissues and parts of your mouth, including your lips and gums, tongue and cheeks, the floor of your mouth, and the roof of your mouth. If you are ever concerned about your risk of developing oral cancer or about any concerning symptoms you are experiencing, please never hesitate to contact a physician or dentist in Naples. Early intervention is your key to effective treatment and full recovery.
Symptoms of oral cancer
Many of the symptoms of oral cancer are common and, if only temporary, are easy to dismiss as a mundane and fleeting sign of a mere toothache or cold. If, however, you have some of the following symptoms that persist for weeks or months, you should inform your dentist and/or physician as soon as possible:
- Persistent sores in your mouth
- Persistent pain in your mouth, teeth, or jaw
- Lumps in or thickening of your cheeks
- White or red patchiness affecting the lining of your mouth, your tongue, tonsils, or gums
- Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue, and difficulty swallowing or chewing
- A persistent feeling as if there is something stuck in the back of your throat
- Numbness affecting your tongue or parts of your mouth
- Teeth that seem to be getting loose
- Any lump in your neck
- Unexplained and unplanned weight loss
- Persistent halitosis (bad breath)
Causes of oral cancer
Commonly, oral cancers develop in the flat and thin squamous cells that line your lips and mouth. Mutations in the cells’ DNA cause those cells to grow and multiply rapidly at a rate far exceeding those of healthy cells, and beyond the time that healthy cells would naturally die. The accumulation of abnormal cells forms tumours that can spread within and beyond your mouth. Just what causes those mutations in your cells is not well understood and is an area of continuing research. However, there are a number of well-known risk factors that appear to be associated with those genetic mutations. Those risk factors include:
- Use of any tobacco products (including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipes)
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
- A weakened immune system
- Diagnosis with the virus HPV (human papillomavirus)
Because early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are such an effective asset in the battle against all cancers, effective and early screening is essential. Oral cancer screening in Naples is a routine and completely non-invasive element of our care for every patient and every aspect of your oral and general health. If you are concerned about your personal risk factors or any symptoms you’ve experienced, please take the first opportunity to discuss them with a dentist near you. And don’t miss a check-up for the sake of your dental and general health.