Early Detection Key to Beating Oral Cancer

Each year, roughly 37,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with oral cancer. Unfortunately, over 8,000 of these patients will not survive. In fact, oral cancer kills more people than cervical, liver, brain, or ovarian cancer. Although treatment options have continued to advance, oral cancer is often found in the later stages, which makes therapy more difficult and less successful.

One of the most important things you can do is schedule regular checkups. During these visits, your dentist will examine your entire mouth and look for anything unusual. If your doctor finds something of concern, he or she can swab the area to send the tissue off for further analysis. Some dental practices use special tools, like a VELscope or ViziLite, as part of their oral cancer screening process.

Watching for changes in your mouth and oral cavity can also help detect oral cancer before it is too late. Common signs include continued hoarseness, a lump or rough patch, unusual bleeding, and a sore that don’t heal. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, talk to your dentist right away.

Certain factors, such as age, gender, and lifestyle choices can put you at an increased risk for oral cancer; however, up to 25 percent of those diagnosed with this disease have no identifiable risks. To help decrease your chances of developing oral cancer, remember to: