In 2012, an estimated 40,000 Americans were diagnosed with oral cancer. Approximately 8,000 people will die this year from cancer of the tongue, mouth, and throat, according to a report published by the American Cancer Society. While doctors aren’t certain why one person will get mouth cancer and another won’t, there are several risk factors for developing the deadly disease, and by modifying some risky behaviors, you can reduce your chances of developing cancer of the mouth. Dr. James Fondriest would like to share some facts about oral cancer and how you can help prevent it.
When you think of preventing dental issues through regular exams and cleanings, the issues that come to mind may most likely be tooth decay and gum disease. However, your routine preventive visits also include a vitally important screening for oral cancer. Though oral cancer is one of the most dangerous types of cancer, it is similar to more common dental issues in the fact that it is most successfully treated when detected and addressed early. This makes regular checkups and cleanings all the more important.
About Cancer of the Mouth
Mouth cancer encompasses a number of more specific cancers that affect your oral, lips, and throat tissues, including cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and more. While there is no known direct cause for any type of cancer, certain things can influence your risks of oral cancer, including the use of smoking and smokeless tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol. By avoiding these habits and maintaining a consistent schedule of preventive dental care, you can reduce your risks of developing most types of oral cancer.
This is the fifth year in a row that there has been an increase in the number of new oral cancer cases. Mouth cancer is a malignant, abnormal growth of cells in the oral cavity, lips, or throat. An estimated seven percent of new cases will have no known cause, but it is commonly attributed to tobacco use and human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease. Early detection and treatment of oral cancer greatly improves a patient’s chance of survival, so risk-reduction practices and frequent cancer screenings are recommended.
The Value of Early Detection
Oral cancer often has one of the highest mortality rates, sometimes hovering around 40-50%. However, when it is detected early, the survival rate among those diagnosed jumps to almost 90%. Therefore, your dentist will perform a comprehensive screening during every checkup and cleaning appointment to check for signs such as lumps, sores, blisters, discolored patches of oral tissues, swollen glands, and more that could indicate cancer of the mouth.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
- Sore or lump in the mouth
- Chewing problems
- Pain when swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Red, white, or red and white patches in the mouth
Risk Factors and Causes of Mouth Cancer
Smoking and other tobacco use—Most cases of cancer of the mouth are linked to tobacco. Alcohol use in conjunction with tobacco use increases the risk.
Heavy alcohol use—Mouth cancers are six time more common in people who consume alcohol than in teetotalers. Roughly 75 to 80 percent of people with cancer consume alcohol regularly.
Chronic irritation—This can be caused by rough teeth, dental work, or viral infections. simple herpetic cold sores are unlikely to cause cancer.
HPV—This sexually-transmitted disease affects about seven percent of Americans, and men are three times more likely to have HPV than women. An increase in the number of HPV cases could account for why oral cancer rates are on the rise, despite a decrease in the number of smokers.
Learn More About Early Oral Cancer Detection
Through routine checkup and cleaning appointments, you have a greater chance of early detection and successful treatment of cancer. To learn more, call Lake Forest Dental Arts in Lake Forest, IL, today at 847-234-0517. We also proudly serve residents of Chicago and all surrounding communities.
Our practice serves the Chicago metropolitan area including the North Shore and Northwest suburbs
Katika mwaka wa 2012, takriban Wamarekani 40,000 walipatikana na kansa ya mdomo. Watu 8,000 hivi watakufa mwaka huu kutokana na kansa ya ulimi, mdomo, na koo, kulingana na ripoti iliyochapishwa na Shirika la Kansa la Marekani. Ingawa madaktari hawajui kwa nini mtu mmoja atapata kansa ya mdomo na mwingine hatapata, kuna sababu kadhaa za hatari za kuambukizwa ugonjwa huu hatari, na kwa kurekebisha baadhi ya tabia hatari, unaweza kupunguza uwezekano wako wa kuambukizwa kansa ya mdomo. Dr. James Fondry anaelezea jinsi ya kuzuia kansa ya mdomo. Ikiwa unafikiria kuzuia matatizo ya meno kupitia uchunguzi wa kawaida na kusafisha, shida ambazo zinaweza kuja akilini zinaweza kuwa kuoza kwa meno na ugonjwa wa nywele. Hata hivyo, ziara zako za kawaida za kuzuia pia hutia ndani uchunguzi muhimu sana wa kansa ya mdomo. Ingawa kansa ya mdomo ni moja ya aina hatari zaidi ya kansa, ni sawa na matatizo ya meno ya kawaida katika ukweli kwamba ni mafanikio zaidi kutibiwa wakati kupatikana na kushughulikiwa mapema. Hilo hufanya uchunguzi na kusafisha kwa ukawaida kuwe muhimu zaidi. Saratani ya mdomo ni aina ya saratani ambayo huathiri tishu za mdomo, midomo, na koo, pamoja na saratani ya mdomo, esophagus, na mengineyo. Ingawa hakuna sababu ya moja kwa moja inayojulikana ya aina yoyote ya kansa, mambo fulani yanaweza kuathiri hatari yako ya kansa ya mdomo, ikiwa ni pamoja na matumizi ya sigara na tumbaku isiyo na moshi na matumizi ya kupita kiasi ya pombe. Kwa kuepuka tabia hizi na kudumisha ratiba ya kawaida ya utunzaji wa meno, unaweza kupunguza hatari ya kupatwa na aina nyingi za kansa ya mdomo. Hii ni mwaka wa tano mfululizo ambapo kuna ongezeko la idadi ya visa vipya vya kansa ya mdomo. Saratani ya mdomo ni ukuzi mbaya, usio wa kawaida wa chembe katika shimo la mdomo, midomo, au koo. Inakadiriwa kuwa asilimia saba ya visa vipya vya ugonjwa huo hazijulikani ni kwa sababu gani, lakini kwa kawaida ugonjwa huo unahusishwa na kutumia tumbaku na virusi vya HPV (Human Papillomavirus), ugonjwa unaopitishwa kwa njia ya ngono. Ugunduzi wa mapema na matibabu ya saratani ya mdomo hupunguza sana nafasi ya mgonjwa wa kuishi, kwa hivyo mazoea ya kupunguza hatari na uchunguzi wa saratani ya mara kwa mara hupendekezwa. Ugonjwa wa saratani ya mdomo ni moja ya magonjwa ya kawaida ya kawaida ambayo mara nyingi huathiri asilimia 40 hadi 50 ya vifo. Hata hivyo, ikiwa imegunduliwa mapema, kiwango cha kuishi kati ya wale waliogunduliwa huongezeka hadi karibu 90%. Kwa hiyo, daktari wako wa meno atafanya uchunguzi wa kina wakati wa kila uchunguzi na miadi ya kusafisha ili kuangalia dalili kama vile makunyanzi, vidonda, vidonda, sehemu zilizobadilika rangi za tishu za mdomo, tezi zilizovimba, na mengineyo ambayo yanaweza kuonyesha kansa ya mdomo. Dalili za kansa ya mdomo - Maumivu au kibofu kinywani - Matatizo ya kutafuna - Maumivu wakati wa kumeza - Kibofu cha lymph kilichovimba - Maeneo mekundu, meupe, au mekundu na meupe kinywani Sababu za hatari na visababishi vya kansa ya mdomo Uvutaji sigara na matumizi mengine ya tumbaku <unk> Matukio mengi ya kansa ya mdomo yanahusiana na tumbaku. Matumizi ya kileo pamoja na matumizi ya tumbaku huongeza hatari. Matumizi makubwa ya pombe <unk> Kansa za mdomo ni za kawaida mara sita kwa watu wanaokula pombe kuliko kwa wale wasio kunywa pombe. Karibu asilimia 75 hadi 80 ya wagonjwa wa kansa wanakunywa pombe mara kwa mara. Kuchochea kwa muda mrefu <unk>Hii yaweza kusababishwa na meno magumu, kazi ya meno, au maambukizi ya virusi. Herpetic cold sores ni hatari ya kusababisha kansa Ugonjwa huu unaopitishwa kwa njia ya ngono unaathiri asilimia saba ya Wamarekani, na wanaume wana uwezekano mkubwa mara tatu wa kuwa na HPV kuliko wanawake. Ongezeko la idadi ya watu walioambukizwa virusi vya HPV linaweza kueleza kwa nini viwango vya saratani ya mdomo vinaongezeka, licha ya kupungua kwa idadi ya wavutaji sigara. Kujifunza zaidi kuhusu Ugunduzi wa Mapema wa Saratani ya Mdomo Kupitia uchunguzi wa kawaida na miadi ya kusafisha, una nafasi kubwa ya kugundua mapema na matibabu ya mafanikio ya saratani. Kwa maelezo zaidi, piga simu kwa Lake Forest Dental Arts katika Lake Forest, IL, leo kwenye 847-234-0557. Pia tunajivunia kuwahudumia wakazi wa Chicago na jamii zote zinazozunguka. Mazoezi yetu hutumikia eneo la mji mkuu wa Chicago ikiwa ni pamoja na North Shore na Northwest vitongoji