Oral Cancer – Dental Health Month 2012

Oral Cancer can be an insidious life threatening condition. In many situations when you are aware of it, it’s too late. In its early stages it is often symptomless.

The common areas that the lesions develop are:

• lips
• tongue
• under and side of the tongue
• inside of the cheek
• palate

Risk Factors

• Smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes)
• Excessive amounts of alcohol
• Sunlight (especially for lips)
• Betel nut, chewing tobacco, snuff
• Viral infections e.g. human papilloma virus (HPV) – may be transmitted by oral sex
• Diet deficiencies (especially Vitamin A, C and E)
• Age (increases as we get older)
• Genetic tendency
• Chronic irritations

Oral cancer is primarily associated with smoking but studies have revealed that 25% of those diagnosed have NEVER SMOKED!

Early Detection
At Seymour Dental we encourage regular visits to not only to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy but the whole of the mouth and lips are checked as well. This enables the dentist to look for the early signs of oral cancer.

Signs of Oral Cancer

• Any sore that does not heal in two weeks in the mouth or on the face, neck or lips
• Lumps, swellings on the lips or in the mouth
• White, red or dark patches anywhere in the mouth
• Bleeding in the mouth that repeats
• Mobile teeth
• Difficulty in moving tongue, jaw or swallowing
• Dentures wearing becoming difficult
• Lump in neck
• Earache that does not stop
• Numbness, pain in the face, mouth or neck
• Abnormal taste in mouth

Please note that if there are early signs of oral cancer, with no known risk factors, then the risk of progression of the cancer is much HIGHER.

What next?
If the dentist detects a suspicious lesion

• He may take a photo and observe over time for any further changes
• Determine other causes for the lesion e.g. chemical reaction or trauma
• Remove tissue for a biopsy to determine exactly what is happening to the cells
• Refer to a specialist oral surgeon for his opinion
• Promote changes in lifestyle to reduce or prevent the risk of cancer. Ring Quitline 13 78 48
• Encourage preventative measure such as SPF30 sunburn cream on the lips, nose and wearing hats to prevent skin cancers

Remember early detection of cancer reduces the amount of treatment and increases survival.

For further information:

• http://www.arcpoh.adelaide.edu.au/dperu/special/Oral_cancer/Oral%20Cancer%20DL.pdf
• www.oralcancerfacts.com.au

Next week: What is Decay?