Around 400 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year in Ireland, and two people die each week from the disease, yet awareness is very low. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer among men and it kills more people than cervical cancer and malignant melanomas.
Patients on the Medical card and PRSI schemes are entitled to a free check up once a year and should avail of it. Your dental examination includes a free oral cancer screening to detect the early signs of this devastating disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer?
- The most significant sign to look for is an ulcer or sore in the mouth that is not healing Oral Cancer of the lip
Oral cancer of the tongue
Also look out for:
- * Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- * Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck
- * Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within two weeks
- * A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat
- * Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
- * Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or changes in the voice
- * Ear pain
- * A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together – a change in your “bite”
- * Dramatic weight loss
If you notice any of these changes, contact your dentist immediately for a professional examination.
I recently noticed a whitish patch in my mouth. Is this oral cancer?
Probably not, but this whitish patch may be leukoplakia. Leukoplakia, a condition caused by excess cell growth, can form on the cheeks, gums, or tongue. Leukoplakia is commonly seen in tobacco users, in people with ill-fitting dentures, and in those who have a habit of chewing on their cheek. This condition can progress to cancer. Red patches in the mouth (called erythroplakia) are less common than leukoplakia but have an even greater potential for being cancerous. Any white or red lesion in your mouth should be evaluated by your dentist.
Who gets oral cancer and what are the risk factors for oral cancer?
Well everybody has some risk, but people who smoke and drink alcohol have an even higher risk of cancer than those who only drink or only use tobacco products. The risk of developing oral cavity and pharynx cancers increases both with the amount as well as the length of time tobacco and alcohol products are used.
Men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women, and men who are over age 50 face the greatest risk.
Risk factors for the development of oral cancer include:
- Cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking — Smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop oral cancers.
- Use of smokeless tobacco products (for example, dip, snuff, or chewing tobacco) — Use of these products increase the risk of cancers of the cheek, gums, and lining of the lips.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol — Oral cancers are about six times more common in drinkers than in non-drinkers.
- Family history of cancer
- Excessive exposure to the sun — especially at a young age
What can I do to prevent oral cancer
You can take an active role in preventing oral cancer or detecting it early, should it occur.
- Conduct a self exam regularly. Using a bright light and a mirror, look and feel your lips and front of your gums. Tilt your head back and look at and feel the roof of your mouth. Pull your checks out to view the inside of your mouth, the lining of your cheeks, and the back gums. Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces. Examine the floor of your mouth. Look at the back of your throat. Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of your neck and under your lower jaw. Call your dental clinic if you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.
- See your dentist on a regular schedule. Even though you might be conducting frequent self exams, sometimes dangerous spots or sores in the mouth can be very tiny and difficult to see on your own. We recommend oral cancer screening exams every three years for people over age 20 and annually for those over age 40. During your next dental appointment, ask your dentist to perform an oral exam. Early detection can improve the chance of successful treatment.
- Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products and drink alcohol in moderation. (Refrain from binge drinking.)
- Eat a well balanced diet.
- Limit your exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure increases the risk of cancer on the lip, especially the lower lip. When in the sun, use UV-A/B-blocking sun protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.
It is important to note that more than 25% of all oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol occasionally.