Have You Had Your Tongue Pulled Today? April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
Dr. Angela Boehler treats her patients like they are a part of her family; your comfort is the priority and your trust is earned. Enjoy a new experience at your next dental visit! She is very proud of her new, modern Dental Studio designed with a strong emphasis on patient comfort and ease creating beautiful smiles in a... more
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month |
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Hello to all of my Youth Fairy Squad members! I hope my blog post finds you all healthy and doing great and if you celebrated Easter, I hope it was relaxing and joyous. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. At every dental exam, either myself or Joe, the hygienist, will conduct an oral cancer screening exam while we are evaluating all of your oral tissues. That funny part of the exam when I ask you to stick your tongue out at me and I grab it and move it all around is a part of that oral cancer exam. Oral cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers diagnosed each year in the U.S. Every hour, 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year, someone dies of oral or oropharyngeal cancer (cancer of the mouth and upper throat). Yet, if oral cancer is detected and treated early, treatment-related health problems are reduced and survival rates may increase. This year an estimated 54,000 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed. Of those individuals, 43 percent will not survive longer than five years, and many who do survive to suffer long-term problems, such as severe facial disfigurement or difficulties with eating and speaking. The death rate associated with oral and oropharyngeal cancers remains particularly high because the cancers routinely are discovered late in their development. Regular oral cancer examinations performed by your oral health professional remain the best method for detecting oral cancer in its early stages. However, you can watch for signs and symptoms at home, as well, in between your visits to see us. Signs and symptoms of oral cancer which is predominantly caused by tobacco usage and/or excessive alcohol usage may include one or more of the following: Any sore or ulceration that does not heal within 14 days. A red, white, or black discoloration of the soft tissues of the mouth. Any abnormality that bleeds easily when touched (friable). A lump or hard spot in the tissue, usually border of the tongue (induration). Tissue raised above that which surrounds it; a growth (exophytic). A sore under a denture, which even after adjustment of the denture, does not heal. A lump or thickening that develops in the mouth. A painless, firm, fixated lump felt on the outside of the neck, which has been there for at least two weeks. All the above symptoms have the commonality of being persistent and not resolving. Signs and symptoms of HPV-caused oropharyngeal cancer may include one or more of the following (which may persist longer than two-three weeks): Hoarseness or sore throat that does not resolve within a few weeks. A swollen tonsil on just one side. This is usually painless. A painless, firm, fixated lump felt on the outside of the neck, which has been there for at least two weeks. A persistent cough that does not resolve after many days. Difficulty swallowing; a sensation that food is getting caught in your throat. An earache on one side (unilateral) persists for more than a few days. All the above symptoms have the commonality of being persistent and not resolving. Always call your dentist right away if there are any immediate concerns. Risk Factors Research has identified a number of factors that may contribute to the development of oral and oropharyngeal cancers. Historically, those at an especially high risk of developing oral cancer have been heavy drinkers and smokers older than age 50, but today cancer also is occurring more frequently in non-smoking people due to HPV16, the virus most commonly associated with cervical cancer. The sexually transmitted human papillomavirus 16 (HPV) is related to the increasing incidence of oropharyngeal cancer (most commonly involving lymphoid tissue occurring in the tonsils or the base of the tongue). Approximately 99 percent of people who develop an HPV oral infection will clear the virus on their own. In approximately 1 percent of individuals, the immune system will not clear the virus and it can lay dormant for decades before potentially causing cancer, this occurs mostly in a non-smoking population composed of males four to one over females. If you have any questions or specific concerns about oral cancer, your risks, or simply want to come in for an oral cancer exam, I am offering Complimentary Oral Cancer Examinations through the Month of April in coordination with Oral Cancer Awareness Month. Please call Phyllis to reserve your time on my schedule.
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