Oral cancer, including cancer of the tongue, lip, cheek, and floor of the mouth, is a devastating and debilitating disease. Every year, dentists and physicians diagnose about 30,000 new cases. Every year, about 7,000 people die of the disease. Oral cancer leaves many victims disfigured. Prevention is the best medicine. If oral cancer escapes prevention, early diagnosis and treatment is the next line of defense. Regular dental health care is the key to early diagnosis and treatment.
Prevent oral cancer by limiting risk factors. Of course exposure to tobacco by smoking, chewing, or dipping snuff, is an obvious risk. Alcohol use is another risk that is synergistic with tobacco. Synergistic means that alcohol and tobacco work together to increase the risk. Limit alcohol and tobacco use to decrease risk.
Sun is another common risk for oral cancer. Sun exposure usually effects the lower lip. Use sun block and limit exposure to the sun when possible.
Some of the same viruses that cause cervical cancer have been linked to oral cancer. It is possible, but unproven, that the new cervical cancer vaccine may also prevent some oral cancer.
Dental health care includes regular oral cancer exams. At every examination appointment, the dentist should look at every surface of the mouth for anything unusual. The dentist should feel the lips, cheeks and tongue. The dentist will use their mirror to look at the surfaces of the tongue, lips, cheeks and the floor of the mouth. They will ask the patient to stick out their tongue to display the back and underside. The dentist instructs the assistant to record a description of anything unusual - lumps, bumps, white or colored patches, and sores. There are many new techniques for looking for oral cancer, but in 2008, visual examination is the standard of care.
Treatment begins with diagnosis. A dentist will remove all or a small piece of the questionable spot, a biopsy. An oral pathologist will look at the sample under a microscope.
Many times, removal of the lesion is curative. The pathologist might find that the lesion requires more treatment. Treatment might include surgery, medication, even chemotherapy.
Author: Dr. David Leader
© 2008 Associated Content