Oral Cancer Awareness

• Oral cancer is on the rise.
• One person an hour dies from oral cancer.
• The most common risk factors for oral cancer are HPV-16 (Human Papilloma Virus- Version 16), Tobacco, and alcohol.
• In its early stages oral cancer can be painless and often go unnoticed to the patient. The good news is that your dentist can often see and feel changes in your tissue, or notice irregular patterns in the early stages of oral cancer.
• If caught in its early stages, oral cancer has a survival rate of 80-90%.
• The most common sites for oral cancer are the sides or base of the tongue, and the floor of the mouth.
• There are several different types of oral cancer. The most common type of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
• Common symptoms of oral cancer can include:

• A sore that does not heal
• Pain in the mouth that does not go away
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth
• Swelling, lump, or mass in the neck or jaw

If you notice any of these symptoms that do not improve or go away within 10-14 days, please contact our office.

Want to learn more? Visit us at

http://www.shalimarfamilydentistry.com

http://www.northstapleydentalcare.com

http://www.alamedadentalaz.com

http://www.dentistingilbert.com

Sources:

http://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/

https://www.ahns.info/resources/education/patient_education/oralcavity/

http://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/oral-cancer

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html