April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
THIS YEAR ALONE, 400,000 people throughout the world will be diagnosed with oral cancer. 40% of those diagnosed won’t live another five years. Oral cancer has such a dismal survival rate because it’s usually not detected until very late in its progression. Because April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we’re encouraging everyone to get screened this year during their regularly scheduled checkups.
The Risk Factors Of Oral Cancer:
Most cases of mouth cancer are linked to tobacco and alcohol. However, the traditional ethnic habits of chewing tobacco, betel quid, gutkha and paan are particularly dangerous.
Alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, and if tobacco and alcohol are consumed together the risk is even greater. Over-exposure to sunlight can also increase the risk of cancer of the lips.
Many recent reports have linked mouth cancer to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer and affects the skin that lines the moist areas of the body. HPV can be spread through oral sex, and research now suggests that it could soon rival smoking and drinking as one of the main causes of mouth cancer.
Early Detection Is SO Important
Early oral cancer detection can boost survival rates to 80–90%! One of the reasons oral cancer goes undetected is because many of the symptoms are not painful. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please let us know right away:
- A lump or thickening of your cheek
- A white or red patch on any part of your inner mouth or throat
- A sore inside your mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks
- Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw
- Numbness inside your mouth
- Chronic difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Jaw swelling
The Best Offense Is A Good Defense
Keep regularly scheduled cleaning appointments and screenings. Doing so GREATLY increases the likelihood that any problems will be detected early. It’s worth it.
Dr. Sadineni Dublin Ohio Dentist performs oral cancer screenings and examinations during your routine checkups. She uses ViziLite TBlue to identify, evaluate, monitor and mark abnormal oral cell lesions suspicious for pathology including precancerous and cancerous cells that may be difficult to see during a regular visual exam. This procedure only takes 2 minutes to complete.
Blythe Danner on Oral Cancer:
As your trusted, lifelong oral health partner, we want to keep you and your loved ones as healthy as possible. When brushing your teeth, look out for any changes in your mouth, and report any red or white patches, or ulcers, that have not cleared up within three weeks.
A good diet, rich in vitamins A, C and E, provides protection against the development of mouth cancer. Plenty of fruit and vegetables help the body to protect itself, in general, from most cancers. Call today at (614) 766-5600 to schedule an Oral Cancer screening.
Let us know if you have questions about oral cancer or any of the symptoms mentioned above. And share this information with someone you love!
My daughter and I love going to see Dr Aparna Sadineni and her professional staff. We never have to wait and the staff knows us like a second family. I highly recommend this office!