Signs Of Oral Cancer: What Not To Ignore

This blog post from Decatur Smiles in Decatur AL focuses on a very serious subject, oral cancer.

The medical community categorizes oral cancer as a subset of head and neck cancers. Oral cancers can occur in the following locations:

• The tongue
• The roof of the mouth and under the tongue
• The inside of the cheeks
• The oropharynx (the part behind the soft palate)
• The salivary glands
• The lips

Oral Cancers Are Particularly Deadly

Over 50,000 people annually are diagnosed with a type of oral cancer. They are more than twice as prevalent in men. There is no disparity when it comes to blacks or whites. Oral cancers claim over 10,000 victims per year.

The statistics reveal that only 57 percent of those diagnosed this year will be alive in five years. Talk about a grim outlook.

Let’s talk about the common—and the not-so-common—warning signs of oral cancer.

Any sore or lump in the mouth or throat should be taken seriously. Any white or red patch could also be a symptom.

The Cold Sore Connection

Firstly, we know cold sores are not dinner-talk for most men and women. However, did you know that if you have a history of cold sores, you are at an incresed risk for receiving oropharyngeal (oral) cancer?

Don’t Ignore These Signs!

You will want to get checked out if you:

1. Have a lump or thickening in your throat
2. Have white or red patches on your tongue, tonsils, or lining of your cheeks and gums
3. Notice numbness of any oral feature
4. Have any type of lesion, cut, or canker-type sore that doesn’t heal within 14 days

Less-common symptoms include tongue pain and loose teeth. A hoarse voice that doesn’t go away should be a concern. Unexplained tooth discoloration is rare but not unheard of.

It’s a misconception to think any of these signs can’t lead to problems.

Early Diagnosis Can Save Your Life

Getting checked for oral (or any) cancer regularly is essential for multiple reasons, but it is ultimately necessary because you want to catch it early. So you have the highest chance of survival. While it generally does not start to show symptoms until around age 40, it occurs in younger patients as well.

Smokeless Tobacco

It is also more common for those who use smokeless, (chewing or spit) tobacco to get oral cancer. Many individuals argue that these are safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. This may be true when it comes to lung cancer. But you need to examine the of contracting other issues like oral cancer(s), pancreatic cancer, and/or chronic infections that can bring about heart issues later on.

Also, don’t assume vaping is less harmful. Though there is less research on the health risks of vaping, it certainly hasn’t been proven to be risk-free.

Smoking + Alcohol = A Dangerous Combination

While we are discussing tobacco and vaping, we also need to mention alcohol. For many people, they go together. Those who both smoke and drink have a 15 times greater likelihood of developing oral cancer than those who do neither.

Exposure to UV Rays Bolsters Risk of Lip Cancer

Lip cancer can be considered both an oral cancer and a skin cancer. Most of us have been warned that unprotected sun exposure is dangerous. But many of us forget about the lips when applying sunscreen. Pick up some SPF balm when you sunscreen.

Oral cancer screenings are part of every dental checkup at Decatur Smiles in Decatur AL. We offer general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Decatur Smiles:

256-350-5820

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1316 Somerville Rd SE Ste 2
Decatur, Alabama
35601