Oral cancer is a dangerous disease that claims thousands of lives in the United States each year. In such cases, the most significant drawback is that almost more than half of the cases seem to advance and cannot be treated successfully. Individuals who are attacked by the disease are not even aware of the seriousness of their condition. Oral cancer can be treated with the help of the right medical care. Early detection can save a lot of lives.
The cause of oral cancers in almost 75% of the cases is usually related to smoking and tobacco use. The inner membranes of the mouth get irritated by the heat and smoke. Chewing tobacco, consumed in many Asian countries, can also be the primary cause for oral cancers that manifest in different regions of the mouth, tongue and throat. A dentist will examine the mouth to analyze whether there are any danger signs that need immediate treatment.
More than half of the oral cancers are found in the mouth while others are found in the regions of the pharynx and throat. According to research, the survival rates for this disease are extremely low, causing death in nearly half of the people diagnosed with the disease.
However, oral cancer is treatable, if it is detected early. An oral exam is usually the best way to know if there are dangerous lesions in the mouth. Your dentist will look for white or red patches that are also called leukoplakia or erythroplakia. These are sores in the mouth that do not go away or heal even after one or two weeks. If there is bleeding in the mouth, it can also be a cause of concern. The other warning signs of oral cancer can be determined when the gums are not strong enough and tooth loss is experienced. Lumps on the neck, difficulty in swallowing as well as an earache can be symptoms or oral cancers. The dentist also looks for skin ulcers in the lips or tongue. These patches start off as painless growths in the early stages. However, when the cancerous growth has advances, it will cause a burning sensation.
Oral cancer, when not treated within a stipulated time period, can spread very quickly. The insides of the mouth, the sides of the tongue are examined by the dentist for any ulcerous tissues. If there are any unusual lumps detected, a small sample of it is removed from the region and sent for biopsy. A biopsy is an examination that is performed by a pathologist who probes the sample tissue and checks whether they are cancerous or not. The biopsy is done with the help of local anesthesia where the region of the mouth from which the tissue is taken is first numbed. It is only with the help of proper diagnosis of the oral tissue that confirmation is given for oral cancer.
Please consult a dentist if you would like additional information about oral cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment options. Click here to find a dentist in your area. Enter your ZIP code below to find a money-saving discount dental plan available near you.
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