By Dr. Crystal A. Edmister D.D.S.
Special to the Saipan Tribune
Editor's Note: The author works for the Seventh-day Adventist Dental Clinic.
Oral Cancer Facts
Oral cancer strikes 34,360 Americans annually. About 7,550 of those diagnosed with oral cancer will die from it each year. Oral cancer, or cancer of the mouth, often begins in one's mouth as a small red or white spot, but can grow rapidly and even spread into other parts of the body. Did you know that oral cancer is as common as leukemia and kills more people than either cervical cancer or melanoma (skin cancer)? Only half of the patients diagnosed with oral cancer will live more than five years.
Oral Cancer Risk Factors
Tobacco and alcohol use are the greatest contributors to oral cancer. Prolonged sun exposure increases the risk of lip cancer. Oral cancer is more likely to strike those over the age of 40. However, a surprising 25 percent of people who are diagnosed with oral cancer have no predisposing risk factors - meaning they don't smoke, chew or drink alcohol. Chewing betel nut causes constant irritation to the cheeks, gums and tongue. Over time, tissue cells in these irritated areas can begin to change into unhealthy, abnormal cells and possibly change into cancer cells.
Detection & Prevention
Abnormal tissue cells can exhibit themselves in the mouth in the form of red or white spots. Some of these areas are harmless and benign. Some areas are pre-cancerous which means that the cells will develop into cancer cells if they are not detected early and removed. Some of these red or white spots are cancerous and need to be removed immediately. Areas which can be affected include the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
Signs of oral cancer can include:
-A color change in oral tissues
-A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal within two weeks
-A lump, thickening, crust, sore or rough spot
-Pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
-A change in the way teeth fit together
-Difficulty swallowing, chewing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue
A key of early detection is to visit your dentist every six months for an oral cancer screening exam. The good news is that it's now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the opportunity for a cure is high. Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it's caught early! Your dentist has the skills and tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are detected. So help to prolong your life by stopping bad habits that predispose one to getting oral cancer, like smoking and chewing and drinking alcohol. Use sunscreen on your lips when outdoors. Studies have also shown that eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables may prevent the development of potentially cancerous lesions.
ViziLite Plus
The Seventh-day Adventist Clinic continually looks for all dental advances in technology to ensure we are providing the optimum level of oral health care to our patients. We are concerned about oral cancer in the CNMI and look for it in every patient. We have recently incorporated ViziLite Plus into our oral screening standard of care. We've found that using ViziLite Plus along with a standard head and neck oral cancer exam improves the ability to identify suspicious areas at their earliest stages. ViziLite Plus is similar to proven early detection procedures for other cancers such as mammography, Pap smear, and PSA for prostate cancer detection. ViziLite Plus is a painless and simple exam that can help to identify abnormal tissues and minimize the potentially disfiguring effects of oral cancer and possibly save your life.
You and your dentist can fight & win the battle against oral cancer. Remember these early detection signs, try to reduce your risk by quitting smoking, chewing, and drinking, and see your dentist regularly for an oral cancer screening exam.
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