Oral Cancer – Avoidance And Detection
Mouth cancer can be life changing or even life threatening. Here’s how to minimise the risks.
Some of you may not have even heard of oral cancer, yet it is thought to kill around three and a half thousand people in the UK each year, with around eleven thousand requiring treatment for it annually. If you haven’t heard of this before, there is a good chance that you will do as cases have increased by just under 150% in the last twenty years.
As you might expect, oral care plays a significant role in preventing this dangerous disease and we will look at that today, along with our role in detecting it. We hope that you find this blog useful and perhaps change sometimes long held habits if you recognise any of the things mentioned about yourself in it.
What is oral cancer?
As you might expect, this is another form of cancer like lung or bowel cancer. Tumours can form and can then spread throughout the body. Oral cancers can also eventually affect the throat, neck and other regions of the head area. As mentioned, it can be fatal, but even for those who survive it, it can be life changing and can lead to facial disfigurement, difficulty in swallowing, taste and speech among other things. As you can see then, it is something that our Wickford patients should definitely avoid where possible.
What causes it?
The most significant factor in oral cancer is, without a doubt, smoking. Tobacco contains around eighty known cancer causing chemicals and these can attack the lining of the mouth and lead to DNA mutations. The smoke itself can also be an irritant and also narrows tiny blood vessels which reduces oxygen flow, making infections etc more likely. This is by far the biggest factor in the cause of mouth cancers. Alcohol can also play a significant part as it also damages the lining of the mouth and throat, often causing dryness. If you smoke as well, this is a real threat and heavy or regular drinkers are around four times more likely to suffer this disease than those that avoid alcohol.
We have discussed this in another recent Cygnet Dental blog but just a reminder that the sexually transmitted disease, HPV, is also a significant factor, and in fact, is the leading cause in some areas of the world. If you are sexually active, please talk to your GP about this and discuss the option of taking up the HPV vaccinations that are now available.
What are the signs of the disease?
There are a number of symptoms that can occur. It should be noted though that these can also apply to other issues so you should always see your GP if you have any concerns. Sores and ulcers are a common indication, predominantly if they don’t clear up within about three weeks. Usually, our bodies will fight these and heal them. If this doesn’t happen,, then you should see your GP. Swellings in the mouth, lip or throat may also be an indication of cancer as can red or white patches that appear in the oral cavity. Any unusual issues such as pain, soreness, difficulty in swallowing or a change in voice should be checked out, just to be on the safe side.
How can we help?
Our Wickford dentists are not cancer experts. We should make that clear. That means that we can’t tell you that you have oral cancer. What we can do though is to check the soft tissue of the oral cavity when you come for your regular check up. If we notice issues such as red or white patches or swellings, we will usually refer you to your GP for further investigation. As previously mentioned, we can not diagnose this so we encourage patients to see their GP and to remain calm in the meantime. Some of these symptoms may be caused by something entirely different and harmless but it is important that you have them checked by a GP who may refer you to a specialist if they feel it necessary.
The fact remains that oral cancer is largely, though not entirely, avoidable and following the advice above means that you can lower your risk of this disease. Maintaining regular six monthly check ups with us means that not only can we stay on top of your teeth and gum health, but also monitor the oral cavity for any possible cancer symptoms early on. Early detection is key to a successful outcome and reduced side effects from treatment than if it is not detected and is allowed to advance.
Naturally, good oral health care, including brushing and flossing, to maintain a healthy mouth will help as well, in addition to keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
If you have any concerns about any issue that has arisen in your mouth that you suspect could potentially be cancerous, your GP is your best option as we would probably refer you there anyway. If you currently don’t have six monthly check ups with us and would change this, please call the Cygnet Dental Practice today on 01268 733078 and we will book you in for an appointment and start you on the journey to a healthier mouth.