Oral Cancer Awareness Month

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, an annual observation that underscores the fact that early detection of oral cancer can decrease morbidity and increase long-term survival.

About Oral Cancer

Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth and pharynx (the back of the throat).

Oral cancer accounts for roughly three percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States.

Approximately 48,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer each year and about 9,600 will die from the disease.

On average, 64 percent of those with the disease will survive more than 5 years.

Oral cancer most often occurs in people over the age of 40 and affects more than twice as many men as women.

Early Detection of Oral Cancer

It is important to find oral cancer as early as possible when it can be treated more successfully.

An oral cancer examination can help detect early signs of cancer. Our office includes oral cancer screening checks as part of each new patient exam and is part of every regular check-up examination. We will check your face, neck, lips, and entire mouth for possible signs of cancer.

Some parts of the pharynx are not visible during an oral cancer exam and if necessary a referral to a specialist will be made.

What Puts Someone at Risk for Oral Cancer?

Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarette smoking, puts you at risk.

Heavy alcohol use also increases your chances of developing the disease.

Using tobacco plus alcohol poses a much greater risk than using either substance alone.

HPV. Infection with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (specifically the HPV 16 type) has been linked to a subset of oral cancers.

Risk increases with age. Oral cancer most often occurs in people over the age of 40.

Sun Exposure. Cancer of the lip can be caused by sun exposure.

Diet. A diet low in fruits and vegetables may play a role in oral cancer development.

Possible Signs & Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Please call our office if any of the following symptoms lasts for more than 2 weeks.

• A sore, irritation, lump, or thick patch in your mouth, lip, or throat
• A white or red patch in your mouth
• A feeling that something is caught in your throat
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue
• Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth
• Swelling of your jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• Pain in one ear without hearing loss