Oral Cancer Screening

Importance of Oral Cancer Screening
At Dental Care Centre, your health is our top priority, and as part of our comprehensive examinations, we perform oral cancer screenings. Throughout your ongoing care, any soft tissue changes are evaluated closely. Oral cancer screenings are a requirement, routine, and potentially lifesaving.
- Early detection of Oral Cancer gives you a 90% chance of survival.
- The early stages of Oral Cancer can look like mouth ulcer.
- Over 25% of Oral Cancer sufferers are non-smokers.
Cancer is a disorder of the cells in the body. It occurs when the body’s normal cells begin to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. Such cells may invade or cause damage to nearby tissue, or spread to other body areas, causing additional harm.
Oral cancer is also called mouth cancer. It is a cancer that can develop anywhere in the mouth, including the gums, cheeks, palate (roof of the mouth), tongue, lips, sinuses, and pharynx (throat).
The exact reason for why a cell becomes cancerous remains unclear. It is thought that something alters or damages certain genes in the cell, causing it to become abnormal and begin proliferating.
For most people, there’s no cause identifiable in a regular sense for oral cancer to harm them. Nevertheless, several factors may increase the odds of someone contracting the disease. These include:
- Smoking. There is a much higher occurrence of oral cancer in smokers than in non-smokers.
- Excessive or frequent consumption of alcohol.
- Chewing tobacco.
- The Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted infection.
- Extended sun exposure to the area around your mouth, including your lips, without the use of a broad spectrum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreen.
A common symptom of oral cancer is an ulcer or sore in the oral cavity that does not heal, and pain in the oral cavity that does not go away. Often, changes in the mouth will be observed before cancer develops. This means that early diagnosis of those changes can help prevent a cancer from forming.
- A sore or ulcer that does not heal and/or bleeds easily.
- A blood blister that does not heal.
- White or red patches anywhere in the mouth (leukoplakia and erythroplakia).
- A thick or hard lump on the lip, tongue or in the mouth or throat, what may or may not be painful.
- Unusual bleeding or numbness anywhere in the mouth.
- Pain when chewing or swallowing.
- A feeling that something is caught in the throat.
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, be diligent and contact us for additional tests. Keep in mind that early diagnosis will help prevent cancer, so if you think you may have any symptoms, it’s important to act as quickly as possible.
Other dental conditions with similar symptoms
Other dental conditions can have similar symptoms, particularly if there is chafing in the mouth, such as that caused by dentures, metal braces or a mouth guard. Infections can also cause swelling and bleeding in the mouth unrelated to cancer. Having your symptoms checked through an oral cancer screening will enable you to receive early intervention, whether it is for another dental condition or cancer.
Causes of oral cancer
Risk factors are considered when evaluating causes of oral cancer. People at a higher risk of developing oral cancer may:
- Have a genetic predisposition to abnormal cancerous cell growth.
- Have high exposure to the sun or UV due to artificial tanning, which has damaged lip and skin tissue.
- Smoke or chew tobacco that damages oral cell tissue.
- Excessively drink alcohol, which damages oral cell tissue and the liver.
- Follow an unhealthy diet and lifestyle, which weakens their immunity and healthy cell growth.
Prognosis, treatment and prevention of oral cancer
In the UK about 4,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer and around 50% die as a result. Oral cancer is usually treated with radiation or chemotherapy, and abnormal cancerous growths can spread through the body if not caught early. Having regular dental check-ups allows your dentists to monitor oral health for the signs of cancerous growth, to ensure you can receive the treatment you need – people can have oral cancer and not know it. Other preventative measures include:
- Being screened during a physical examination and having a biopsy taken to detect cancer.
- Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun, sunburn and the use of artificial tanning devices.
- Not smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Moderating alcohol consumption.
- Regular exercise and a nutritious diet..
- A healthy lifestyle.
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