Don’t Dismiss the Signs of Oral Cancer or Opt Out of Screenings
Argyle Invisalign provider Dr. Jonathan Golab discusses the changing face of oral cancer and its effects on patients with certain lifestyles.
FLOWER MOUND AND ARGYLE, TEXAS – Every day, every hour, one American dies of oral cancer, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. An estimated 30,000 Americans are diagnosed each year, and when found early oral cancer has a 90 percent cure rate.
“The death rate for these types of cancers is so high because it spreads very quickly and many patients are diagnosed too late,” said Dr. Jonathan Golab, a Flower Mound and Argyle Invisalign provider. “While there is generally no pain associated with oral cancers, the affected tissue goes unnoticed by the patient because of its location.”
Historically, people over the age of 40 who were heavy smokers for a decade or more were the mostly widely diagnosed, but that is quickly changing. Although 80 to 90 percent of oral cancers have been found in people who use tobacco or smoke heavily, 25 percent of oral cancers occur in people who have no risk factors at all.
From a gender perspective, this cancer has affected six men for every one woman. That ratio today has become two men to each woman.
When you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, your risk of oral cancer greatly increases. In fact, tobacco use accounts for most oral cancers. The risk also increases for tobacco users who drink alcohol heavily. Alcohol dehydrates the cell walls in the mouth, allowing carcinogens to permeate the tissue more easily, resulting in the development of cancer.
“One of the biggest dangers of this cancer is that it can go completely unnoticed in its early development,” said smile makeover professional, Dr. Golab. “It can be painless and hard to detect if you do not know what you are looking for.”
In April 2011 the OCF released information about a sexually transmitted disease that has replaced tobacco as the number one cause of oral cancers – Human Papilloma Virus number 16. This is one of the same viruses that are responsible for the majority of cervical cancers in women. This virus is found in 60 percent of newly diagnosed patients and is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.
“There are more than 130 strains of HPV,” the dental bridges provider. “It is a common sexually transmitted disease and most strains are thought to be harmless. Approximately one percent of those infected have a lack of immune response to strain 16, which is the primary connective agent in oral cancer.”
Patients need to understand the common symptoms of oral cancer to protect themselves, said the teeth bleaching dentist. They are:
- A change in the way teeth fit together
- A color change in oral tissues
- A tiny white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth
- Any sore that bleeds or will not heal
- Difficultly chewing, swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue
- Lumps, roughness, or crusty areas
- Pain, soreness, or numbness in the mouth or lips
Oral cancer screenings are becoming a common component of routine comprehensive dental examinations. To identify abnormal cells in the mouth, dentists will perform an examination of the mouth to look for red or white patches or mouth sores. After an initial evaluation the dentist may ask you to rinse your mouth with a dye. This causes abnormal cells in the mouth to absorb the dye and appear a different color. The dentist may also use a special light inside your mouth that will make healthy cells appear dark and abnormal cells appear white.
“This is important even if you do not have any risk factors. People with no known factors have developed oral cancer,” said the dental care professional. “Routine screenings can allow your dentist to find problems before they spread, which is vital when dealing with this type of cancer.”
