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Are You Moving Towards Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer is a form of cancer with one of the highest death rates
of all cancers. Sadly, only half of all people diagnosed with oral
cancer survive, even though oral cancer treatment is enriched with
new insights every year.
The majority of all sufferers of oral cancer are males, over forty
years old. Of course the disease can also hit younger people and women,
but the symptoms of oral cancer are mostly diagnosed in men, especially
those who use chewing or spit tobacco.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can be identified by some of the signs and symptoms mentioned
as follows
Bleeding in Mouth
Repeated bleeding in the mouth is one of many oral cancer symptoms.
A small wound in the mouth can be a result from eating something than
can be relatively sharp to the mouth tissue (such as toasted bread),
or from an accidental bite in the cheek. Should you experience repeated
bleeding in the mouth and wounds do not heal within fourteen days,
it is time to consult a doctor.
Numbness in Mouth
Occasional numbness, or a tingling sensation in your mouth, the cheek
of your mouth or tongue, it is advisable to arrange a check-up with
your doctor. The numbness might take place in an area of your mouth
where you might see slight changes in color of the skin (such as white
or red patches) but most of the time nothing out of the ordinary can
be seen.
Is Oral Cancer Different from Leukoplakia?
Leukoplakia, a condition forming white spots and patches inside the
mouth or possibly on the tongue is a result from chronic irritation.
Smoking, excessive consummation of alcohol and chewing tobacco are
the main causes for Leukoplakia. Some times people with ill-fitted
dentures develop Leukoplakia as the dentures rub against the inside
of the mouth, causing sores and irritation and wearers of dentures
usually have to go for oral cancer exams quite regularly.
eukoplakia is in itself not a form of cancer, but these irritated
areas in the mouth often occur close, or next to, cancerous areas
in the mouth or can contain an early form of oral cancer cells.
Dentists are inclined to treat Leukoplakia as an oral cancer warning.
Causes of Oral Cancer
The main causes of oral cancer are:
Smoking or chewing tobacco.
Excessive use of alcoholic beverages.
Leukoplakia, or untreated Leukoplakia.
Erythroplakia, a red raised path of irritated tissue in the mouth.
A family history of oral cancer.
Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause cancerous growths on
the lips.
Diagnosis of Oral Cancer
After you have noticed or experienced something abnormal in your mouth
or on the lips, notify your doctor or dentist,. Lumps and patches
in the mouth may point to something less serious, but with these methods
your doctor can diagnose oral cancer:
X-Ray
A dentist will take X-rays of the mouth and teeth to try and determine
if anything irregular is visible on these photos and check for oral
care symptoms. Oral cancer tumors can develop fairly quickly and can
possibly grow into for example the jaw bone. X-rays will help a doctor
to find the growth, after which the best method of oral cancer treatment
can be picked.
Computerized Tomography (CT)
A CT-scan is a series of x-ray photographs, taken of different locations
of the area that is being photographed. The CT scan will take a new
picture of every 3mm section of the part of the body that is being
examined. After this photographic procedure the pictures are entered
into a computer and manipulated. The result is a dynamic, all-round
view of the body, instead of a fragmented view, as is the case with
X-rays. This technology is much used in oral cancer exams.
There are other ways to diagnose oral cancer, and oral cancer exams
vary, but usually they start in a similar way in every individual
case. A doctor or dentist will do a physical examination of the
head, throat and mouth before any photos or scans are taken.
