Oral Cancer Awareness Month

An estimated 54,000 new instances of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Of those who survive, 43% will not live more than five years, and many of those who do will face long-term issues such as severe facial deformities or feeding and speaking difficulties. Because oral and oropharyngeal cancers are frequently found late in their progression, the fatality rate associated with them remains extremely high.

The greatest technique for detecting oral cancer in its early stages is to have regular oral cancer examinations performed by your dental health professional.

Be Alert of Symptoms

Check Your Mouth encourages people to check for signs and symptoms of oral cancer at home between dental visits and to contact a dentist if they wouldn’t improve or go away after two or three weeks.

One or more of the following signs and symptoms of oral cancer are induced mostly by cigarette use and/or excessive alcohol consumption:

1. Any sore or ulcer that does not heal within 14 days should be treated.
2. A darkening of the soft tissues of the mouth that can be red, white, or black.
3. Any deformity that easily bleeds when touched (friable).
4. A bump or hard place in the tissue, commonly on the tongue’s border (induration).
5. Tissue that has grown over its surroundings; a growth (exophytic).
6. Even after adjusting the denture, the pain under the denture does not heal.In the mouth, a lump or thickening develops.
7. On the outside of the neck, there is a painless, firm, fixed lump that has been there for at least two years.

All of the symptoms listed above have one thing in common: they are persistent and do not go away.

One or more of the following signs and symptoms of HPV-caused oropharyngeal cancer (which may last longer than two-three weeks)

1. Hoarseness or a persistent sore throat that does not go away after a few weeks.
2. Only one side of the tonsil is enlarged. This is usually painless.
3. On the outside of the neck, there is a painless, firm, fixed lump that has been there for at least two weeks.
4. A persistent cough that persists for several days.
5. Swallowing difficulties; a feeling that food is stuck in your throat.
6. A single-sided (unilateral) earache that lasts more than a few days.

All of the symptoms listed above have one thing in common: they are persistent and do not go away.

If you have any immediate concerns, call your dentist immediately.

Factors at Risk

A variety of factors have been discovered in research that may contribute to the development of oral and oropharyngeal malignancies.
Historically, heavy drinkers and smokers over the age of 50 were at a higher risk of acquiring oral cancer, but according to HPV16, the virus most typically associated with cervical cancer, the cancer is now appearing more frequently in nonsmokers as well. Oral cancer affects about ten percent of those who have no known risk factors. They have no visible similarities, and it’s possible that this is due to an unexplained genetic flaw that has yet to be discovered.

The sexually transmitted human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) has been linked to an increase in oropharyngeal cancer incidence (most commonly involving lymphoid tissue occurring in the tonsils or the base of the tongue). About 99 percent of those who get an HPV oral infection will be able to get rid of the virus on their own.

In about one percent of people, the virus is not cleared by the immune system, and it can remain dormant for decades before producing cancer. This is most common in a non-smoking population where males outnumber females four to one.

There is no better time to schedule an oral cancer examination than during Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April,

About Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Every April, the Oral Cancer Foundation and the majority of the country’s main dental associations join forces to increase awareness about oral and oropharyngeal malignancies. During this month each year, many dental experts across the country open their clinics to provide screenings to the general public.

This serves as a timely reminder to the public that early detection and treatment of these malignancies reduces mortality and treatment-related health concerns.

Make contact with Us-
Acme Dental Lounge
Westend Shopping Building, Office no. 4, 2nd floor, New DP Rd, opp. D’Mart, Ward No. 8, Aundh, Pune, Maharashtra 411007
Contact- 9923459984
https://acmedental.in/