One person dies from oral cancer nearly every hour of every day.
Reasons to get screened for oral cancer:
- Early detection is vital for successful prevention and treatment of oral cancer
- Oral cancer can disfigure the face and neck
- It is proven to detect oral lesions, even lesions that are not visible
- The procedure is painless and takes only minutes
- HPV (Human papillomavirus) has been linked to oral cancer and is on the rise
- Our digital camera allows us to document the findings for records and to ensure accurate treatment
- Approximately 25% of oral cancer cases have no risk factors
Risk Factors:
- More common in men than women
- Most common in African Americans
- Greater risk after age 35
- Tobacco use
- Frequent alcohol consumption
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight (lip cancer)
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
- The sexually transmitted infection HPV
Symptoms:
- Red and/or white patches in the mouth
- Any sore that doesn’t heal within 14 days
- Persistent hoarseness
- Feeling like something is caught in the throat
- Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
- Difficulty swallowing
- Ear pain on one side only
- A sore under a denture that doesn’t heal
- A lump or thickening in the mouth or on the neck