Oral Cancer - Causes and Symptoms

Worldwide there are 350,000 to 400,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed each year. Even with today's medical and dental progress this figure has not improved much over the years. Oral cancer is particularly dangerous for two reasons: 1) It is routinely discovered late in its development and 2) oral cancer patients have a 20 times higher risk of developing a second cancer, even five to ten years after diagnosis of the first.

Doctors can not explain whyone person gets cancer of the mouth and the other does not, even if they share the same risk factors. The known risk factors include:

Smoking and tobacco use - at least 75% of those diagnosed with oral cancer are tobacco users, including the so-called "smokeless" tobacco.
Alcohol - Heavy use of alcoholic beverages increases the risk of mouth cancer.
Combined smoking and alcohol consumption - those who smoke and drink heavily are 15 times more likely to develop oral cancer.
Sunlight - Prolonged exposure to sunlight is a causal factor in lip and skin cancer.
Diet - Studies have shown that a diet low in fruit and vegetables can bring you more at risk for oral cancer, and other studies show that a diet high in fruit and vegetables can be protected against many types of cancer.

of oral cancer symptoms may be painless or mimic the appearance of other, non-dangerous oral symptoms. For example, a cancerLesion is similar to a common cancer look sore. Because of the dangerous tissue of oral cancer "can look and feel like the benign tissue changes that occur normally, it is important, ups regular dental check. Dentist can see you or changes to this, many in your mouth, which may not be noticeable to you . Some symptoms that should trigger an alarm and even a visit to the dentist:

A change in color in the mouth, also white, red, smooth or discoloration
Ulcer orsore lips or the gums that will not heal
Rough, crusty or eroded spot that will not heal
A lump, mass, thickening in the mouth or throat
Bleeding in the mouth (Healthy gums do not bleed! This can also be a sign of gum disease.)
Loose teeth
Pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking or chewing
Pain or difficulty moving the jaw
Were like masses
Hoarseness, which does not go away
Numbness in the oral / facial area
Change in the way teeth fit together
Difficulty wearing dentures
Earache
Oral change or soreness that does not go away or heal within two weeks

During an infection, gum disease, and many other problems and conditions can trigger the same reactions, it is nevertheless very important that you see your dentist immediately if you experience any of them. If your dentist or doctor decides that an area is suspicious, he or she may perform a biopsy of the area. A biopsy is not painful or time-consuming and is inexpensive. In the case of oral cancer, a fast, earlyDiagnosis can mean the difference between life and death.

© 2007 by Avis Ward of Award Consulting, LLC

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