April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, with this week being Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 51,540 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer this year. If that’s not terrifying enough, an estimated 10,030 people will die of these cancers.
Oral and pharyngeal cancer (cancer of the mouth and upper throat) collectively kills nearly one person every hour of every day of the year. Of the people newly diagnosed with these cancers, only about 60% will live longer than 5 years. -American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (aaoms.org)
What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is defined as cancer in any part of the mouth including the following: cheeks, floor of mouth, gums, hard and soft palate, jaw, lips, pharynx (throat), salivary glands, tongue, and tonsils. Often grouped into the category of “oral, head, and neck”, cancer of the mouth can be effectively treated if caught in its earliest stages; however, the outcome is often bleak when the cancer is advanced.
Who is at risk?
There are several risk factors for oral cancer. Tobacco and alcohol are some of the top offenders. Tobacco in any form (chewing, dipping, smoking) is known to cause oral cancer. Cancer of the lip, cheek, and tongue are commonly seen from chewing tobacco or dipping. Heavy smoking combined with excessive alcohol consumption causes the risk to skyrocket. The American Cancer Society notes that approximately 7 out of 10 patients with oral cancer are heavy drinkers.
Other potential causes of oral cancer include: bad eating habits, gender (men have twice the risk), and poor oral hygiene.
HPV and Oral Cancer
Another common risk factor steadily on the rise is HPV (Human papillomavirus), currently the most common STI (sexually transmitted disease) and consisting of various strains. Often asymptomatic, HPV is easily spread through skin-to-skin contact. Itching or warts are the main symptoms. HPV can be chronic, or completely clear up own its own. HPV is predominantly present among the younger generations, with the logic being that young adults take greater risks when it comes to sexual behaviors. This first line of defense against HPV is getting vaccinated prior to entering the teenage years. The HPV vaccine can protect against the infection and significantly lower the risks of complications.
So how are HPV and oral cancer related? Firstly, an HPV infection needs to occur in the mouth, and this doesn’t always result in cancer. The chronic strains of HPV are the most concerning. The Oral Cancer Foundation states: HPV is the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers; primarily the tonsils, tonsillar crypt, the base of the tongue (the very back of the mouth and part of what in lay terms might be called a part of the throat), and a very small number of front of the mouth, oral cavity cancers. HPV16 is the version most responsible, and affects both males and females.
Signs and Symptoms
If you experience any of the following changes in your mouth, please inform your dentist so he or she can perform an oral cancer exam. Keep in mind that these signs and symptoms can also be caused by other benign conditions. A good rule of thumb is get anything checked out that lasts more than 2 weeks.
- A persistent sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal
- A sore throat or feeling that something is stuck in the throat
- Chronic bad breath
- Constant pain in the mouth that won’t subside
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Loose teeth for no apparent reason
- Lump or thickened tissues in the cheek
- Numbness in any part of the mouth or throat
- Poorly fitting dental appliances
- Problems with movement of jaw or tongue
- Red or white patches on gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of mouth
- Swelling of the jaw
- Unexplained weight loss
If you have any concerns regarding oral cancer, or you would like to schedule an oral cancer exam, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.