March 27, 2017 New updates! With the new budget released last week, it was announced that boys will also be receiving the HPV vaccination! That’s great news to help stop the spread of HPV – which is a leading cause of oral cancer. And we were recently sent this link to a site on oral cancer caused by asbestos (mesothelioma) which has great information on how cancer treatments can affect oral health.
New statistics were released by the Canadian Cancer Agency this fall, and mouth and throat cancer rates are rising dramatically, especially in males. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the cause of the majority of these cases.
Dr. Hadi Seikaly, a professor and oncology surgeon at the University of Alberta, said doctors are seeing more HPV-related cancers in both men and women.“The surprising thing is that we’re just seeing the front end of the epidemic,” he told CTV News. “And it is an epidemic … cervical cancer rates are coming down and head, neck cancer rates are going up.”
As with many diseases, the signs and symptoms are not always readily linked to the disease because of their general characteristics:
- white patches (leukoplakia), red patches (erythroplakia) or mixed red and white patches (eryhtroleukoplakia) on the lips or in the mouth
- an ulcer or sore in the mouth or on the lip that doesn’t heal
- a lump or growth on the lip or in the mouth, including on the tongue
- thickening in the cheek
- bleeding in the mouth
- pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
- persistent earache
- loose teeth
- dentures that no longer fit
- slurred speech
- swollen salivary glands
- swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- numbness or loss of sensation over the tongue or lips
- swelling of the jaw
Read more: https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/oral/signs-and-symptoms#ixzz4OJIzm9UQ
Between 1992 and 2012, the incidence of HPV-related mouth and throat cancers increased 56 per cent in males and 17 per cent in females. Previously HPV was the main factor in cervical cancer, but the statistics show that trend has now changed. When Dr. Dodds graduated in 2003, his professors told him he likely would never see an oral cancer case in his office. Unfortunately this has not proven true, and he has discovered a few cases in the past 13 years. It’s definitely something he, and our hygienists, keep a close eye on when they examine you.
What can you do to help prevent getting mouth or throat cancer? Children should all be vaccinated (not only girls – which is currently the case in Saskatchewan) around the ages of 12-14. Scientists are not sure yet if adult vaccines are effective, but this should be discussed with your doctor if you feel you may be at risk. Visiting your dental hygienist and dentist regularly is also key, as they will be assessing for mouth and throat cancer at your regular appointment. A biopsy will be taken and sent to a pathologist for assessment if any abnormalities are present. In general, the survival rate is good especially if caught early on.
As with all things…take care of yourself and take the time to investigate anything that seems out of the ordinary.