April is Oral Cancer Month. When Drs. Dodds and Chandramohan graduated, they were told they not likely to ever diagnose a case of oral cancer. Unfortunately this has proven not to be the case. Dr. Dodds has found 3 cases in the past few years that were suspicious, and after having a biopsy done, the lesions were found to be cancerous. Dr. C has a patient in the chair today who has presented with lesions and has had them biopsied (but is still smoking!!!).
Why the increase in oral cancer over the past few years? The main causes are still alcohol and drug use, but the alarming rise is being linked to oral sex and HPV (Human papilloma virus).
These are the signs to be alert to:
A sore in the mouth that does not heal (most common symptom)
Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away (also very common)
A lump or thickening in the cheek
A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that doesn’t go away
Trouble chewing or swallowing
Trouble moving the jaw or tongue
Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw
Voice changes
A lump or mass in the neck
Weight loss
Constant bad breath
Many of these signs and symptoms can also be caused by things other than cancer, or even by other cancers. Still, it is very important to see a doctor or dentist if any of these conditions lasts more than 2 weeks so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
For more information please visit www.cancer.org
