ral cancer generally refers to cancers that develop on the lip or in the oral cavity including the front two-thirds of the tongue, the upper and lower gums (the gingiva), the lining of the inside of the cheeks and lips (the buccal mucosa), the bottom (floor) of the mouth under the tongue, the bony top of the mouth (the hard palate), and the small area behind the wisdom teeth (the retromolar trigone).

An estimated 29,370 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2005; 7320 will die from it. Although laryngeal cancer is usually considered separately from oral cancer, when it’s added, incidence jumps nearly 10,000 annually, with nearly 4,000 additional deaths. When found early, most (80-90%) oral cancers can be cured.

The problem is oral cancers, which have few symptoms when they’re small and localized, are often discovered after they’ve begun to spread. The first sign may be trouble swallowing, speaking or chewing.    

SCREENING – EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES 

Screening for cancer involves examining people for early stages in the development of the disease even though there are no apparent symptoms. Your dentist or oral hygienist can detect changes in the tissues of the mouth when they’re pre-cancerous or very small tumors. Oral cancer screening is quick and painless, cost effective, and can be performed by a dentist, dental hygienist, or doctor. If abnormalities are found, a referral to an oral surgeon is usually called for.

Who is at risk?

What causes oral cancer is not known. There are certain risk factors that have been associated with oral cancer:

Race - Older black men who use tobacco are at highest risk of developing oral cancer. African Americans are at greater risk of developing oral cancer and dying from it.

Gender - Men are twice as likely to develop the disease as women.

Age -  It’s more likely to occur in people over 40, although it has been found increasingly in younger people because of viral exposure and chewing tobacco use (see below.) 

Tobacco and Alcohol Use - Nearly 75% of people who develop oral cancer use tobacco; they either smoke or use what has been incorrectly promoted as a safer form of tobacco – chewing tobacco. Add heavy alcohol consumption, and risk is 15 times greater than that of the general populations.

Viral Exposure - Exposure to the two strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) - #16 and #18 - has been associated with increased risk.

Best Defense 

Besides regular trips to the dentist some studies have suggested a diet rich in fruit and vegetables could help reduce the risk of oral and other cancers.

For more information about Oral cancer, visit cancerpage's Oral Cancer area and the website of the Oral Cancer Foundation.

Coping Strategies

Treating oral cancer can be disfiguring, which gives rise to psychological issues other cancer patients may not face. Groups such as Let’s Face It help people find support and resources to deal with real and perceived social stigma associated with facial disfigurement.

Written by 
Rachael Myers Lowe, editor
cancerpage.com