Cancer
Doctors and scientists usually can’t say for sure what causes a case of oral cancer, but they do know that certain risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, ultraviolet light, physical irritation, and poor nutrition could cause the cells of your lips, mouth, or throat to become cancerous. Are any of these factors affecting the health of your mouth and increasing your risk of developing oral cancer? Here are tips from the American Cancer Society to help you minimize the risks and take good care of your mouth and throat.
Even though you may have several risk factors associated with oral cancer—such as the substances you consume or the conditions you expose your mouth to—this is not a cause for undue alarm; it is however a chance to make adjustments in your behaviors that can help your body become even stronger and healthier. Experts say that people with multiple risk factors sometimes never develop cancer, but, on the other hand, some people with no risk factors can develop cancerous cells. The best advice to date is the following:
- Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol. Even if you’ve been smoking, chewing tobacco, using snuff, or drinking for many years, quitting tobacco and alcohol greatly lowers your risk of developing oral cancers.
- Limit exposure to the sun. Avoid being outdoors during the middle of the day when the sun's ultraviolet rays are strongest. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shield your face and lips.
- Avoid sources of oral irritation such as dentures that don’t fit properly.
- Eat a healthy diet. This should include at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day as well as whole grain foods such as breads, cereals, grain products, rice, pasta, or beans. Eat fewer red meats, especially those that are processed or high in fat.*
Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about any problems with your mouth, see your doctor or dentist so the problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Regular checkups of the entire mouth by your doctor or dentist can detect precancerous conditions or the early stages of oral cancer. In a biopsy, a surgeon removes part or all of the lump or abnormal-looking area and has a pathologist examine the tissue for cancerous cells.
*Having a biopsy is the only way to know if an abnormal area in the oral cavity in cancerous.
| Know the Signs
Certain symptoms may indicate cancer in the mouth or in the area of the throat just behind the mouth (the oropharynx), however, the symptoms may indicate other less serious problems. Nevertheless, if you experience any of the following conditions for more than two weeks, the American Cancer Society suggests that you see your doctor or dentist.
The sooner cancer is detected and diagnosed, the sooner you can be treated, and the more effective the treatment is likely to be. |
Sources: cancer.gov, cancer.org
DID YOU KNOW?
Each year in the United States, more than 29,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity (mouth and lips) or the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth).
People who have head and neck cancer are at an increased risk of developing another primary head and neck cancer.
Most oral cancers occur in people 45 years or older.
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