Early cancer screening

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CANCER can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips, throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites located in the head and neck area. These "Mouth Cancers" have a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma.

Oral and pharyngeal cancer is the sixth most common malignancy reported worldwide and one with high mortality ratios among all malignancies. The global number of new cases was estimated at 405,318 about two-thirds of them arising in developing countries. Highest rates are reported in South Asian countries such as India and Sri Lanka. The Indian sub-continent accounts for one-third of the world burden. The incidence and mortality from oral cancer is rising in several regions of Europe, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. Every year in Europe, around 100,800 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer and almost 40,000 die from the disease. In the USA alone, 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer each year. About 90 percent of head and neck cancers are of the squamous cell variety. Although there have been significant improvements in chemotherapy and surgical techniques, the disease is often particularly challenging to treat since most patients present with advanced disease, have secondary tumours and suffer from other co-morbidities. Unfortunately 5-year survival rate has not improved (50% overall) for the last few decades except in specialized cancer centres.

In its very early stages, mouth cancers can be almost invisible making it easy to ignore. You can improve your chances of survival if the cancer is detected early and rapidly treated. Visit your dentist at once if you notice any abnormal problems or are not sure. Early detection is the key factor in treatment success!

It is important to have self-awareness and to perform regular, self-examinations to help in the early identification of these symptoms:

1. A sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal within three weeks

2. A lump or overgrowth of tissue anywhere in the mouth

3. A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth

4. Difficulty in swallowing

5. Difficulty in chewing or moving the jaw or tongue

6. Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth

7. A feeling that something is caught in the throat

8. A chronic sore throat or voice change (hoarseness) that persists more than six weeks, particularly smokers over 50 years old and heavy drinkers

9. Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable

10. Neck swelling present for more than three weeks

11. Unexplained tooth mobility persisting for more than three weeks - see a dentist urgently

12. Persistent nasal (especially unilateral)l nasal obstruction, particularly associated with mucus (clear, purulent or bloody) discharge causing difficulty breathing through nose

13. Unexplained persistent earache

Reduce your chances of getting these cancers by

1. Not smoking or chewing tobacco

2. Limiting alcohol consumption

3. Having a healthier "low meat, low fat" diet, rich in vegetables and fruit with servings of bread, cereals or beans everyday

4. A high proportion of oropharyngeal cancers in nonsmokers and younger adults have been associated with HPV. The mode of transmission may be frequent oral sex in adolescents and young adults.

Regular screening of oral cavity by dentist

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