The Truth About Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is one of the least discussed but most common cancers in the United States today.
More than 36,000 people a year, in the US alone, are diagnosed.
Of these 36,000 people, over eight thousand of them will die annually from this largely overlooked disease; that's approximately one person every hour, twenty-four hours a day.
These statistics do not take into account cancer of the larynx, which has the exact same risk factors.
When larynx cancer is added to the mix the numbers increases from 36,000 people a year to 50,000.
Of these 50,000 people, 13,500 will die of the disease.
Oral cancers kills more people than the more well-known cancers such as cervical cancer, skin cancer and testicular cancer, just to name a few.
Heavy tobacco use is a primary cause of mouth and pharyngeal cancers, especially in those people who use chewing tobacco.
Chewing tobacco is particularly odious because the tobacco is broken down by the teeth and then spends long periods of time in contact with soft mouth and throat tissues.
Heavy alcohol use in conjunction with the habitual use of tobacco can increase the chances of developing cancer, and can speed up the growth of cancerous cells.
People are cautioned to minimize, if not eliminate both tobacco products and alcohol from their lives.
This simple step will greatly reduce the number of oral cancer cases.
The statistics for oral cancer appear deadly with the cancer claiming roughly twenty-five percent of those who develop the disease, in reality this type of cancer is easily treatable.
The reason that such a large percentage of people die from it is because they go largely undiagnosed until they are in their later stages of development.
Once the cancer has taken hold and begins to spread, it becomes more difficult to control, treat and ultimately eliminate.
One way to combat the progression of oral cancers, besides avoiding tobacco and alcohol products, is to visit the dentist regularly.
The American Dental Association recommends a dental check up once every six months.
In addition to doing preventative care on the teeth and gums, the dentist is also looking for signs of oral cancers.
Small sores and discolored places in the mouth and throat can be spotted easily during dental examine.
In fact cancer screening is a routine part of visiting the dentist.
The process of checking for oral cancers is brief, and assures that most issues can be caught and dealt with early, thereby reducing a patient's risk of further complications, including death.
If the dentist does discover a spot of concern, and feels a closer look is warranted, then the patient will be directed to a specialist who will be able to biopsy the suspicious area.
More than 36,000 people a year, in the US alone, are diagnosed.
Of these 36,000 people, over eight thousand of them will die annually from this largely overlooked disease; that's approximately one person every hour, twenty-four hours a day.
These statistics do not take into account cancer of the larynx, which has the exact same risk factors.
When larynx cancer is added to the mix the numbers increases from 36,000 people a year to 50,000.
Of these 50,000 people, 13,500 will die of the disease.
Oral cancers kills more people than the more well-known cancers such as cervical cancer, skin cancer and testicular cancer, just to name a few.
Heavy tobacco use is a primary cause of mouth and pharyngeal cancers, especially in those people who use chewing tobacco.
Chewing tobacco is particularly odious because the tobacco is broken down by the teeth and then spends long periods of time in contact with soft mouth and throat tissues.
Heavy alcohol use in conjunction with the habitual use of tobacco can increase the chances of developing cancer, and can speed up the growth of cancerous cells.
People are cautioned to minimize, if not eliminate both tobacco products and alcohol from their lives.
This simple step will greatly reduce the number of oral cancer cases.
The statistics for oral cancer appear deadly with the cancer claiming roughly twenty-five percent of those who develop the disease, in reality this type of cancer is easily treatable.
The reason that such a large percentage of people die from it is because they go largely undiagnosed until they are in their later stages of development.
Once the cancer has taken hold and begins to spread, it becomes more difficult to control, treat and ultimately eliminate.
One way to combat the progression of oral cancers, besides avoiding tobacco and alcohol products, is to visit the dentist regularly.
The American Dental Association recommends a dental check up once every six months.
In addition to doing preventative care on the teeth and gums, the dentist is also looking for signs of oral cancers.
Small sores and discolored places in the mouth and throat can be spotted easily during dental examine.
In fact cancer screening is a routine part of visiting the dentist.
The process of checking for oral cancers is brief, and assures that most issues can be caught and dealt with early, thereby reducing a patient's risk of further complications, including death.
If the dentist does discover a spot of concern, and feels a closer look is warranted, then the patient will be directed to a specialist who will be able to biopsy the suspicious area.
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