Oral cancer
Oral cancer
02/09/2008
By: Diana Palotas
Capital News 9
"Why don't you turn your head all the way to the right for me."
If your dentist asks this at your next visit, don't be alarmed. Be thankful.
They might feel around for lumps, bumps, tenderness, anything along these lines. They're looking for color changes, masses, ulcerations, or moles. Such a thirty second screening for oral cancer could save your life.
"Sometimes it looks very inconspicuous, like a little tiny, like a canker sore, but a canker sore that is chronic," said Dr. Mark DiMartino, Rochester General attending physician.
Forty-thousand people a year are diagnosed with oral cancer. Eight thousand die from it. Many patients are left disfigured, either losing their teeth or tongue.
It's one of the primary places where oral cancer is found.
"The floor of the mouth is the second-most common site to find cancer," said Dr. DiMartino.
Early detection is key to surviving oral cancer. A screening is proven to help. Soon, a saliva test could tell who is at risk.
"There are certain risk factors for oral cancer. Heavy smoking, heavy drinking, denture irritation, even not getting enough fruits and vegetables. It's all about good oral hygiene and taking care of your mouth," DiMartino said.
The nature of oral cancer may be changing. Younger people who do not smoke are now getting oral cancer. There are indications that a strain of human papilloma virus, the same agent that causes cervical cancer, could be to blame.
"What the patient can do is just go right into the mirror and tilt the head back and up and look at the roof of the mouth. Again, for any color changes, swellings, masses. We don't expect anyone to diagnose themselves, but definitely look for any irregularities," said DiMartino.
If that change is there after two weeks, call your doctor.
Copyright ©2008 TWEAN News Channel of Albany, L.L.C d.b.a. Capital News 9
Votes:0
Comments: 0