More than 43,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year.
According to the National Cancer Institute, oral cancer is more common than leukemia, skin melanoma, and cancers of the brain, liver, bone, thyroid, ovaries, and cervix. It is a major cause of disfigurement and death in the United States. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, so now is a good time to learn the signs or oral cancer and get screened as part of your holistic dental check up.
Current Statistics on Oral Cancer:
One American dies every hour from oral cancer
The oral cancer survival rate has not changed for over 40 years
Currently, 70% of oral cancer lesions are identified in late stages
If detected early, oral cancer has a survival rate of 80-90%
The risk of oral cancer occurs in men more than women, is higher in African American men, and more often in people over the age of 40.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer may include the following:
If a person has any of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks they should see their holistic dentist for an oral cancer exam. In addition to the dentist's visual examination, at NIHA we use Vizilite® Plus, a technology to assist in the early detection of oral abnormalities. Abnormal areas that might not be seen in a conventional examination are more clearly identified with Vizilite. These areas can then be evaluated and monitored. The test is quick and painless and is particularly important for patients with increased risk factors for oral cancer, such as tobacco use or excessive alcohol use. However, often the above symptoms do not mean cancer. They could mean an infection or another problem. However, the symptoms should be checked out because early detection and treatment of oral cancer improves the survival rate and can mean the difference between life and death.