February is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
While most people know that February is Heart Month, (which is much easier to remember given that Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of it!), it is also Oral Cancer Awareness Month, which is why I am dedicating this week's blog to this important topic. The statistics regarding oral cancer are not as widely known as those relating to Heart Month, but should be, because they are truly shocking.
HPV and Oral Cancer
While most of our patients know that human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to cancer of the cervix, they may not know that HPV is involved in many other types of cancers including 60% of oropharyngeal cancers. Performing thorough oral cancer examinations during each visit gives us an opportunity to educate patients about this disease and its risk factors, help them identify symptoms, and, quite possibly, save their lives.
The Most Current Stats on Oral Cancer
The fasted growing segment of those diagnosed with oral cancer is young and healthy nonsmokers, and exposure to the HPV-16 virus, the most commonly transmitted virus, is now the leading cause of oral cancers in the US. However, of the approximately 37,000 Americans who are diagnosed with oral cancer this year, the 80% of those who benefit from early detection will survive. However, the majority of cases are found late and bring a very high death rate of 45% five years from diagnosis.
The Oral Cancer Exam
As dental professionals, we are in the forefront of the battle oral cancer, and in our office that includes providing a comprehensive oral cancer exam with every visit and regularly scheduled radiography. At the beginning of each visit we ask our patients if there have been any changes in their mouth since the last visit. If they mention any of the typical symptoms for oral cancer, like sores that bleed and don’t heal, swelling of the tongue or throat, red or white spots, or tiny marks that look similar to canker sores, we are on high alert. We usually diagnose oral cancer at least once a year. Fortunately, it has always been at an early enough stage that our patients are able to treat the disease and make a complete recovery. While some patients may grumble at first about our rigorous schedule for X-rays, when we explain the benefits of early detection of oral cancer, they always see the value and are thankful we are so focused on detecting about this deadly form of cancer.
