In general, oral cancer screening is a procedure whereby doctors look for cancer before symptoms of the disease appear. The goal of screening is to detect cancer earlier if it is treated more effectively. In fact, by the time cancer symptoms occur, there is a good chance that cancer has already spread.
Screening can provide doctors with valuable information about who is most likely to be diagnosed with a particular type of cancer. We can examine the activities and environments of different people and try to determine which activities and environments are associated with different types of cancer.
Patients should remember that getting a cancer screening exam by a doctor does not mean you have cancer or think you have cancer. Screening occurs when there are no apparent symptoms of cancer.
Importance of regular oral cancer screening
Regular dental checkups are an essential part of oral health care. Visiting your dentist at soapdentalnatick.com at least twice a year can prevent many future problems, including gum disease and tooth loss. Your teeth and gums will be examined during the visit. Your dentist will also discuss the tissues in your mouth for signs of oral cancer. More than 42,000 are diagnosed with mouth or throat cancer each year.
As with most diseases, the later the cancer is diagnosed, the more the infection will spread and the lower the chances of a complete cure. With regular checkups, it is more likely that the dentist will recognize abnormalities in the early stages. While regular checkups are advisable for everyone, they are even more important if you smoke heavily, consume a lot of alcohol, or have been previously diagnosed with oral cancer.
Oral cancer can be complicated to detect, so it is beneficial to have a checkup annually or every six months. Many patients never know they have oral cancer until it is too late, as it does not always cause pain or symptoms. However, many have symptoms, and people need to pay close attention to them. Some symptoms include a lump in or around the mouth, easily bleeding sores in the mouth, difficulty swallowing or chewing, tenderness or pain in the mouth or near the lips, hoarseness, or a change in voice.
Who is at Risk for Oral Cancer?
While we cannot predict whether one person will develop oral cancer and another will not, there are recognized risk factors for the disease. Top of the list is tobacco (including “smokeless” chewing tobacco and snuff) and alcohol consumption. The risk of oral cancer increases with the amount of use. People who use tobacco and drink a lot are most at risk. Overall, consumption of tobacco, alcohol, or both is responsible for three out of four oral cancers.
Conclusion
Many patients never know they have oral cancer until it is too late, as it may not always cause pain or symptoms. However, many have symptoms, and people need to pay close attention to them. Some symptoms include a lump in or around the mouth, mouth sores that bleed easily, difficulty swallowing or chewing, tenderness or pain in the mouth or near the lips, hoarseness, or a change in voice.