Oral cancer is one of the many potential side effects of smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco. This disease is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells in the mouth, sinuses, and/or pharynx. Smokers are six times as likely to develop this type of cancer and smokeless tobacco users are fifty times as likely. Overall, excessive tobacco and alcohol users comprise nearly 75% of the 29,000 annually-diagnosed oral cancer cases in the United States.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, oral cancer can be deadly if it is not caught early and treated aggressively. Most victims are diagnosed by their dentists when they go in for their routine check-ups. Dentists typically look for the following symptoms of oral cancer when they examine their patients:
-Unusual swelling or abnormal bumps in the mouth
-Unexplained oral bleeding
-Development of white or red sores in the mouth
-Soreness or abnormal feelings of blockages in the throat
-Pain in the ear
-Numbness or loss of feeling in the mouth or face
-Development of white or splotchy patches of gum in the mouth
-Unusual, unexplained taste in the mouth
If your doctor notices that you have any of the above signs, then he or she will recommend that have the affected area looked at more closely by a specialist. Typically, a biopsy will be performed on the tumor so that the specialist will be able to determine whether or not it is malignant cancer.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with oral cancer, then you will need to explore the various treatments available to patients. Typically, the first step is to remove your cancer tumor surgically. If the cancer has spread to other areas, then you may need to turn to chemotherapy or radiation therapy to attack the tumor(s). Following the successful removal of your cancer, you will be treated with speech and movement therapy.
On the whole, approximately half of all of these cancer victims will live for more than five years after their diagnosis. The other half, unfortunately, will pass away from this disease. Approximately 25% of all victims will die because they were diagnosed and treated too late.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, oral cancer can be deadly if it is not caught early and treated aggressively. Most victims are diagnosed by their dentists when they go in for their routine check-ups. Dentists typically look for the following symptoms of oral cancer when they examine their patients:
-Unusual swelling or abnormal bumps in the mouth
-Unexplained oral bleeding
-Development of white or red sores in the mouth
-Soreness or abnormal feelings of blockages in the throat
-Pain in the ear
-Numbness or loss of feeling in the mouth or face
-Development of white or splotchy patches of gum in the mouth
-Unusual, unexplained taste in the mouth
If your doctor notices that you have any of the above signs, then he or she will recommend that have the affected area looked at more closely by a specialist. Typically, a biopsy will be performed on the tumor so that the specialist will be able to determine whether or not it is malignant cancer.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with oral cancer, then you will need to explore the various treatments available to patients. Typically, the first step is to remove your cancer tumor surgically. If the cancer has spread to other areas, then you may need to turn to chemotherapy or radiation therapy to attack the tumor(s). Following the successful removal of your cancer, you will be treated with speech and movement therapy.
On the whole, approximately half of all of these cancer victims will live for more than five years after their diagnosis. The other half, unfortunately, will pass away from this disease. Approximately 25% of all victims will die because they were diagnosed and treated too late.
0 comments:
Post a Comment