ORAL CANCER
India has one of
the highest incidences of Oral cancer in the world. The high incidence
of oral cancer and oral pre-cancerous lesions in India has long been
linked with the habit of betel quid chewing incorporating tobacco.
Oral
cancer ranks number one among mens and number three among women in
India. Oral cancer constitutes 12 % of all cancers in men and 8% of all
cancers among women.
Oral cancer is a major health problem in
India. In India it is estimated that among the 400 million individuals
aged 15 years and over 47% use tobacco in one form or the other there
are many interesting forms of tobacco use in India eg. Reverse smoking.
Annual incidence rate is estimated to be 64,460. However total number of
cases at a any given will be 2.5 to 3 time higher that this number.
It
is unfortunate that so far no proper epidemiological data on this
disease is available in India. Information currently available is mostly
on the basis of crude incidence rate available from three metropolitan
cities covered under National cancer registry project.
The Importance of Early Detection
Your
dentist has recent good news about progress against cancer. It is now
easier that ever to detect oral cancer early, when the opportunity for a
cure is great. Only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer
survive more than five years.
Your dentist has the skills and
tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions
are identified. You and your dentist can fight and win the battle
against oral cancer. Know the early signs and see your dentist
regularly.
You Should Know
- Oral Cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth.
- It can affect any area of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissue, check lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
- Other signs include:
- A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal
- A color change of oral tissues'
- A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area
- Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue.
- A change in the way the teeth fit together.
- Oral cancer most often occurs in those who use tobacco in any form.
- Alcohol use combined with smoking greatly increases risk.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of lip cancer.
- Oral cancers can occur in people who do not smoke and have no other known risk factors.
- Oral cancer is more likely to strike after age 40.
- Studies suggest that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may prevent the development of potentially cancerous lesions.
Regular Dental Check-ups Important
Oral
cancer screening is routine part of a dental examination. Regular
Check-ups, Including an examination of entire mouth, are essential in
the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions, You may
have a very small, but dangerous, oral spot or sore and not be aware of
it.
Your dentist will
carefully examine the inside of your mouth and tongue and in some
patients may notice a flat, painless, while or red spot or a small sore.
Although most of these are harmless, some are not. Harmful oral spots
or sores often look identical to those that are harmless, but testing
can tell them apart. If you have a sore with a likely cause, your
dentist may treat it and ask you to return for re-examination.
Dentists
often will notice a spot or sore that looks harmless and does not have a
clear cause. To ensure that a spot or sore is not dangerous, your
dentist may choose to perform a simple test, such as a brush test. A
brush test collects cell from a suspicious lesion in the mouth. The
cells are sent to a laboratory for analysis. If precancerous cells are
found, the lesion can be surgically removed if necessary during a
separate procedure. It's Important to know that all atypical and
positive results from a brush test must be confirmed by incisional
biopsy and histology.
Rist Factors
- Although
the use of tobacco and alcohol are risk factors in developing oral
cancer, approximately 25% of oral cancer patients have no known risk
factors.
- There has been a nearly five-folod increase in incidence in oral cancer patients under age 40, many with no known risk factors.
- The
incidence of oral cancer in women has increased significantly, largely
due to an increase in women smoking. In 1950 male to female ratio was
6:1; by 2002, it was 2:1.
Prevention and Detection
- The best way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid tobacco and alcohol use.
- Regular
dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are
essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous
conditions.
- Many types of
abnormal cells can develop in the oral cavity in the form of red or
white spots. Some are harmless and benign, some are cancerous and others
are pre-cancerous, meaning they can develop into cancer if not detected
early and removed. (American Cancer Society)
- Finding
and removing epithelial dysplasias before they become cancer can be one
of the most effective methods for reducing the incidence of cancer.
- Knowing the risk factors and seeing your dentist for oral cancer screenings can help prevent this deadly disease.
- Oral
Cancer is often preceded by the presence of clinically identifiable
premalignant changes. These lesions may present as either white or red
patches or spots. Identifying white and red spots that show dysplasia
and removing them before they become cancer is an effective method for
reducing the incidence and mortality of cancer.