Oral Cancer - Important Facts You Need To KNow

About 100 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every day in the United States. Oral cancer often is not discovered until it has reached later stages. As a result, the death rate of oral cancer is higher than many other cancers found in the body. Human papilloma virus number 16 (HPV16)-related oral cancer has become part of cause to this statistical rise. Oral Cancer is found most frequently in the rearward areas of the mouth, at the base of the tongue, the border of the lips, and the tonsils. The physical indentifiers of these lesions make them difficult to distinguish from healthy oral tissues. This is alarming because HPV16 related Oral Cancers have reached epidemic levels in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, of the 37,000 incidences of oral cancer, about 200,000 (up to 60%) yearly cases can be linked to HPV. There are several other factors contributing to these high numbers. Public awareness about oral cancer, its early signs and symptoms, and its changing etiology, is low. Oral cancer has historically been linked to long-term tobacco use and high alcohol consumption (or a combination of both). Most of these lesions are usually seen in the anterior areas of the oral cavity. Now there is an increased prevalence of HPV16-related oral cancer and a decline in tobacco-related cancers, making it more critical to be screened by a dental and professional. The public needs to be informed and reminded about these current risk factors and the need for an bi-annual professional screening. There seems to be a similar model occurring in oral cancer as with genital/cervical cancers. Sexual transmission seems to be the likely source in both cases. Other than abstinence, a vaccine has been in place for pre-sexually active teens. These are the only a preventive treatments at this time. This is important information to share with patients,because 50%-80% of Americans will have HPV in their lifetime according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About half of all men and more than 3 out of 4 women will be diagnosed with it at some point. The signs and symptoms of oral cancer range from a sore area that bleeds easily, a lump or thickening of tissues in the mouth, lips or neck, which may be a colored red or white patch or ulceration that does not resolve within 2 weeks. If any of these are evident, the patient should return within 7-14 days to confirm either persistence or resolution. The early stages of these sites, which may not be readily evident during a routine exam, usually are asymptomatic and often mimic other conditions. Dentists are the first line of defense because most patients are seen twice a year. The American Cancer Society estimated in 2009 that almost 90% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and more than 97% of these cancers occur in adults 35 years and older. People ranging in age from 25-50 who never smoked are the fastest growing group being diagnosed with oral cancer. It is the HPV which seems cause the growth of the squamous cell type of oral cancer. In addition, these Virus have many variants. The number associated with HPV is a unique classification based on microscopic evaluation. HPV-16 seems to be the most common variant found in Oral Cancer, but not the only one unfortunately. Standard treatment usually involves surgical removal. Some treatments may also involve radiation and/or chemotherapy. The relative survival rates vary depended on its stage. About 83% survived 1 year after diagnosis, 60% 5 years after diagnosis, and 49% after 10 years. The 5-year, staged combined survival rate is only about 57% . This high death rate is directly tied to late discovery. As with all disease, early detection and education is the best way to reduce risk. Your Dental Professional should be doing biannual oral cancer screenings.