Is There a Way to Detect Oral Cancer in Early Stages?
Over 40,000 Americans
are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and sadly, the recovery rate is the
worst out of all other forms of cancer. This is perhaps due to the fact that
oral cancer is not usually discovered until it is late into the development
stage. With ever improving technology, can oral surgeons hope to find ways to
diagnose, and therefore treat, oral cancer in its early stages?
Patients Need to Be Made Aware of Early Signs and Risk Factors
When oral cancer
starts, it usually goes unnoticed by the patient for quite some time. The early
stages of oral cancer are not painful until it has advanced into a noticeable
tumor. Additionally, by the time patients are treated for the tumor, the cancer
has developed and can cause secondary tumors after initial treatment. Patients
who have had an encounter with oral cancer are 20 times more likely to develop a second type of cancer. Although symptoms are
usually nonspecific and thus go unnoticed, oral cancer does create symptoms
that everyone should be aware of. If you have had any of the following symptoms
or are otherwise at risk, you should see an oral surgeon as soon as possible.
·
White (leukoplakia) or
red (erythroplakia) lesions in the mouth that do not heal within 2 weeks.
·
A lump or a notable
thickening of the soft tissue in the mouth.
·
Feeling like something
is caught in your throat, or difficulty chewing and swallowing.
·
Ear pain and
difficulty moving the jaw; swelling of the jaw.
·
Difficulty moving the
tongue, or unexplained numbness of the tongue.
If any of these
symptoms develop and persist for more than two weeks, laboratory tests and
clinical exams may be necessary for a diagnosis.
Additionally, there
are certain people that are more at risk for oral cancer. Anyone who is a heavy
drinker or smoker is more prone to developing cancer of the mouth. Certain
strains of HPV have been linked to oral cancer, and people over 40 may have an
increased risk.
New Technology May Help With Early Detection
Aside from a
traditional examination of the mouth conducted by your doctor or oral surgeon,
emerging technologies may hold promise for techniques in early diagnosis. Vital
Staining and autoflourescence imaging may
help to identify abnormal sections of the mucosal membranes. Newer imaging
technology, like i-CAT
scans, may also detect early signs of cancer, as these scans can show
abnormalities in soft tissue, bones, and blood vessels.
Advancing technology,
coupled with patient awareness, may hold some hope for the future of early
diagnostics in oral cancer.
Contact us for more information. www.SolaceOralSurgery.com
