Oral Cancer Screenings

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Cancer can affect any area of the body, including the mouth. Research estimates that around 49,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. Of these, just 57% will survive for at least five years following their diagnosis. These are shocking statistics, but the relatively poor outcome of patients is primarily a result of late diagnosis.

Like all cancers, patients have a much better chance at recovering from oral cancer if it is diagnosed early on. However, in many cases, the signs of the disease are not spotted until they have advanced – often after it has metastasized to other areas of the body, such as the lymph nodes. Once any cancer has spread, it is much harder to treat it successfully. 

Since the symptoms of oral cancer can be difficult to spot on yourself, visiting your dentist for regular oral cancer screenings is strongly recommended. In fact, many dentists now incorporate oral cancer screening into every routine check-up appointment.

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What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer?

As we know, detecting oral cancer yourself can be tricky. However, that doesn’t mean that there are no signs or symptoms to be aware of. If you notice any of the following, we strongly recommend that you make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible:

• Sudden changes in your voice such as pitch, lisp or hoarseness

• A lump, bump or rough spot in the mouth

• Unexplained bleeding from the mouth

• Red or white patches in the mouth

• A persistent feeling that there is a lump in the back of your throat

• A lingering sore throat

• Sores in or around the mouth that bleed easily and don’t appear to be healing

• Difficulty in swallowing, speaking or chewing

• Persistent numbness on the lips or tongue

• Limited mobility of the mouth, jaw or tongue

• A sudden change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down

If you would like more information about oral cancer screenings, or to schedule an appointment, please contact our friendly and experienced team.