April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. We have compiled some important facts and figures about oral cancer that we hope you will find useful. But let us start with a recent article published in the March 2013 Consumer Reports Magazine that we do not find useful. The article is titled, “Save
your Life: Cancer Screening is Oversold.
Know the Tests to Get—and Those to Skip.” Quotes from the article include:
- “screening tests can sometimes do more harm than good.”
- many practitioners are “overselling cancer tests”
- “oral cancer screening is one of the several medical tests that are overrecommended and unnecessary for all but high-risk patients.”
- “most people shouldn’t waste their time on most diagnostic tests, including chairside visual screenings for oral cancer"
- “Most people don’t need the test unless they are at high risk, because the cancer is relatively uncommon.”
There are several problems with this in terms of oral cancer screenings. Let's address each in turn:
- “screening tests can sometimes do more harm than good.” The reality is that there is no harm whatsoever in an oral cancer screening.
- many practitioners are “overselling cancer tests” Oral cancer screenings are often free, or included in the cost of a typical dental exam.
- “oral cancer screening is one of the several medical tests that are overrecommended and unnecessary for all but high-risk patients.” The reality is that we no longer know who the "high-risk" patients are. Historically, smokers and heavy alcohol drinkers were our "high-risk" patients. Today, the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population are young, healthy, non-smokers. This is due to the skyrocketing increase in HPV-related cancer (see below for HPV facts)
- “most people shouldn’t waste their time on most diagnostic tests, including chairside visual screenings for oral cancer" You are already sitting in the dental chair having an exam. An oral cancer screening is not a separate appointment.
- “Most people don’t need the test unless they are at high risk, because the cancer is relatively uncommon.” Again, we no longer know who our "high-risk" patients are. As far as being "relatively uncommon," the fact is that one person every hour of every day will die from oral cancer.
Keep reading for oral cancer facts:
Prevalence
According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 42,
000 new cases of cancer in the oral cavity and pharynx will be diagnosed in
2013.
Oral cancer will claim 8000 deaths in 2013.
Risk Factors
Alcohol and tobacco (using them in combination results in 15
times the risk of using one or the other)
Exposure to the human papilloma virus version 16 (HPV 16),
which is now the leading cause of oral cancer in the U.S.
An estimated 25% of cancer patients have no known risk
factors
Almost twice as many men as women will be affected by oral
cancer
Historically, oral cancer has been a disease of those over
40, but the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population is young,
healthy, non-smokers due to the connection with HPV
Prolonged exposure to sun or tanning beds increases the risk
for lip cancer
Users of smokeless tobacco face a 40% greater risk of oral
cancer than non-users
Sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal
Lump or thickening on the lip or gums or in the mouth
White or red patch on the lips, tongue, gums, tonsils, or
lining of the mouth
Bleeding, pain, or numbness on the lip or in the mouth
Change in voice
Loose teeth, dentures that no longer fit
Trouble chewing or swallowing, or a feeling that there’s a
lump in the throat
Persistent hoarseness or sore throat
HPV
HPV is the fasted growing sexually transmitted infection
At least 50% of sexually active people will acquire HPV at
some point in their lives
99% of those with HPV infections clear the virus through the
normal immune response with little or no apparent symptoms (1% will develop
cancer)
HPV-oropharyngeal cancer has been tied with oral sex, but
the virus (when active) may be passed on with kissing
HPV has accounted for a 225% increase in oropharyngeal cancer
since 1988
HPV-16, the same strain that is responsible for the majority
of cervical cancer, is responsible for up to 95% of orphayngeal cancer.
By 2020, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer will outnumber HPV-related
cervical cancer.
Early Detection
See your dentist for an oral examination at least annually
The earlier the detection, the greater the likelihood of a
cure
