Highlights:- April is observed as the World Oral Cancer Awareness month.
- Oral cancers or mouth cancers are a type of head and neck cancer
which can occur anywhere in the mouth.
- Regular visits to the dentist and oral examinations are the best
ways to detect oral cancer in the early stages.
The age
old saying, prevention is better than cure holds very true for cancers.
Awareness is an essential component of the prevention process. Oral cancers are
deadly killers which collectively kill nearly one person every hour of every
day of the year. In order to tackle this problem and create awareness, the
month of April is observed as the World Oral Cancer Awareness month and 2018
marks the 15th Annual Oral Cancer Awareness Month.
What is Oral Cancer?
Oral
cancer also called oropharyngeal cancer or
mouth cancer which can occur anywhere in the mouth,
on the surface of the tongue, lips, inside the cheek, in the gums, in the roof
and floor of the mouth, in the tonsils, and in the salivary glands.
Oral
cancer collectively kills nearly one person every hour of every day of the
year. Of the newly diagnosed patients, 40% will not survive longer than five
years. Among those who survive, many suffer long-term problems, such as severe
facial disfigurement or difficulties with eating and speaking.
‘Early detection of mouth cancers and early treatment can reduce the high mortality associated with oral cancers.’
While
early detection and treatment can reduce mortality and treatment-related health
problems, these cancers are often diagnosed late in their development, owing to
high death rate.
Risk
Factors for Oral Cancer
- Tobacco products including cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking,
chewing tobacco, betel quid, gutkha and paan.
- Alcohol
- If alcohol and tobacco are consumed together, the risk is higher
- Over-exposure to sunlight
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) - HPV can be spread
through oral sex, and experts suggest
that HPV infection could soon rival smoking and drinking, as one of the
main causes of mouth cancer.
Prevention
- Regular dentist visits
- Look out for any changes in your mouth, while brushing and report
any red or white patches, or ulcers, that have not cleared up within three
weeks.
- Apply sunscreen on your lips when exposed to the sun
- A diet rich in vitamins A, C and E, provides protection against
the development of mouth cancer.
- Limit intake of tobacco and alcohol.
Just like the rest of our body,
let's ensure that we take care of our mouth and prevent the oral cancers. Also,
let's take the initiative to spread the information on oral cancers to friends
and family and increase awareness about this silent killer.
References :- About Oral Cancer Awareness Month - (https://oralcancerfoundation.org/events/oral-head-neck-cancer-awareness-month/)
Source: Medindia
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