What is Oral Cancer Screening?

Oral cancer can develop in anyone's mouth. When it does, it often spreads fast due to the many blood vessels that are in the head and neck. Most of the time, it will be a dentist that will first spot cancer. They are trained to recognize it and can even perform some diagnostic tests for it.

The most common risk factor for mouth cancer is the use of tobacco in any form. Drinking alcohol heavily can also increase your risk. Too much exposure to the sun can lead to lip cancer, and having the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the mouth can also cause it.

During an oral cancer screening, the dentist will not only look into your mouth, but will also feel your neck for swollen lymph nodes, which is often one of the first mouth cancer symptoms. By the time it gets to the lymph nodes, however, it has already spread.

Early signs of mouth cancer often resemble common mouth sores, making it difficult to tell the difference. There may be a sore in your mouth that is not healing, a growth in your mouth, white or red patches in your mouth, a sore throat, weight loss that is unexplained, a change in the fit of your dentures, pain when swallowing, and more.

When mouth cancer is discovered, treatment is needed quickly. About 20 percent of the people who get it this year will die this year. The survival rate, when found early, means that about 67 percent will still be alive in five years. When discovered in an advanced stage, the 5-year survival rate is about 36 percent.

When a sore or discoloration or other changes do not disappear within two weeks, it is time to go to your dentist to ask for an oral screening. At present, no blood test or other type of test can detect it.

Once an oral cancer screening has discovered cancer, the patient will soon be referred to a medical doctor for further tests. A further evaluation will be made, a staging level determined, and oral cancer treatment options will be decided upon. The treatment given will vary, based on the stage of cancer and how far it has spread.

Treatment options will likely involve at least one of the following: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Before one of these treatments are given, some pre-treatment health issues may need to be addressed to avoid further complications. It may involve the removal of teeth that are damaged by cavities or periodontal disease, because the tissue underneath may no longer be able to provide healing once radiated.

Before oral cancer treatment begins, there will likely be a whole team of experts involved. Each one will be needed to help contribute to the treatment and recovery.

Treatments:

• Surgery – it will involve removing tumors, affected tissue, and possibly nearby lymph nodes to prevent cancer from spreading.
• Chemotherapy – involves being given drugs, often intravenously. It can kill cancers, and it is often given at the same time as radiation. Side effects often include nausea and vomiting, and hair loss.
• Radiation – treatment will shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. Side effects often include fatigue, dry mouth, and thyroid problems. Two of the most common treatments include external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy. Radiation therapy may be used on people who, because of health reasons, cannot have surgery.
• Targeted drug therapy – this treatment for oral cancer uses special drugs that target the specific cancer cells involved. It is often used in combination with other treatments and may include drugs that are in the testing stage.

The treatment for advanced cancer will probably involve some surgery. The goal in surgery is to remove tumors and affected tissue. This may cause disfigurement to the throat, neck, mouth, or face.

Various treatments will need to be given, probably in stages, to repair the damage. It may involve reconstruction of the jaw, mouth, teeth, and face, which can take months to complete. Speech may also be affected, and speech therapy will need to be given in those cases. Treatment for pain is also necessary.

For some people, the treatment may be ongoing. Various treatments will need to be continued from time to time. For others, it may be eradicated. Various scans will be taken from time to time to ensure it has not returned.

The benefits of getting an oral cancer screening are many. The greatest benefit is when cancer is discovered and then treated successfully. They include:

• Providing relief when oral cancer is not discovered
• Enabling treatment to be given early when it is discovered
• The possibility of a longer life
• The possible elimination of the cancer

Because getting mouth cancer symptoms and treatment are never pleasant, it is better to work toward the prevention of oral cancer. This includes quitting the use of all tobacco products and heavy alcohol use. Eating healthy will also help, as well as getting regular dental cleanings and oral cancer screening.