I found myself in the unfortunate position last week of having to refer one of my patients to the hospital on discovering of what I believe it is a malignant mouth cancer.
We screen everyone for mouth cancer every time we carry out a Dental Health Assessment. It is part of our routine in checking all parts of your dental health. You may even in more recent times received something that looks a little like an MOT certificate updating you on all our findings, and to keep you as involved as possible.
The oral cavity comprises the lip, tongue, lining of the cheeks, gums, floor of the mouth and roof of the mouth, the hard palate and soft palate; while the tonsils, back of the tongue (base of tongue/epiglottis) and mouth (posterior pharyngeal wall) collectively form the oropharynx.
Malignant growths in the oral cavity and the oropharynx are called oral cancers. Most of these cancers are of a type called squamous carcinoma, which means they begin on the surface layer of the mouth and can spread if left untreated. Other types, such as adenocarcinomas, lymphomas and melanomas, may also occur.
Every year in the UK about 6000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer. About one-third of these will die because of the condition.
Oral cancer is more common in men and is diagnosed most frequently in people over 60, but it's rising in people under 40, particularly young people, due to alcohol intake or exposure to HPV.
Oral Cancer Symptoms
The most common symptoms of oral cancer are:
An ulcer in the mouth that doesn't heal or bleeds easily on touch
Persistent pain in the mouth or throat
Less common symptoms are:
Lump in the mouth, tongue or throat
Difficulty in opening the mouth or chewing
Difficulty or pain when swallowing
Pain going from the mouth or throat into the ear
Persistent white or red patches in the mouth
Malignant growths in the oral cavity and the oropharynx are called oral cancers. I never knew about these until now.
ReplyDeletedental consultant