Every year in the United States alone, 40,000 women and men in America are diagnosed with oral cancer. Oral cancers, which include cancer of the tongue, lip, mouth, and throat, claim the lives of 8,000 people yearly. Public awareness of oral cancer is notably less than that of skin cancer, cervical cancer, and testicular cancer, yet it has a higher death rate. Astoria, NY dentist Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz attributes this high death rate to the face that oral cancer often goes undiagnosed while in its earliest stage. By the time many patients are diagnosed or seek treatment, the cancer has spread through the body, most commonly to the lymph nodes.
Learn to Identify Symptoms of Oral Cancer
For patients who regularly visit our office for dental exams and checkups, symptoms of oral cancer are not likely to go unnoticed for long. Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz advises patients who notice these symptoms to arrange for an appointment as soon as possible. These symptoms include soreness affecting the entire mouth, sores that will not heal on their own, difficulty swallowing, and unusual lumps or cysts. White or red patches within the mouth are also cause for concern.
Oral Cancer Is Largely Preventable
Although some risk factors for oral cancer, such as being male and/or over the age of 40, cannot be avoided, others are within your control. For example, you have a higher risk of oral cancer if your diet is high in fatty, unhealthy foods and low in vegetables and fruits. If you have been diagnosed with human papillomavirus, or HPV, your risk increases, as well. The most prevalent risk factors include:
- Excessive consumption of alcohol increases your risk of getting most forms of oral cancer, including cancer of the throat, larynx, and mouth. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, alcohol use is the second highest risk factor, especially for those who abuse alcohol, consuming more than 21 alcoholic drinks per week.
- As for risky behaviors, none increases your risk of oral cancer as much as the decision to use tobacco products. Smoking pipes, cigars, and cigarettes makes you more likely to get tongue, mouth, and throat cancer. If you think chewing tobacco is safer, think again. When you chew tobacco, you put yourself at risk of developing mouth cancer, tongue cancer, and especially lip cancer. Patients who consume alcohol and use tobacco products increase their risk almost exponentially.
- If you plan to spend time outdoors, don’t neglect your lips. While most people don’t hesitate to apply sunblock, few think to protect their lips. Dr. Leibowitz recommends applying a lip balm that contains sunblock, reapplying throughout the day.
When was your last dental checkup? To learn more about preventive care, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, contact our Astoria, NY dentist office at (718) 728-8320. We proudly serve patients living in Astoria, Queens, New York City, upstate New York, and New Jersey.
