Oral Cancer Screening Flashcards
(3 cards)
The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:
Red or white spots or sores anywhere in the oral cavity
A sore that bleeds easily or does not heal A lump
Thickening or rough spot Pain
Tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth
Difficulty chewing
Swallowing
Speaking
Moving the jaw or tongue
Our staff is trained in a simple, quick screening, which involves an examination of your mouth as a whole, and not just your teeth to detect cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions. Besides a visual examination of your mouth, we will also feel the tissue of your mouth and throat to detect any abnormalities. If we find an area of concern, we may perform a simple test, such as a brush test, which collects cells from a suspicious lesion in the mouth to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. If this test comes back atypical or positive, we may recommend a biopsy.
What causes oral cancer?
Scientists aren’t sure of the exact cause of oral cancer. However, use of tobacco products, heavy alcohol consumption, human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, as well as excessive exposure to the sun have been found to increase the risk of developing oral cancer.
What are the warning signs?
The most frequent oral cancer sites are the tongue, the floor of the mouth, soft palate tissues in back of the tongue, lips and gums. Oral cancer shows up as red, white or discolored lesions, patches or lumps in or around the mouth, and it is typically painless in its early stages. As the malignant cancer spreads and destroys healthy oral tissue, the lesions or lumps may become painful. However, oral cancer is difficult to self-diagnose so routine dental exams are strongly recommended.
