Is Oral Cancer Preventable? Learn How to Identify the Signs Today
There are many different types of cancer, while non are fully preventable, there are steps you can take that will help to even the playing field against oral cancer. Oral cancer can be completely treatable, but the success of the treatment highly depends on an early diagnosis.
Your dentist is your best resource for learning more about the signs of oral cancer and what to look out for. During regular dental checkups the dental professional will do a visual exam of your mouth and make note of anything that is suspicious.
What is Oral Cancer?
Cancer is a disease that can affect any area of the body including the mouth. Normal cells will divide and replace old and worn out cells. When cancer is present, the normal life cycle of the cell is disrupted. Cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells. These wayward cells invade the surrounding tissue and prevent normal cellular processes. Cancers can group together to form masses and tumors.
Oral cancer often starts as a small mouth sore and is left undiagnosed as cancer. The cancer then can spread to other areas of the body and become a terminal illness. Oral cancer kills an average of 9,750 patients each year, not because it is not a treatable cancer, but because it is often discovered too late to treat.
The key to successfully treating Oral cancers is early detection. The sooner the cancer is diagnosed the better the odds are of survival for the patient.