Did you know that according the The Oral Cancer Foundation close to 49,750 americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year alone. Oral cancer will cause 9750 deaths this year – that’s 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Unfortunately, of the 49,750 americans newly diagnosed, only about 57% will still be alive in 5 years time. In addition, the survivors typically have trouble chewing, speaking, eating or smiling after treatments. It is the sixth most common cancer to date. Sad, but true, and these statistics have not significantly improved in decades.

Thankfully studies show that the treatment of oral cancer can be successfully treated and cured if caught early enough. Early detection of oral cancer improves the survival rate to 80% or more. Roughly 84% of oral cancer cases can be detected early by a dental health professional, as about 75% of head and neck cancers start in our mouths. When you have your next check up at Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office be sure to have an oral cancer screening, especially if you are at risk.

Are you at risk?

Here are some key risk factors to help you determine just that:

1. Age – people over 40 are more at risk, even more so if you are over 50
2. Smoking / heavy tobacco users are 50% more at risk
3. Heavy alcohol users are 50% more at risk
4. People infected with the human papillolmavirus (HPV)
5. Gender – men are twice more susceptible than women
6. An unhealthy diet
7. Prolonged sun exposure

Although most people diagnosed with oral cancer usually have one or more of these risk factors, there is a growing number of people that are diagnosed who have no risk factors at all. Dental offices are seeing a considerable increase in the number of people under 30 who have no identifiable risks for developing this disease (about 25%of cases). Therefore, it is still important to make oral cancer screenings with Dr. Joy Lunan a regular part of maintaining your overall health.

What symptoms should you look for?

1. Sores that last longer than 2 weeks
2. Swelling, growths or lumps anywhere near mouth or neck
3. White or red patches in mouth or on lips
4. Repeated bleeding from mouth or throat
5. Difficulty swallowing or hoarseness that lingers
6. Numbness or pain when biting
7. Unexplained looseness of teeth
8. Changes in speech such as a lisp

If you have been visiting Dr. Lunan for your dental needs, you are already receiving oral cancer exams during your regular check ups. She thoroughly checks your neck, mouth and throat for signs of oral cancer such as discolorations, lumps and bumps or any irregular tissue changes. Dr. Lunan also performs a Velscope cancer screening yearly on all of her patients. In addition, Dr. Lunan will ask about changes in your medical history and whether you’ve been having any new or usual symptoms. If anything suspicious is found a sample of tissue will be sent to a lab to determine if it is cancer.

Four reasons you should add oral cancer screening to your wellness to do list:

1. It’s easy. Just visit Dr. Lunan regularly so she can check for early signs and symptoms.
2. It can save your life. You can boost your chances of survival by 20% through early detection.
3. It’s inexpensive. There’s no extra cost unless follow-up procedures are needed.
4. It’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s just better to be sure.

If you haven’t visited us at Dr. Joy Lunan’s dental office recently, be sure to schedule an appointment so that she can check for problems before they cause pain or become harder to treat. If you know someone at risk, keep in mind, we are always accepting new patients and would be happy to help.    Call us at 203-598-7920   www.middleburydentist.com