The facts on Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer which accounts for 3.6% of all cancers diagnosed, which ends up being about 40,000 new cases reported annually in the United States.  Oral cancer is one of the many diseases that if detected early can be cured completely cured.  Oral cancer occurs more often in those who use tobacco in any form including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes, and cigars; or those who consume large amounts of alcohol.  It usually occurs in people older than 45 years, with men being twice as likely as women to develop the disease.  It can and does develop in people of all ages, races, and lifestyle habits.  Over 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol occasionally.

Regular dental checkups which include an oral cancer exam are essential in early detection of this disease.  The most common places that we find oral cancer lesions are the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the lips, and gums.  The vast majority of oral sores or lesions are harmless.  In the past, the only way to see if these lesions were benign or malignant was to go and have a biopsy done.  Of course, you really didn’t want to go since it was an invasive procedure.  Today, what we use is a simple in office brush biopsy called Oral CDx.  This procedure allows us to scrape off some cells of the suspicious area, without having to do an incision.  We then send these cells to a lab and they determine if the area needs further evaluation.  It works great and it is so patient friendly!!