What's even scarier is that oral cancer has a high risk of developing second primary cancers. After surviving your first bout with oral cancer, you can be 20 times more likely to develop a second cancer.
While articles and research about thyroid, breast or skin cancer are usually what we read about, it's crucial we know the warning signs of oral cancer. Knowing the
symptoms can help early detection, which could save your life:
Mouth
Swelling or thickness along gum lines, lips and flesh on your cheeks
Abnormal lumps or bumps anywhere in the oral cavity
Any rough patches containing crust or eroded skin on your lips, flesh and cheeks
Presence of velvety white, red, or a mix of white and red patches on the skin in your mouth
Random bleeding
Random bouts of numbness, tenderness or pain in the neck, mouth or cheeks
Persistent canker sores
Difficulty chewing, speaking or moving your jaw
Chronic sore throat
Ear pain
Dramatic weight loss
Who get's oral cancer?
Men are more prone to develop oral cancer, with men over the age of 50 the most prone. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer found in men.
Other individuals that smoke cigarettes, cigars and pipes are six times more likely than their non-smoking counterparts to develop oral cancer. Individuals that also use smokeless tobacco or chew increase their risk of cancer in the oral cavity significantly.
Understand your family's history of cancer to help gauge your susceptibility as well note your lips sun exposure.
Ways to prevent oral cancer
To help detect oral cancer early on, dentists suggest individual's conduct an oral exam on themselves once a month. With a bright light and oral mirror, poke and feel for any of the previously mentioned symptoms. Also feel for swollen lymph nodes, and attend your annual dentist appointments.
