Oral Cancer On average, 43,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer per year. Of those 43,000, it will cause over 8,000 deaths. That is one person every hour of every day. This number is rising higher and higher not because it’s hard to discover or diagnose but the early stages of oral cancer are going unnoticed (“Oral Cancer Facts” 2014). More often than not, treatment is being sought out after it is too late. Understanding the causing factors of this disease and taking the proper precautions of prevention will help lower your chance of becoming just another statistic of this horrible disease.
Just as any other cancer, oral cancer can be fatal if it is not properly diagnosed and diagnosed early. Oral cancer includes the development of …show more content…
The most common treatment would be surgery. The type of surgery needed depends on the type of oral cancer you have developed. It could include removal of a tumor, which involves cutting the tissue around the tumor. In very severe cases, the jaw may need to be removed in order to get rid of the growing tumor. More treatment could include removal of bone, removal of the lymph nodes and other tissue in the neck. Plastic surgery is often involved in the recovery process after a surgery has taken place to help the patient feel and return back to normal living after dealing with cancer. After surgery could also include skin grafts, tissue flaps or dental implants to repair the tissues removed from the mouth, tracheotomy, or placing a hole in the windpipe, to assist in breathing for patients with large tumors or after surgical removal of the tumor, or dental surgery to remove teeth or assist with reconstruction (“Oral Cancer Treatment” …show more content…
A dentist or hygienist can be your best form of protection. They have the best skills and are highly qualified to notice any type of unusual activity in or around the oral cavity. More often than not on your regular visit a dentist will perform an oral cavity exam (Inge, 2013). This usually takes less than three minutes. Just three minutes is the only difference between good health and a deadly disease. Just like you would your doctor, ask questions on your oral checkup. Inform your dentist of any family history of unusual oral activity and let them know of any concerns you have. Being open with your dentist and becoming well informed is the greatest way to identify early warning signs of cancer and getting treatment before it can become too late (Inge,
Just as any other cancer, oral cancer can be fatal if it is not properly diagnosed and diagnosed early. Oral cancer includes the development of …show more content…
The most common treatment would be surgery. The type of surgery needed depends on the type of oral cancer you have developed. It could include removal of a tumor, which involves cutting the tissue around the tumor. In very severe cases, the jaw may need to be removed in order to get rid of the growing tumor. More treatment could include removal of bone, removal of the lymph nodes and other tissue in the neck. Plastic surgery is often involved in the recovery process after a surgery has taken place to help the patient feel and return back to normal living after dealing with cancer. After surgery could also include skin grafts, tissue flaps or dental implants to repair the tissues removed from the mouth, tracheotomy, or placing a hole in the windpipe, to assist in breathing for patients with large tumors or after surgical removal of the tumor, or dental surgery to remove teeth or assist with reconstruction (“Oral Cancer Treatment” …show more content…
A dentist or hygienist can be your best form of protection. They have the best skills and are highly qualified to notice any type of unusual activity in or around the oral cavity. More often than not on your regular visit a dentist will perform an oral cavity exam (Inge, 2013). This usually takes less than three minutes. Just three minutes is the only difference between good health and a deadly disease. Just like you would your doctor, ask questions on your oral checkup. Inform your dentist of any family history of unusual oral activity and let them know of any concerns you have. Being open with your dentist and becoming well informed is the greatest way to identify early warning signs of cancer and getting treatment before it can become too late (Inge,