Oral Cancers
Hi everyone, I was recently reminded about how a dentist I know was able to identify oral cancer in one of her patients and thankfully got her to seek medical attention before it was too late, so I decided to look more into what oral cancer exactly is.
Oral cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the mouth or nearby areas of the throat. This means that the lips, gums, tongue, inner cheeks, and floor or roof of the mouth are all potential sites where oral cancer can occur. Oropharyngeal cancers, cancers that occur in the tissues of the oropharynx, or the middle part of the throat behind the mouth, appear further back, such as at the base of the tongue or on the tonsils. Major risk factors include tobacco and alcohol consumption, with HPV as a big cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Other factors, such as UV exposure,…
great post Gavin!!
a couple of thoughts about oral cancer:
Every time I’m at the dentist, they check under my tongue and throughout my mouth to make sure there isn’t a “sneaky” cancer developing. It’s one of those quick examinations that can be easy to take for granted, but it really highlights the importance of early detection.
The few cases of oral cancer I’ve encountered were peripheral to my work—they were part of the medical histories of patients who were actually seeing me for their eye appointments. Unfortunately, the cases I saw were fairly dramatic. At least a couple of these patients had undergone extensive surgery, including procedures that appeared to involve removal of portions of the jaw, leaving significant changes to their appearance and speech.
As with so many health issues, early detection and being informed really matter. Knowing what to look for, can make a meaningful difference.
That seems to be the recurring theme of our BioImpact group: knowledge, awareness, and early action can have a real impact on outcomes.