How common is oral cancer? The answer is – very common!
According to the
Oral Cancer Foundation,
- Close to 58,500 Americans are diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer annually.
- These cancers cause more than 12,250 deaths per year in the United States.
- Worldwide, over 450,000 new cases of oral cancer are identified every year.
When Should You Be Checked For Oral Cancer?
When it comes being checked for oral cancer, the earlier, the better. In fact, early detection can mean the difference between a relatively simple office procedure and life-altering cancer treatment which can include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Quite literally, early detection can be a matter of life and death.
A Real Patient Story – Peggy
Peggy was just in our office for ongoing dental care when I noticed a small white patch of tissue under her tongue. It “peeked out” just beyond the reach of my mirror, but once revealed by stretching the tongue back a little more, there was no doubt that something was there.
Did she bite herself? I wondered. Was there a sharp cusp that was irritating her delicate tissue? Peggy was unaware of it. It didn’t hurt. It wasn’t tender. It didn’t look particularly ominous. In fact, it was quite innocent in appearance. But there it was and I didn’t know what “it” was…. And I needed to know what it was before I could be sure that it was nothing to worry about.
You see, Peggy is a 25-year survivor of oral cancer. When I told her of my discovery, she didn’t hesitate to contact her oncologist (who has been monitoring her for years) and schedule an appointment within days of our discovery.
Peggy’s Diagnosis
Peggy’s diagnosis was early squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue i.e., oral cancer
. Thankfully, it is in the earliest stages, and Peggy will not need additional surgery. (She had already been down that road years ago.) After her biopsy, she had a CT and PET scan. Her lymph nodes are clean. If all goes well (and it
will go well because Peggy is the consummate optimist whose bright outlook and optimism are not only contagious but inspiring), she will have several rounds of immunotherapy and put all of this behind her. Had this asymptomatic “patch” gone undetected, in a few short months, her outlook would have been quite grim.
Statistically and historically speaking, the odds are that over the course of a dentist’s career, they may detect but one case of oral cancer. When diagnosed early, a patient’s life might be spared dire consequences like life-changing cancer therapy, or worse.
Strangely, over the past five weeks, I have referred three patients to a Board-Certified Oral Pathologist for further evaluation of something that looked inexplicably “curious”. That is more cases than I have referred out in the past five years.
What is a Board-Certified Oral Pathologist? A board certified oral pathologist is a specialist who completes advanced training and certification in diagnosing and managing diseases of the oral and maxillofacial regions, focusing on both clinical and microscopic diagnosis, through examination and management of those diseases, as recognized by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and affiliated medical organizations. (Source:
American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology)
Why Is Oral Cancer On An Upswing?
Oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer are on the upswing because tobacco and alcohol use (especially in combination) as well as the
HPV virus, are associated with increased risk. This has fueled the pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs to facilitate smoking cessation, and the CDC to recommend the HPV vaccine for young people to prevent HPV transmission through oral sex.
Where Should You Get Checked For Oral Cancer?
The answer is: at your dentist’s office! I have performed oral cancer checks for all of my patients on an annual basis for decades. If you’re in the New York City area, take comfort in knowing that we are vigilant in our commitment to the prevention and early detection of oral cancer for all of you.
A Personal Note
Peggy – I dedicate this blog to you and your inspiring resilience, your can-do spirit, and your ever-warm and gracious smile, even when faced with adversity.
With your welfare ever a priority,
Michael Sinkin
