Oral Cancer

Are you at risk?

Special Topic Pamphlet No. 5

Colgate Dental Education Programs

The treatment required for oral cancer will depend on

how advanced the cancer is. The earlier it is found,

the less invasive the treatment will be and the more

successful the outcome.

The three main methods for treating oral cancer are:

• Surgery

• Radiotherapy

• Chemotherapy

Dentists are trained in detecting signs of oral cancer.

Aregularvisittothedentistcanhelpyoukeepyour

mouthandteethhealthy.

Itisessentialthatanywarningsignofcanceris

checkedoutimmediately.

• Makeanappointmenttoattendyourdentist ordoctorimmediately

A visit to the dentist is the first line of defence in finding and checking oral cancers

If you notice any changes or abnormalities in your mouth, tongue or lips, see a dental professional or doctor immediately

Oral Cancer

can be obtained from

Dental PracticeEducationResearchUnit ARCPOH,SchoolofDentistry,TheUniversityofAdelaide, SouthAustralia5005

Phone(08)83134045Fax(08)83134858

Website www.arcpoh.adelaide.edu.au/dperu

Oral Cancer DON’Tdelayavisittothedentistordoctorifyouhaveasoreinyourmouthoralumpinyourneck

AVOIDtobaccosmoking

AVOID excessiveconsumptionofalcohol

AVOID excessivesunlightexposure

havearegularcheck-upwithadentalprofessional

beawareofanychangesinyourmouth,tongueorlips

reduce the amount of alcohol consumed

seekadvicetoquitorreducesmokingfromyourdoctor, dentist or pharmacist

DO

REMEMBER

Figure4:Cancer of theroof of the mouth

Quitting smokingPhone Quitline 137 848 (13 QUIT)

Further information

Treatment

What should I do if I have any signs of oral cancer?

In2006,therewere613deathsfromoralcancerin

Australia,whichwas0.5%ofalldeaths.

InAustralia,2,357newcasesofcancerinthemouth

werediagnosedduring2005.Currently,theincidence

oforalcancerisapproximatelytwo-thirdshigheramong

men than women and three times higher among

Indigenous Australians than other Australians.

Dentistsaretrainedtorecogniseearlysignsoforal

cancer.Cancersrecognisedinearlystagesusuallyneed

less treatment than those identified later.

Oralcancermostcommonlydevelopsonthelipsor

tongue and can also occur underneath the tongue, on

thecheek,orontheroofofthemouth.

A regular dental check-up can help detect signs of oral cancer in its early stages

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a potentially fatal disease that affects many thousands of people each year worldwide. The World Health Organization (2005) has stated that it is the eleventh most prevalent cancer in the world.

Oral Cancer Oral Cancer

Figure1:Cancer of the tongue

• Tobaccosmoking(cigarettes,pipesandcigars)

• Excessiveconsumptionofalcohol

• Sunlightexposure(forlipcancer)

• Age(riskincreasesasageincreases)

• Snuff,gutkha,betelquidorarecanutuse

• Viralinfectionse.g.humanpapillomavirus(HPV) -maybetransmittedbyoralsex.HPVisalsolinked with cervical cancer

• Nutritionaldeficiencies (especiallyVitaminsA,CandE)

• Geneticpredisposition

Ifyounoticeanychangesorabnormalitiesinyourmouth,

tongue or lips, see a dental professional or doctor

immediately.

• Anysoreinthemouth,oronthefaceandneck,that doesnothealintwoweeks

• Swellings,lumpsorbumpsonthelips,oranywhere inside the mouth

• White,redordarkpatchesinthemouth

• Repeatedbleedinginthemouth

• Looseteeth

Figure2: Cancer of the tongue Figure2:Cancer of the tongue

Figure3:Cancer of the lip

• Difficultymovingthetongueorjaw

• Difficultyorpainwhenswallowing

• Difficultywearingdentures

• Alumpintheneck

• Anearachethatdoesn’tgoaway

• Numbness,lossoffeelingorpaininanyareasof themouth,faceorneck

• Anabnormaltasteinthemouth

Ifanyofthesesignsapplytoyou,makeanappointment

withyourdentistordoctorimmediately.

A visit to the dentist is the first line of defence in both

findingandcheckingoralcancers.Aregulardental

check-upisnotonlyagoodwaytokeepyourteeth

healthybutitcanalsohelptodetectwarningsignsof

oralcancerinitsearlystages.

What is oral cancer?

Where does it develop?

Risk factors

Oral cancer signs include:

Detection of oral cancer

Early detection