Oral Cancer Awareness

In the U.S. alone, more than 90 new individuals will be diagnosed with oral cancer today, and an estimated 6,900 people will die from the disease in 2011.¹ Oral cancer claims more lives than cervical cancer, brain cancer, skin cancer or Hodgkin’s disease.²

Like many cancers, the key to surviving oral cancer is early detection. Detecting oral cancer in its early stages is imperative and can dramatically increase the five-year survival rate from approximately 57 percent to more than 90 percent.¹

Dentists play a crucial role in calling attention to some of oral cancer’s common symptoms by performing an oral cancer exam on patients. Symptoms include:

• Red or white spots that appear on the gums, cheeks or under the tongue
• Swelling of the tongue or throat
• A lump in the mouth or neck
• Pain or difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Numbness in the mouth region
• Vocal hoarseness that lasts for an extended time
• Tiny marks that resemble canker sores
• Sores that bleed and don’t heal (in later stages)

Oral cancer exams are quick, painless and involve an evaluation of the mouth, gums, throat and tongue by a licensed dentist using a piece of gauze to move the tongue from side-to-side. A tool called the OralCDx brush biopsy can also be used to catch oral cancer in its early stages, or even as a precancerous lesion.³ Delta Dental is one of the first dental benefits providers in the U.S. to add coverage of the brush biopsy to its core group of covered services.

OralCDx Laboratories, Inc. of New York holds a patent on the brush biopsy, approved in 2000 by the Federal Drug Administration. The brush biopsy is based on the technology used in the Star Wars anti-missile system. It detects precancerous and cancerous cells in healthy tissue the same way the defense satellites were designed to detect real missiles from decoys.

Who is at risk?

Oral cancer is most common in men, African Americans, adults over 40, smokers and heavy alcohol drinkers. However, one out of four cases occurs in non-smokers and people under age 30. Other causes include too much sun exposure to the lips and poor diet. Over the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of young people and women developing oral cancer who do not have traditional risk factors.² 

Learn more about oral cancer:

• Oral Cancer Facts
• Video: Saving Lives Through the Earlier Detection of Oral Cancer
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Downloadable Oral Cancer Information
• Visit the American Cancer Society website 
• Visit The National Cancer Institute website

¹American Cancer Society. (2011, October 13).

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/OralCavityandOropharyngealCancer/DetailedGuide/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer-survival-rates
²The Oral Cancer Foundation. (2011, September 23). http://www.oralcancer.org/

³OralCDx. (2011, October 13). http://www.sopreventable.com/brushtest.htm