The Mulberry Dental Blog » Oral Cancers

Protect yourself from oral cancer at Molesey dentist

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:35:16 +0000

One of the most serious problems that can affect the mouth is oral cancer. This is a potentially life threatening condition that occurs in the oral cavity but one that can be treated effectively in caught in its early stages. The longer the disease is allowed to develop untreated the greater the chances of it becoming fatal.

There are many risk factors that make you more likely to suffer from the condition. These include:

• Age – You are more likely to suffer from oral cancer if you are over the age of 40

• Sex – Males are twice as likely to suffer from oral cancer as women

• Weight – Patients who are overweight are also more likely to suffer from oral cancer as those patients who are in good shape and of a healthy weight

• Lifestyle – Smoking any kind of tobacco product significantly increases your risk of contracting oral cancer. Drinking alcohol also greatly increases the risk. When the two factors are combined the risk becomes even more heightened as the two combined can be very destructive to the cells and tissue in the mouth

However, it must be remembered that everyone is at risk from oral cancer and that 25 per cent of patients who contract oral cancer have none of the high risk factors.

The best way to beat oral cancer is to have a regular check up with a Molesey dentist. They can examine the mouth every six months or more regularly if desired. They can check for any suspicious signs and conduct a brush biopsy of any tissue. If the results come back positive they can refer you immediately to a specialist for treatment. This is the best way of beating oral cancer and keeping yourself safe from this very dangerous and destructive condition.

Know the signs of oral cancer – ask a Kingston-upon-Thames dentist

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:59:03 +0000

We all know the statistic that one in three of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives. While this maybe true, it is also true that modern medicine is becoming more effective at treating, fighting and beating many forms of cancer. One of the most crucial factors when treating cancer is early intervention. Catching the disease as early as possible gives you the best chance of surviving. When it comes to cancer it really is a matter of life and death.

One of the most virulent forms of cancer is oral cancer. This affects cells located in the soft tissue of the oral cavity, including the cheek lining, tongue, gums and throat. It usually manifests itself as small red, white or blotchy sore patches that do not clear up naturally in a week or so. There are many other telltale signs of oral cancer including unexplained bleeding in the mouth, extreme and sudden weight loss and pains in the neck and head. Kingston-upon-Thames dentists are trained to spot the signs of oral cancer during regular check ups, just another reason why seeing your dentist every six months is very important.

By catching the disease early, you stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of survival, so that alone should be an incentive to be vigilant. There are certain groups who are more at risk from oral cancer. Smokers are up to six times more likely to develop cancer than non-smokers, and drinking alcohol to excess may also have a large impact. Men, especially those over the age of fifty, are also at a higher risk, although you should always bear in mind that anyone can be struck down with oral cancer at any time. The best you can do is to try and live as healthily as possible and make regular appointments to see your dentist.

Protect yourself from oral cancer with appointment at Surbiton dentist

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:28:20 +0000

Like all cancers, oral cancer is the uncontrollable growth of cells that cause damage to the surrounding tissue. Oral cancer visually manifests itself as growths or sores on the soft tissue of the mouth that do not go away naturally. All parts of the soft tissue including the lips, tongue, lining and throat are affected by oral cancer and it can be life threatening if not diagnosed early enough.

The most common symptoms of the disease are painful swellings and lumps or red and white velvety sore patches appearing on the soft tissue areas. Other symptoms include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, numbness or tenderness in any part of the face or neck and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms are the first indicators that you may be suffering from oral cancer so it is important that you make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible after discovering any of them.

Certain factors make the contraction of oral caner more likely including smoking or drinking excessively, but male patients, especially overweight ones are also more at risk. Although it is crucial to remember that one fifth of people diagnosed with oral cancer neither smoke nor drink or possess any other high-risk characteristics.

The most important weapon in the fight against oral cancer is regular check ups at the dentist. Surbiton dentists are trained to detect the early signs of oral cancer and can refer you immediately for specialist treatment. Catching the disease early can increase your chances of successful treatment by as much as eighty per cent, which is crucial with such a virulent form of the disease.

Shepperton dentists can help detect oral cancer

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:35:20 +0000

Oral cancer will usually first manifest itself as a sore or growth that won’t go away naturally. Oral cancer, which includes cancer of any part of the mouth or throat such as lips, cheek, hard and soft palates and tongue can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

Men are twice as likely as women to get oral cancer with men over the age of 50 being particularly at risk. Factors that increase the risk of oral cancer include smoking, which can increase your chance of oral cancer by as much as 600 percent. Excessive consumption of alcohol can also increase your chances by a similar degree.

Other factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer include excessive exposure to sunlight and a family history of cancer. People who use smokeless tobacco products such as snuff, dip or chewing tobacco are a massive 50 times more likely to develop cancer of the cheek, lips or tongue. Although it is important to note that a quarter of people who contract oral cancer do not use tobacco products and only drink alcohol in moderation.

The symptoms or oral cancer include: unexplained bleeding in the mouth; the development of white or red patches in the mouth; difficulty chewing speaking or swallowing; swelling, lumps or eroded areas in the mouth; dramatic weight loss.

These are only some of the symptoms so it is always best to consult your dentist if you have any concerns. Your Shepperton dentist can conduct an oral cancer screening exam as part of your regular dental check-up and can perform a brush biopsy of any suspicious looking sores in the mouth. This test is completely painless and involves taking a small sample of tissue for analysis. Your Shepperton dentist will also be able to check for any tissue changes in your oral cavity, neck and head. If oral cancer is detected in its early stages patients have a greater than 80 percent chance of successful treatment.

Saliva Test for Diagnosing Oral Cancer in Molesey

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:41:48 +0000

Considered to be the sixth most common cancer in men, oral cancer spreads quickly accounting for the high rate of death. Early diagnosis is important in order for the patient to enjoy a good prognosis. In recent years, saliva test has been used to detect oral cancer. You can ask your dentist regarding such test.

Patients diagnosed with oral cancer at an early stage can enjoy an 80 to 90 percent survival. Before, diagnosis of oral cancer relied on physical signs and symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Mouth ulcers
• Red or white patches
• Other unusual changes in the mouth
• Risk factors such as smoking

Usually, any suspicious findings will prompt the dentist to run further tests such as:

• Biopsy
• Blood test
• Body scans
• X-rays

But with the discovery of saliva testing, diagnosis becomes more efficient. The saliva test involves analysis for certain bacterial species which were found to be present in high amounts in patients with oral cancer. These species include:

• Prevetolla melaninogenica
• Streptococcus mitis
• Capnocytophaga gingivalis

Although these bacteria have been suspected to be the cause for the oral cancer, their presence certainly confirms the disease.

Once the oral cancer has been diagnosed, your dentist will work with an oncologist to present your with several treatment options. These options usually include:

• Radiotherapy
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy

Again, early detection of the disease is important for a higher chance of survival. Visit your Molesey dentist regularly to monitor your oral health.

Oral Cancer Screening in Surbiton

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:04:21 +0000

Oral cancer is a serious medical condition. But when detected early by your Surbiton dentist, the prognosis could be good. Among cancers, oral cancer is considered to be ideal in terms of early detection.

Symptoms of an oral cancer include the presence of a painless ulcer, abnormal growth or white/red patch in the mouth that does not clear up even after two weeks.

People at risk for oral cancer are those who:

• Use tobacco (smoking or chewing)
• Consume alcohol (30 or more drinks in a week)
• Expose themselves to too much sunlight
• Aged 40 years old and above
• Unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle
• Family history

Detection of oral cancer can be done by your Surbiton dentist early. A regular visit will involve the through examination of your mouth and throat as well as palpation of the neck to look for any swollen lymph nodes. Right now, visual inspections as well as cytology are the two most important methods in diagnosing oral cancer.

Early detection by your Surbiton dentist will increase the chance of responding to treatment. In the UK, 4,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year and nearly half of them die because of late detection and treatment.

Of course, prevention is important and your Surbiton dentist will recommend the following:

- Healthy diet
- Regular exercise
- Avoid smoking and drinking

Over three quarters of mouth or oral cancer can actually be prevented with the removal of alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking. There is actually a 50 percent reduction of the risk 3 to 5 years after the smoking and drinking stopped.

Weybridge Dentist Gives Advice on Oral Cancer

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 10:23:06 +0000

At your Weybridge Dental Clinic, the dentist will screen you for the possibility of oral cancer at your dental checkups. Usually oral cancer(s) are most often noticed when they are late in their development. The reason for this is not due to difficulty noticing them; it is because people do not seek regular dental care. If diagnosed when they have been present for awhile, the death rate from these cancers increase exponentially. At times they are discovered when they have already metastasized to the neck and there is lymph node involvement. These individuals will usually not seek dental care until pain and/or symptoms are visible to them. Oral cancer(s) are more treatable if they are discovered early in there development. The recurrence of oral cancer(s) is 20 xs higher in individuals that have been treated for these cancers versus individuals who have never had oral cancer(s). A good sign is if the individual remains cancer free for 5 to 10 years following initial treatment. The majority of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
It is crucial that you contact your Weybridge dentist or physician if you have any if the following signs and/or symptoms: Oral lesions and sores that do not heal within two weeks; a lump of thickening of the cheek; red and/or white patches on your gums, tongue or oral mucosa; a nagging feeling of something being stuck in your throat or lengthy throat soreness; problems with eating, and movement of the jaw and tongue, or numbness of the tongue or mouth; and, swelling of the jaw. All of the above could be the result of something different, but why take the chance. Certain procedures can be performed to make sure whether you do or do not have oral cancer at your Weybridge dentist or doctor’s office. Using tobacco products can increase your risk for oral cancer significantly, as well as alcohol consumption. Using both also increases your risk more significantly. Treatment(s) for oral cancer(s) usually involve radiation, chemotherapy, and/or surgery.

Dentists in Worcester park says the importance offearly diagnosis of oral cancer

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:21:08 +0000

Oral cancer begins always asymptomatic, there for its diagnosis is very difficult.
Oral cancer in the early stage can be successfully treated .The early diagnosis and it’s management is very important Any abnormal changes in the mouth, tongues, gums or the surrounding area needs immediate attention
It is important to remember that not always the signs signify cancer. It can be due to some other oral conditions also. The patient will complain of pain in the mouth. Moving the jaw and the mouth will be difficult. The patient will have problems in chewing and swallowing. There will be a bump in the neck .The person will complain of bleeding from the ear and there will be numbness in the particular area also some white or red patches in the mouth are noted

For a confirmative diagnosis the Worcester park dentist advice the patient should visit his dentist and if necessary your dentist will refer you to an Oncologist. They both will examine the mouth and evaluate the past medical history and plan the treatment. If the symptoms doesn’t subside with in fourteen days a biopsy will be performed to conform the diagnosis, A positive biopsy and clinical findings say about the stage of the disease , eventually spread other areas of mouth and organ making it secondary cancers with serious consequences .Other additional tests are x-ray, CT scan and MRI scan. THE treatment is decided based on the diagnostic test.
How can we prevent oral cancer?
The professionals in Worcester park say the best solution is leading a healthy life style. Eat a variety of green and yellow fruit and vegetables. Smoking is the most common cause of oral cancer. The risk is the same those who eat tobacco, pan etc. Drinking alcohol poses a big risk in mouth cancer; alcohol helps the tobacco to absorb in to the mouth. Avoiding excess sun can prevent lip cancer. Get medical attention in case of an ulcer, red or white patches if it does’ clear in 2-3weeksand have a regular dental check up and during the clinic visit it is very important to tell the patient about the advantages of having a regular check up.