Fighting Oral Cancer In Molesey
Recently, there has been a rise in the number of reported cases of mouth cancer in Britain, a fact echoed by a Molesey dentist. Around 5000 people are diagnosed with the problem every year, mostly men over the age of 40, but with a greater public awareness of the disease, oral cancer is treatable. So what are the causes and the symptoms of the problem? Britain likes a drink and Britain likes a smoke. Throw in a bad diet and poor oral hygiene and you have a recipe for number of mouth problems, let alone cancer- a repetitive ulcer, lumps, bad breath, bleeding gums and loose teeth. But poor self management and excesses are not the only causes. Previous cancers around the upper body, exposure of the lips to sunlight, stress and a weak immune system all make the mouth vulnerable to the disease. We should be aware of our bodies and know when something is wrong. A dentist will be able to diagnose any problems you have through an examination of the throat and mouth and a biopsy- tissue and cell diagnosis in a laboratory. If positive, this will be followed up by X-rays, scans and further biopsies to determine the extent of the cancer. Treatment will come in various forms, pending the level of the problem. Physical surgery, radiotherapy, chemo or biological therapy would be applied until all the cancer cells are removed. The earlier the problem is diagnosed, the more likely the chances of beating cancer. But we can take preventative steps to avoid the problem in the first place. Tackling the causes- good diet, avoid smoking and heavy drinking, excess exposure to sunlight, changes of moods in your mouth and most important, regular appointments at the dentist.