How to do a Self Examination for Oral Cancer

Cancer of the mouth and upper throat or oral and pharyngeal cancer kills 9,000 people per year in the United States. Only 60% of people will live longer than 5 years when diagnosed with these cancers, and many who do survive suffer long-term problems like facial disfigurement or difficulties eating and speaking. Death rates and severity of such problems are strongly correlated with when the individual was diagnosed. Because of this early, detection is important.

Facts

50,000 People in the U.S. are diagnosed with Oral Cancer

9,000/Year die

Factors that increase your risk for Oral Cancer: Tobacco, HPV Exposure, Alcohol, Poor Nutrition, Physical Trauma, Poor Oral Hygiene, and Infectious Diseases.

Self Examination

Use a Bright Light and Mirror:

1. Remove any dentures

2. Look and feel inside the lips and front of gums

3. Tilt head back to inspect the roof of your mouth

4. Pull cheek out to see inside surface and back of gums

5. Pull out your tongue and look at all of its surfaces

6. Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of

Look For

- White patches of the oral tissues — leukoplakia

- Red patches — erythroplakia

- Red and white patches — erythroleukoplakia

- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily

- An abnormal lump or thickening of tissues of the mouth

- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness

- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing

- A lump in the neck

Your dentist can also perform an in office exam with something called the VELScope Vx. In fact, the exam can be performed in the dentist's office during a routine hygiene exam in about two minutes. If you’re in the Northridge area, book your appointment today and prevent oral cancer.

Source: https://www.aaoms.org/media/raise-oral-cancer-awareness

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