4555 William Penn Hwy • Bethlehem, PA 18020 • 610-866-0552

Oral Cancer

Early Detection is Your Best Protection

Oral cancer has one of the highest mortality rates because it is both painless and sneaky in the early stages, often going undetected until it is advanced beyond what can be effectively battled by cancer treatments.

Be smart, do not start. There are five common risk factors that correlate strongly with oral cancer. If you use any kind of tobacco product - chewing it, dipping snuff, smoking cigarettes, smoking cigars, or smoking a pipe, your chances of developing cancer are significantly higher than people who do not expose their mouth to tobacco. In fact, 80-90% of oral cancers are found in people who take part in these activities. You are also at a higher risk for oral cancer if you consume frequent or large quantities of alcohol. What is worse, when alcohol and tobacco are used together, the risk is not only doubled, but compounded. In either case, you can improve your chances of long-term health by simply never using these products, or quitting now if you do use them. You may also be at risk for oral cancer if your lips are constantly exposed to sunlight. Protect your lips with a sunblocking agent.

White patches, red flags. If you are careful to check for warning signs, it may be possible to catch and treat oral cancer before it becomes life threatening. While you can stay alert to these "red flags" on your own, it is best to have your dental health professional do a thorough oral cancer screen for you, on a regular basis. In fact, that is one of the reasons why Dr. Goldstein and his hygienists are so meticulous about checking every aspect of your lips, mouth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues during your regular check ups. They will look for whitish patches, persistent mouth sores, tissue color changes, spots of pain, tenderness, or numbness, or any changes in your bite over time. They will also ask you about your lifestyle habits, and whether you have noticed any difficulties in chewing, swallowing, speaking, moving your jaw, or moving your tongue. If there is any area of concern, they will suggest seeing an oral surgeon who may recommend a biopsy to rule out a problem.

Be careful, not fearful. All in all, your best weapon against oral cancer is to avoid the known risk factors. Studies show that tobacco and alcohol users who quit can greatly improve their health status, and lower their chances of related problems. Sunscreen use can eliminate your risk for lip cancer. In any case, it is wise to notify our office if you have concerns related to any of these factors.

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