Oral Cancer: Deadly to Ignore
February 2002—Approximately 75
percent of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers are attributed to the use of
smoked and smokeless tobacco. (These cancers include the mouth, tongue,
lips, throat, parts for the nose, and larynx.) Those who chew tobacco are
at high risk for gum and cheek lesions that can lead to cancer. Alcohol
consumption is another risk factor. Combinations of tobacco and alcohol
are believed to represent substantially greater risk factors than either
substance consumed alone. Other factors that can place a person at risk
for these cancers are viral infections, immunodeficiencies, poor
nutrition, exposure to ultraviolet light (a major cause of cancer to the
lips), and certain occupational exposures.
Oral cancer accounts
for two to four percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United
States, but relative survival rates are among the lowest of major cancers.
Only one-half the number of persons diagnosed with oral cancer are alive
five years after the diagnosis. In contrast to other cancers (e.g. breast,
colorectal, and prostate cancers) the overall U.S. survival rate from oral
and pharyngeal cancer has not improved during the past 16 years. Survival
rates for oral cancer in minorities have decreased.
Incidence of oral
cancer varies greatly throughout the world. In western countries, such as
the United States, England or Wales, oral cancer accounts for two to five
percent of all cancers. These numbers are low compared with a 40 percent
prevalence in Sri Lanka and 50 percent in India. Southeast Asian persons
also have a high frequency of oral cancer.
Oral cancer today
occurs twice as often in males as in females. This is considerably
different from the 5:1 male to female ratio of forty years ago. Increased
tobacco use among women is the main reason for the change in cancer rates
compared with rates in the 1950s. Age is also a factor--95 percent of oral
cancers occur among persons over the age of 40 and 60 being the average
age at diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms
of Oral Cancer
- a mouth sore that
fails to heal or that bleeds easily
- a white or red patch
in the mouth that will not go away
- a lump, thickening
or soreness in the mouth, throat, or tongue
- difficulty chewing
or swallowing food.
Most early signs of
oral cancer are painless and are difficult to detect without a thorough
head and neck examination by a dental or medical professional.
Oral cavity and
pharyngeal cancers occur on anatomic sites that lend themselves to early
diagnosis and treatment. Detection of oral cancer through periodic medical
and dental examinations can significantly reduce the risk of these
life-threatening cancers.
Historical Document
Page last modified: October 4, 2004
Content source:
Division of Oral Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
