Treatment REMEMBER The treatment required for oral cancer ... · Oral cancer most commonly develops...
Transcript of Treatment REMEMBER The treatment required for oral cancer ... · Oral cancer most commonly develops...
Oral Cancer
Are you at risk?
Special Topic Pamphlet No. 5
Colgate Dental Education Programs
The treatment required for oral cancer will depend on
how advanced the cancer is. The earlier it is found,
the less invasive the treatment will be and the more
successful the outcome.
The three main methods for treating oral cancer are:
• Surgery
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
Dentists are trained in detecting signs of oral cancer.
Aregularvisittothedentistcanhelpyoukeepyour
mouthandteethhealthy.
Itisessentialthatanywarningsignofcanceris
checkedoutimmediately.
• Makeanappointmenttoattendyourdentist ordoctorimmediately
A visit to the dentist is the first line of defence in finding and checking oral cancers
If you notice any changes or abnormalities in your mouth, tongue or lips, see a dental professional or doctor immediately
Oral Cancer
can be obtained from
Dental PracticeEducationResearchUnit ARCPOH,SchoolofDentistry,TheUniversityofAdelaide, SouthAustralia5005
Phone(08)83134045Fax(08)83134858
Website www.arcpoh.adelaide.edu.au/dperu
Oral Cancer DON’Tdelayavisittothedentistordoctorifyouhaveasoreinyourmouthoralumpinyourneck
AVOIDtobaccosmoking
AVOID excessiveconsumptionofalcohol
AVOID excessivesunlightexposure
havearegularcheck-upwithadentalprofessional
beawareofanychangesinyourmouth,tongueorlips
reduce the amount of alcohol consumed
seekadvicetoquitorreducesmokingfromyourdoctor, dentist or pharmacist
DO
REMEMBER
Figure4:Cancer of theroof of the mouth
Quitting smokingPhone Quitline 137 848 (13 QUIT)
Further information
Treatment
What should I do if I have any signs of oral cancer?
In2006,therewere613deathsfromoralcancerin
Australia,whichwas0.5%ofalldeaths.
InAustralia,2,357newcasesofcancerinthemouth
werediagnosedduring2005.Currently,theincidence
oforalcancerisapproximatelytwo-thirdshigheramong
men than women and three times higher among
Indigenous Australians than other Australians.
Dentistsaretrainedtorecogniseearlysignsoforal
cancer.Cancersrecognisedinearlystagesusuallyneed
less treatment than those identified later.
Oralcancermostcommonlydevelopsonthelipsor
tongue and can also occur underneath the tongue, on
thecheek,orontheroofofthemouth.
A regular dental check-up can help detect signs of oral cancer in its early stages
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a potentially fatal disease that affects many thousands of people each year worldwide. The World Health Organization (2005) has stated that it is the eleventh most prevalent cancer in the world.
Oral Cancer Oral Cancer
Figure1:Cancer of the tongue
• Tobaccosmoking(cigarettes,pipesandcigars)
• Excessiveconsumptionofalcohol
• Sunlightexposure(forlipcancer)
• Age(riskincreasesasageincreases)
• Snuff,gutkha,betelquidorarecanutuse
• Viralinfectionse.g.humanpapillomavirus(HPV) -maybetransmittedbyoralsex.HPVisalsolinked with cervical cancer
• Nutritionaldeficiencies (especiallyVitaminsA,CandE)
• Geneticpredisposition
Ifyounoticeanychangesorabnormalitiesinyourmouth,
tongue or lips, see a dental professional or doctor
immediately.
• Anysoreinthemouth,oronthefaceandneck,that doesnothealintwoweeks
• Swellings,lumpsorbumpsonthelips,oranywhere inside the mouth
• White,redordarkpatchesinthemouth
• Repeatedbleedinginthemouth
• Looseteeth
Figure2: Cancer of the tongue Figure2:Cancer of the tongue
Figure3:Cancer of the lip
• Difficultymovingthetongueorjaw
• Difficultyorpainwhenswallowing
• Difficultywearingdentures
• Alumpintheneck
• Anearachethatdoesn’tgoaway
• Numbness,lossoffeelingorpaininanyareasof themouth,faceorneck
• Anabnormaltasteinthemouth
Ifanyofthesesignsapplytoyou,makeanappointment
withyourdentistordoctorimmediately.
A visit to the dentist is the first line of defence in both
findingandcheckingoralcancers.Aregulardental
check-upisnotonlyagoodwaytokeepyourteeth
healthybutitcanalsohelptodetectwarningsignsof
oralcancerinitsearlystages.
What is oral cancer?
Where does it develop?
Risk factors
Oral cancer signs include:
Detection of oral cancer
Early detection