Free Oral Cancer Screening Offered By
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center
Published February 23, 2009
It’s tempting to ignore that persistent sore in your mouth that won’t heal, or that nagging pain in your mouth that won’t go away. After all, the physician or dentist will probably tell you that it mostly likely will be nothing…but why take the chance? Those symptoms could be early warning signs of oral cancer, and getting an oral cancer screening by a physician or a dentist could literally save your life.
That is why Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center (HRCC) is offering a free oral cancer screening to people 18 or older on Monday, April 20 from 6-8 p.m. The screening will be conducted by oral surgeon Richard Generson, D.M.D. and ear, nose and throat specialist Anoli Maniar, M.D. at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), oral cancer is a cancer that starts in the mouth. It includes the lips, the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, the teeth, the gums, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the floor of the mouth below the tongue, the bony roof of the mouth and the area behind the wisdom teeth. Oropharyngeal cancer occurs in the part of the throat just behind the mouth.
“During the free screening, we will thoroughly examine all of these areas to check for abnormalities,” explained Dr. Generson.
According to Dr. Generson, if you are in doubt about getting an oral cancer screening, consider the following signs and symptoms.
- A sore in the mouth that does not heal (most common symptom)
- Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
- A persistent lump or thickening in the cheek
- A persistent white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
- A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that doesn’t go away
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
- Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
- Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
- Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw
- Voice changes
- A lump or mass in the neck
- Weight loss
The ACS estimates nearly 35,310 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. When patients newly diagnosed are carefully examined, about 15% will have another cancer in a nearby area such as the larynx, esophagus or lung. Another 10-40% will develop cancer of one of these areas or a second oral cancer at a later time.
“The good news is, early detection offers the best opportunity for successful treatment. In addition, there are things you can do to lessen your risk for developing oral cancer,” said Dr. Generson. “You should stop all types of tobacco use. About 90% of people with oral cancer use tobacco, and the risk of developing these cancers increases with the amount smoked or chewed.”
According to Dr. Generson, alcohol use also increases the risk for oral cancer. Other risk factors include exposure to ultraviolet light, vitamin A deficiency, age and gender. According to the ACS, oral cancer risk increases with age, especially after age 40 and it is twice as common in men as in women.
Space is limited for the oral cancer screening and pre-registration is required by April 17, 2009. To register please call (908) 237-2337 to leave your contact information and someone will contact you within 2 business days.