Dentists do know what oral cancer looks like and they will notice any signs of oral cancer if you have any such as white or red patches that are located on your lips or in your mouth.
Your dentist also will check for any bleeding sores that do not heal as well as hard spots or lumps.
Oral cancer can spread fast or slower depending on the type of oral cancer.
However most oral cancers take months or years to spread and in some cases you may have oral cancer for extended periods of time without any noticeable symptoms, although other types of cancer such as squamous cell carcinoma usually spreads rapidly within a few weeks or months.
The symptoms of last stage of mouth cancer are a lump on your lips, neck or in your mouth which does not go away, white or red patch on your gums, tongue, cheeks and bleeding, pain or numbness in your mouth that does not go away and a sore throat that does not heal.
The three finger test for oral cancer is a test where you insert three of your fingers into your mouth and if all three of your fingers fit between your central incisors then your mouth opening is considered functional and you most likely do not have mouth cancer.
If you cannot insert three fingers then you might have oral cancer.
The 5 signs of oral cancer include difficulty or painful swallowing, mouth pain, a growth or lump inside your mouth, white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth and a lip or mouth sore that does not heal.
Loose teeth and ear pain can also be a sign of oral cancer.
Oropharyngeal cancer is fast growing and can spread very quickly which is why early treatment and diagnoses and treatment is essential for increasing your outcome and chance of survival.
Oropharyngeal cancer spreads first to the lymph nodes in the neck and then the bones and legs.
Those who are more likely to get oropharyngeal cancer are people older than age 45 and those with poor oral hygiene, lack of dental care and people who don't follow regular oral hygiene practices.
Oropharyngeal cancer starts by invading tissues and then can spread through blood and lymphatics.
The most common risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer include the following: A history of smoking cigarettes for more than 10 pack years and other tobacco use and heavy alcohol use.
Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV type 16.
The most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer is HPV and it usually takes several years for the oropharyngeal cancer to develop after being infected with HPV.
The most common age for oropharyngeal cancer is 64 which is the average age of diagnoses for oropharyngeal cancer although it can be diagnosed at any age and around 20 percent of oropharyngeal cancers occur in people younger than 55.
The cause of death in oropharyngeal cancer is the uncontrollable local tumor,recurrence or the metastic disease above the clavicles.
Autopsy protocols of 187 patients with oral cancer were studied with respect to the causes of death.
Eleven per cent of the patients died of recurrent or uncontrollable disease above the clavicles, while 17 per cent died of metastatic disease beyond the neck.
With untreated oropharyngeal cancer you can live for 5 to 8 years depending on how far progressed the oropharyngeal cancer is.
Some people die within a few years to 5 years with untreated oropharyngeal cancer.
Stage 1 oropharyngeal cancer is treated through surgery and is most often the only treatment that is needed.
The surgeon will remover the oropharyngeal cancer and a border margin of normal tissue around it.
When you have oropharyngeal cancer you can live from 5 to 10 years and sometimes longer.
In some cases oropharyngeal cancer can be cured and if cured you may live 20 years or longer.
Oropharyngeal cancer does spread if left untreated.
When the cancer cells of oropharynx spread to other parts of the body it's called metastasis .
Oropharyngeal cancer spreads most often to the lymph nodes in the neck and the lungs and bones.
Oropharyngeal cancer is the same as throat cancer and is also called tonsil cancer.
The Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that refers to the cancer of the base and posterior one-third of the tongue, the tonsils, soft palate, and posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls.
This cancer is also known as Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Sometimes more than one cancer can occur in the oropharynx and in other parts of the oral cavity, nose, pharynx, larynx (voice box), trachea, or esophagus at the same time.
Most oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancers can often be cured, especially if the cancer is found at an early stage.
Although curing the cancer is the primary goal of treatment, preserving the function of the nearby nerves, organs, and tissues is also very important.
Around 60 out of 100 people (around 60%) survive the oropharyngeal cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
Almost 30 out of 100 people (almost 30%) survive the oropharyngeal cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Some oropharyngeal cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
The most common sites where mouth and oropharyngeal cancer spread to include: the lymph nodes in the neck. the bones. the lungs.
If the oropharyngeal cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate for all people is 86%.
About 28% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed at this stage.
If the oropharyngeal cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 69%.
Oropharyngeal cancer starts in the oropharynx, which is the part of the throat just behind the mouth.
It includes cancer that starts in the back of the tongue and tonsil cancer.
The stage of your oropharyngeal cancer tells you how big it is and whether it has spread.
The leading risk factors for developing oropharyngeal cancer are smoking tobacco, heavy alcohol consumption, and HPV infection, especially a specific type known as HPV-16.
The fact that fewer U.S. residents now smoke has resulted in a decline in smoking-related oropharyngeal cancers.
Oral cancer can spread quickly, so early diagnosis and treatment can help improve a person's overall outcome and survival rate.
People older than 45 have an increased risk for oral cancer, although this type of cancer can develop in people of any age.
Poor oral hygiene. Lack of dental care and not following regular oral hygiene practices may cause an increased risk of oral cavity cancer.
Oropharyngeal cancer is a relatively rare kind of cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 53,000 people in the U.S. develop oropharyngeal cancer each year.
In comparison, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 290,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
While 60% of mortalities within the first 3 years of diagnosis of cancer were classified as oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers, 69% of mortalities after 3 years were related to second primaries, cardiovascular disease or second primary cancers.
Treatments for oropharyngeal cancer include surgery (minimally invasive robotic surgery and neck dissection), radiation and chemotherapy.
Radiation is sometimes needed after surgery.
When surgery is not used to treat these tumors, typically a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is recommended.