Cancer | American Oral Cancer Foundation

Signs of Skin Cancer

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Due to the increased rate of skin cancer across the globe, and in particular, the United States, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this condition. Skin cancer is the most common cancer that is found in humans. Being aware of these signs and symptoms will allow you to plan a visit to your doctor so that they may do some needed testing on you to determine if you do, indeed, have cancer. After the testing is complete, you and your doctor can then make a plan for the treatment of the cancer if you do have it.

1. Sores that do not heal. Although the healing rates vary widely among people depending on a number of factors including their age and their general health, most people will notice a steady progression as their sores heal. They will be able to see that the skin is healing over and that the sore is getting smaller. In addition, the sore will be less painful. If this is not the case, however, you should sake the advice of your doctor.

2. New growths on the skin. Most people are aware of most of their skin markings. These markings include both freckles and skin moles. If you notice any new skin growths, you should watch them carefully. While they may simply be skin moles or freckles that are just becoming a part of your skin’s makeup, it is still important to watch them closely.

3. Irregularities in the skin. If you notice that any of your skin moles growing larger or if you notice the edges of the skin mole becoming irregular, you should seek the advice of your doctor as soon as possible. In this way, you can rule out the possibility of that skin mole developing into skin cancer.

All About Oral Cancer

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Oral cancer is on the rise. This is in spite of the incidence of smoking going down in some segments of the population. Smoking continues to be a common reason for people to develop oral cancer.

Oral cancer is thought of by many people to simply mean cancer in the mouth. Oral cancer, however, also means cancer of the throat, tongue, lips, pharynx or any part of the oral cavity. In any given year, there are more than 34,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in the United States. Roughly seventy five percent of all cancers of the neck and head begin as oral cancers. This makes it particularly important to visit your doctor and your dentist on a regular basis. These medical professionals can perform pre cancer screenings that can help to catch any cancers before they become to entrenched in your body.

There are several symptoms of oral cancer that you must be aware of. If you notice any of these symptoms or signs, you should visit your primary doctor or your dentist immediately.

1. A sore that does not heal. If you notice a sore in your mouth that does not heal within about two weeks, you should visit your doctor.

2. Numbness in your mouth or throat. An unexplained numbness in your mouth or throat should be evaluated by your dentist or your doctor as soon as possible.

3. White or red sores or patches in the mouth. While these patches can be a symptom of other conditions such as throat infections, it is important to seek a doctor’s advice in order to rule out cancer or other serious conditions.

4. Difficulty swallowing or moving any part of your mouth. If you are having a difficult time moving your jaw or your tongue, or if you find that you can not swallow well, you should seek care from your doctor.

Filed Under: Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Oral Cancer, United States

How To Protect Yourself From Cancer

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The word cancer is something that many people fear. There is good reason for this fear. There are many different types of cancers and, if not caught at the early stages, can be difficult to fight. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help protect yourself.

1. Eat Wisely. By eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, you are giving your body what it needs to function at its best. Drinking lots of fresh water will help to remove the toxins from your body. Water also helps to prevent these toxins from building up. Try to limit your intake of beef. Instead eat lean cuts of beef if you must eat it. It is best to eat more chicken and turkey, instead, as these are leaner meats.

2. Exercise. It is important to exercise at least a few times a week. Most people, no matter what their physical health is like, can engage in some form of exercise. A walk around the block is a great start if you are overweight and very out of shape. Swimming is a great form of exercise that is gentle enough for even people with joint problems to be able to do.

3. Curb Your Vices. Cigarette smoking, excessive drinking and overeating are not just bad habits. They can have serious consequences to your health. While having a glass of wine or a beer occasionally will likely not harm you, drinking to excess on a regular basis can lead to cancers such as liver cancer and oral cancer. Cigarette smoking has been shown to be the number one cause of oral cancer as well as lung cancer. It is in your best interest to stop smoking today. Overeating can lead to a greater risk of colon cancer as well as a number of other types of cancer.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer Tagged With: Cancer, Health, Tobacco smoking

Risk Factors Associated With Oral Cancer

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It is a common notion that oral cancer is common in the people who are smokers. It is true that the smokers are the ones who are at a very high risk of being affected by oral cancer, but there are also other people who are at risk of being affected with this disease.

The common causes and risk factors that can cause oral cancer also include the use of alcohol. Any person who drinks a lot will be at risk of being affected by this disease. Oral cancer also affects people who do not smoke, but use tobacco in other forms. The common reason for the oral cancer to occur is the chewing of tobacco. This is a habit that is seen in many of the people in certain developing nations where the growth of tobacco is not limited.

The other people who are at a high risk of being affected with oral cancer are the people who have repeated infections that are viral in nature. The most common viral infection is the Herpes virus. When a person has repeated infections with this virus, it can lead to oral cancer, or at least increase the risk of the cancer to occur.

The other important fact that should be remembered is that though a person may have a risk factor, the risk increases if the person has more than one risk factor. If a person is a smoker and also an alcoholic, then the risk of that person getting oral cancer increases proportionately. Other than the risk factors that have been mentioned already, a person who does not take care of the mouth and oral hygiene will further increase the risk of the disease. Prevention of the risk factors will help to avoid the disease and this is the reason for the various health agencies to try and reduce the risk factors.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Cancer, Oral Cancer, Tobacco

Health Education In Preventing Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is commonly seen in people who are having certain high risk behavior. These high risk behaviors include the use of various substances like tobacco, smoking and alcohol. When a person is an alcoholic or a smoker, the risk of being affected by oral cancer will increase.

Oral hygiene is important and the lack of this will also cause the person to suffer from the disease. All these make a person to understand the need for oral care and other aspects of care of the self. Many people who do not take proper care of their body are the ones who are at a very high risk. The best method that can be used to prevent the disease is the health education and health awareness.

Campaigns by the government are a very important step that will help in the prevention of oral cancer. The use of literature that is given out to groups of people will help the people with risk behavior to try and change their ways. Education of children in their school is an important medium of transmitting the information to the people. As the child learns in school, the parents will get to know of the information if it is passed on to them. This way, the whole community learns of the methods of preventing oral cancer as the information spreads from one person to another informally.

Health education and awareness by various other methods like mass media, television are some of the other methods of spreading the message. The message should include information about the cause of oral cancer, the signs and symptoms and it should also include the methods that the person can use to get the disease to be treated and cured. This kind of detailed information will help the person to be able to prevent the occurrence of the disease.

Filed Under: Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care, Rehab Tagged With: Cancer, Health, Oral Cancer

Areas Of The Mouth Where Oral Cancer Can Occur

Oral cancer is a common problem. The causes of oral cancer are many. The person who is leading a life that has high risk behavior is one of the main reasons for the occurrence of cancer. The oral cancer as the name indicates is the cancer of the mouth. The disease can be caused by alcohol consumption, viral infection that is repeated, excessive smoking, chewing of tobacco and even the diet habits can lead to oral cancer.

The common doubt that people have is whether the oral cancer can occur in the cheeks or in the tongue. The place where oral cancer can occur is a big question. So where does oral cancer occur? It is not confined to a specific area in the mouth. This is the reason for the disease to be called as the oral cancer. Any part of the mouth can be affected in a person who suffers from oral cancer.

The common part of the mouth that is affected is the junction between the mouth and the neck. This is a severe condition because the person is not able to eat or swallow any of the food that is put into the mouth. Though the mass or sore that is the lesion associated with oral cancer can be formed on the said regions, the lining of the cheek on the inside of the mouth is also the common site for oral cancer.

Oral cancer lesions can also occur in the other parts of the mouth including the gums. The floor of the mouth can also be an area at high risk of cancer formation. The roof of the mouth, the area surrounding the gums, the lips and the tongue are all tissues that can be affected with cancerous sores or growth of tissues that signify oral cancer.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Cancer, Mouth, Oral Cancer

Tips to Avoid Oral Cancer

There’s nothing more unsettling than sitting in the doctor’s office and hearing the words, you’ve got cancer.Suddenly, a multitude of thoughts go through your mind. You worry about your future, your family, your ability to work, and your chances for survival. Nobody wants to be in that situation. While there’s no absolute guarantee that you won’t get cancer, there are some things you can do to help prevent cancer. Here are some tips to try to avoid getting oral cancer.

1. Don’t smoke. Smoking is one of the most dangerous and self-destructive habits you can participate in. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but it can also contribute to oral cancer.

2. Avoid chewing tobacco. Right up there with smoking, chewing tobacco can increase your chances for cancer. The nicotine in tobacco destroys the inside of your mouth and leaves you susceptible to cancer.

3. Watch your medications. While most medications are necessary and helpful, you can be cautious about medications you choose to take. For example, certain medications like birth control can cause different symptoms and side effects. If you are experiencing problems with our health, be sure to look into the side effects of birth control.

4. Get plenty of exercise. We increase our body’s ability to fight disease when we are healthy and strong. Getting plenty of exercise will help you to stay healthy. If you were to get an awful cancer diagnosis, you’ll be better able to fight the disease if your body is strong.

5. Eat healthy. Take in leafy greens, fruits, and water. Watch your red meat intake and avoid fatty foods. Eating healthy will keep your bodies functioning the way they are supposed to.

6. Brush up your knowledge about the side affects of birth control, as wrong birth control methods can have cancerous side effects too.

Filed Under: General, Health Tips Tagged With: Cancer, Chewing tobacco, Effects, Health, Smoking, Specific Substances, Tobacco, United States

The Common Signs Of Oral Cancer

Though oral cancer is thought to have very few signs and symptoms, the truth is the contrary. There are actually many methods in which a person will be able to identify the presence or absence of oral cancer. The most common sign is the presence of a sore in the mouth. The mouth sores can be easily treated with a visit to the dentist or a physician. If you are having a mouth sore that is persistent even after treatment for over a period of two weeks, then the person is having a high chance of suffering from oral cancer.

There are other signs of the disease too. Some people who suffer from oral cancer will have a lump or a mass that is present in the area between the mouth and the neck. Many people have this lump in the neck itself and others might have the mass growing inside their mouth.

A person who is having no other signs of other diseases, but is having problems in swallowing can also be suffering from oral cancer, though just the inability to chew or swallow may be due to other reasons. The other symptoms of oral cancer could include those like the inability to speak. Some people who have the associated nerve injury could also have a loss of sensation of the parts of the mouth.

Though these are the common signs that are associated with oral cancer, there are other people who seem asymptomatic for a long time and hen have one or more of these problems that could be diagnosed as cancer. Any sore or a wound that is not healing should be identified and tracked carefully as it could mean oral cancer. Other than this, the presence of a mass is another sign of oral cancer and needs to be treated accordingly.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care Tagged With: Cancer, Mouth ulcer, Oral Cancer

Oral Examination In Prevention Of Oral Cancer

A person who wants to prevent oral cancer should try to get a regular examination of the mouth done by a dentist. This will help in the early identification of the disease. The need for the mouth examination is that if it is identified that the person is suffering from oral cancer, then early treatment can be initiated.

Early identification of a disease, treatment and also preventive aspects are the primary methods of overcoming this dangerous disease condition. The oral examination is the best method that can be used to identify the disease. The various methods and steps that are used in the oral examination are listed.

All the dental implants need to be removed first as they might hinder the examination process. The dentist may try to use a gloved hand to feel the various parts of the oral cavity for presence of mass lesions that could signify the presence of oral cancer. Other than the examination of the sides of the mouth, the dentist will also look on the areas like the face, lips, cheeks and the neck as these are the areas where oral cancer are commonly seen.

The tongue is another important part of the oral cavity that should be checked for abnormalities. The dentist will look to see if the tongue is discolored or has any sores or mass lesions. The floor of the mouth and the roof of the mouth also need to be examined as these are also areas where the oral cancer can commonly occur.

Any person who is at a high risk of having oral cancer should make it a point that they meet the dentist very often as this will help in preventing the occurrence of cancer. Even if cancer is diagnosed in these examinations, it can be treated early and completely cured, if it is identified as early as possible.

Filed Under: Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care, Rehab Tagged With: Cancer, Dentistry, Oral Cancer

Diagnostic Procedures Used To Identify Oral Cancer

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Oral cancer is a common problem in certain groups of people. It is very common in people who smoke or are alcoholics. Those who do not take proper care of their mouth and oral hygiene can also suffer from oral cancer.
Diagnosis of the oral cancer is a very important method of making sure that the person is treated early. Early treatment of any cancer will increase the prognosis and also the chances of a complete cure increase with early diagnosis.

There are various methods that can be used to diagnose oral cancer. The common methods that can help in the diagnosis include the methods like clinical examination. This is also the first step that is taken in the process of identification of the oral cancer. A person who is suspected to have oral cancer should meet the Physician who will do an examination that includes clinically checking for the presence of any sores, non healing wounds and also for the presence of any tissue or mass in the mouth.

If it is found to have some problem in the clinical examination, then the next step is resorted to. In this step, the person who is suspected to have oral cancer is asked to undergo a series of tests. The first step will also be the one in which the biopsy of the lesion is tested. A biopsy can be an incision one in which an incision is made and the tissue is gathered from that area. Other than the incision biopsy, there could also be other kinds of biopsies undertaken like the brush biopsy or the use of a syringe to remove tissues for testing. Biopsies are the confirmatory tests for the identification of oral cancer. If a person is diagnosed to be suffering from oral cancer, immediate steps need to be taken to treat the condition.

Filed Under: Oral Cancer, Oral Health Care, Rehab Tagged With: Biopsy, Cancer, Oral Cancer