Rutherford Dental Implants News: Oral Cancer Awareness, Part 3

By Author: Jack De Richards
Total Articles: 98
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Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series in which we speak to Bridgeport dental implants surgeons about oral cancer in an attempt to spread awareness of this terrible disease. In 2013, 42,000 new oral cancer cases were diagnosed and of the thousands of Americans living with this disease, 8,000 perished.

The prognosis? Only 57% of these newly identified cases will be alive in 5 years. In the absence of early detection and prompt treatment, oral cancer is a literal death-sentence and a terrible way to die. This is why it’s so important for Connecticut residents, and those from elsewhere in the USA, to recognize the symptoms and know when they’re at a greater risk.

In Part 2, we provided an overview of the symptoms of oral cancer and now, in this installment, we shall look at the risk factors…

What Are The Risk Factors for Oral Cancer?

You may be at a greater risk for developing oral cancer if one or more of the following applies to you:

You’re ...
... a smoker: Whether it’s cigarettes, pipes or cigars, smoking leaves you six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers.

You use smokeless tobacco products: “Chewing tobacco or snuff can also lead to a greater risk of oral cancer,” warns a dental implant surgeon near Bridgeport.

You drink a lot of alcohol: The excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages irritates the soft tissues in the oral cavity, causing chronic inflammation, a greater risk of gum disease and oral cancer. In fact, drinking excessively can leave you six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-drinkers.

You have a family history of cancer: A genetic predisposition to cancer can leave you in a greater risk bracket. Best keep an eye out for any abnormalities.

You smoke marijuana: This causes the same kind of damage that cigarette smoking does.

You have a poor diet: Bad oral health is linked to a diet that is high in sugar and starchy foods. Combine this with poor oral hygiene and habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse and you could very well be an oral cancer case waiting to happen.

Excessive sun exposure can lead to the development of lip cancer.

Oral Cancer and the Human Papilloma Virus

“Most oral cancers affect people who don’t look after their teeth; and who smoke and abuse alcohol,” say Connecticut dentists. “However, this is not to say that it doesn’t affect those who lead a healthy lifestyle. Roughly 25% of oral cancer cases are people that only drink occasionally and don’t smoke at all. In these cases, it is believed that the viral infections caused by HPV – the Human Papilloma Virus – could very well be the cause.”

“36% of oral cancer patients in Bridgeport also carry HPV, which is the same virus behind the majority of cervical cancer cases. In fact, people with this viral infection are almost 15 times more likely to develop oral cancer than those without. The good news – yes there is some – is that the oral cancers caused by HPV tend to be at a lower risk of developing “offshoot” or secondary cancer and they also tend to be at a lower risk of succumbing to illnesses, such as lung disease and cardiovascular disease,” explain Rutherford dental implant surgeons.

Oral Cancer Survival Rates

Stage 1: 80% - 85% chance of survival.
Stage 2: 60% - 75% chance of survival.
Stage 3 35% - 66% chance of survival.
Stage 4: 15% - 30% chance of survival.

For all stages, the chance of survival after five years is 56% and after 10 years, 41%.

Stay Tuned for Part 4:

To read more about oral cancer and how it’s diagnosed, treated and best prevented, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of our experienced panel of Connecticut dentists.

Author Bio:

Jack De Richards works with renowned Dentists in New Jersey. He has the habit of writing online regarding oral health issues & in this article he continues to share insights on Oral Cancer Awareness.