Checking for Cancer in Your Mouth, Head, and Neck
An oral cancer screening is part of our dental exam process here at Murphy Dental in Fort Collins. The screening is typically done as part of our overall dental exam, but can also be done for any patient on an as-needed basis or as an emergency dental appointment.
An oral cancer screening is performed in order to detect any signs of oral cancer at the earliest possible stage. It is recommended to screen for oral cancer on a regular basis to detect cancer or precancerous anomalies in your mouth.
Early detection is key in ensuring the successful treatment of oral cancer. The American Dental Association states that the 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed with oral cancer is approximately 60 percent.
Oral Cancer Screening Process
The oral cancer screening process involves a visual and physical examination of your entire oral cavity and your head/neck. This includes your mouth, lips, tongue, gums, salivary glands, and throat at our Fort Collins dental office.
Our dentist – and hygienist – will look for any signs of cancer or precancerous conditions. They will be looking for lumps, lesions, or persistent sores anywhere in the soft tissue of your mouth and neck.
If we see anything that concerns us, we may recommend further testing.
Possible Symptoms of Oral Cancer
The American Cancer Society has a list of possible signs of oral cancer. Note that these symptoms don’t mean that an individual has oral cancer. The majority of the time, mouth sores aren’t cancerous. You should still contact our dental office or their doctor when experiencing one or more of these symptoms.
Those symptoms include:
- A sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal
- Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
- A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth, or cheek
- A 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 your throat that doesn’t go away
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Trouble moving the jaw or tongue
- Numbness of the tongue, lip, or other areas of the mouth
- Swelling or pain in the jaw
- Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
- Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth
- Voice changes
- A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat
- Weight loss
- Pain in the ear
(source: American Cancer Society)
Pain-Free and Quick Screening
There is no pain associated with an oral cancer screening, we use a bright warm light to look into the mouth at a more cellular level. The entire process takes just a few minutes.
Oral Cancer Prevention and Risks
There are ways that you can maintain your oral health and reduce your oral cancer risk by making some lifestyle changes. Heavy use of alcohol or tobacco can increase your oral cancer risk. Excessive sun exposure can also encourage oral cancer formation on your lips. Some oral cancer cases are attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV).
Oral Cancer Treatment
If our dentist Dr. Murphy identifies anything suspicious that could be indicative of oral cancer, he will devise a treatment plan based on your symptoms.
This could mean coming back for a follow-up exam a few days later, or he may refer you out to an oral surgeon or another type of specialist for further testing and possible treatment.
Treatment for oral cancer will depend on the stage of cancer and the location in your mouth.
Oral cancer is a serious condition, but it is can be treatable when caught early.
