Have you ever read a story that could save your life? Well this just might be one of them.

Oral cancer is not one of the more common cancers, but it is a very deadly one. There are over 30,000 cases of oral cancer in the US every year. Compared to more than 170,000 cases of lung cancer, it seems small, but it is still significant. 2/3 of those cases end up being discovered when they are stage 3 or stage 4 which are the worst 2 stages of cancer. At these stages, the survival rates can be very low, even below 50%. Early detection is the key to surviving oral cancer. A simple 2 minute exam from your dentist or trained medical professional can find early signs. If your dentist is not giving you this exam, you either need to ask for it or find someone else who will. It is one of the most important parts of the dental exam.

Recently I had a patient with a long history of smoking come in to see me. During his oral cancer screening I found something unusual on his tongue. I sent him to a specialist to have the growth removed. He was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily, we caught it in stage 1 and he was given a 95% chance of survival. Although he has to endure radiation therapy, he is so grateful that we caught it when we did.

The causes of oral cancer vary widely, but smoking and tobacco use are linked to about 75% of all cases. Any type of smoking can increase your risk of getting oral cancer be it banana leaves or Cuban cigars. Alcohol use is also associated with oral cancer, especially when mixed with smoking. Asian cultures use the betel nut for different creations that they chew on. It is also associated with oral cancer. Some oral cancers are actually transported from cancers in other areas of the body.

There are an increasing number of people without any of these risk factors who are getting oral cancer. It is thought that some of these types may be associated with the human papilloma virus, which can be sexually transmitted.

In addition to your yearly oral cancer screening, you can watch for oral cancer on your own. Discolorations in the mouth like reds, whites and blues, especially if they are changing over time or you can't remember traumatizing the area somehow should be checked out. Also bumps and lumps should be checked out, especially if they are growing or hurting. Look for these discolorations or changes in your own mouth. If there is something you're worried about, see your dentist. It's always better to be safe than sorry.