ORAL CANCER RISK
 

Approximately 30,000 individuals are diagnosed each year with oral cancer (cancer of the mouth and throat), and about 7,000 will die from it. Although people who smoke and/or drink alcohol are at increased risk, the number of new cases of oral cancer is rising each year among women, young people and non-smokers. The most common sites of oral cancer are the tongue and the floor of the mouth (area below tongue).

Surviving oral cancer five years or more after diagnosis depends on many factors, including:

• Stage of oral cancer at diagnosis
• Age at diagnosis
• Location of cancer (anatomical site)

If diagnosed early (when the cancer is localized), the survival rate is typically higher.
There are also differences in survival by race, gender and marital status.

PREVENTING ORAL CANCER

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

To help prevent oral cancer,

• Eat adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables
• Avoid or limit drinking alcoholic beverages
• Avoid or limit use of tobacco products
• Practice good oral hygiene
• Complete oral cancer self-exam (click here to learn how)
• Visit your dentist’s office for oral cancer screenings at least once a year

ORAL CANCER TREATMENT

Treating oral cancer often requires:

• Surgical management
o Removal of the malignancy
o Reconstruction and functional restoration
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy

The individual’s quality of life after oral cancer treatment is affected, depending on the extent and location of the tumor, and whether or not treatment involves radiation and/or chemotherapy.