Cancer is never an easy thing to come to terms with in Epping, or anywhere, and as much research and money is pumped into it, it never seems to go away- just as it seems it is beaten in one part of the body, it rears its ugly head in another part. But one thing is a ‘given’ when it comes to this disease, catch it early, and the more the chance you have of beating it. This applies to oral cancer too, for this is on the increase throughout the country; regular visits to the dentist to discuss any problems you may have, can be diagnosed very quickly nowadays. Most cancers that arise in the mouth can be traced back to poor oral hygiene, bad diet and stress- all of the causes that weaken the immune system and leave the body vulnerable to attack. In the mouth, bad breath, ulcers gum disease and sore throats can indicate something is wrong, which calls for a visit to the dentist. There, you can have blood tests, x-rays, cell analysis and biopsy’s to analyse any problems. If the results come back positive, then by being part of the process, you truly prepare yourself for the fight that is to come your way. Successes in cancer rely on the spirit of the individual’s who are about to undergo the treatment, and the treatments can be quite severe- from physical surgery to radio and chemotherapy. However, before it even gets to this stage, you can inform yourself of the dangers that are out there, avoid the pitfalls and change your life- any dentist will advise you so that you can lead a happy and healthy life. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.
If you were told that by taking just two or three minutes of your time every six months you could save your life, you would almost certainly do it. This is the deal we are offered when it comes to checking for oral cancer yet so many of us are too busy or forgetful to go to the dentist for a check up every six months. As well as checking the health of your teeth, your Bristol dentist will also carry out a small oral cancer examination. This involves checking all the soft tissue areas in the mouth such as the lips, cheek lining, tongue and throat for signs and symptoms of the disease. This is one of the most sure-fire ways of catching oral cancer in its early stages, which could make all the difference in the world.
Oral cancer is a very nasty form of the disease. About 300,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year across the world, with one person dying every hour from the disease in the US alone. If not caught sufficiently early, oral cancer can be deadly. However, if caught in its early stages, oral cancer is very treatable with patients having a greater than 80 per cent chance of beating the disease.
There are several high risk factors that affect your chances of contracting oral cancer. Smokers and drinkers are at a much greater risk, especially if they do both simultaneously. Men are also more at risk than women, especially men over the age of fifty. Although it is important to remember that you are still at risk form oral cancer even if none of the risk factors apply to you and should still always get checked regularly.
If you show any of the signs of oral cancer such as small red or white sores in the mouth, unexplained bleeding in the mouth or sudden weight loss then make an appointment to see a Bristol dentist immediately, and even if you show no signs of the disease, remember how important a check up could be for you.
One in three of us will develop cancer at some point in out lives so it is important that we are all aware of the signs and symptoms to enable early treatment. When it comes to cancer, the best hope you really have of overcoming the disease is catching it as early as possible. This is especially true of oral cancer, which has an eighty per cent survival rate when caught and treated in its early stages. If the disease is not detected early enough it may well be fatal.
Oral cancer includes any cancer of the lips, tongue, cheek lining and throat. It manifests itself as small red, white or blotchy patches, which are sore but don’t disappear naturally after a couple of weeks. There are a number of other symptoms, which include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, pain in the neck, face and shoulders and a sudden weight loss.
One of the best ways to beat oral cancer is to have your mouth regularly examined by a Bristol dentist. Dental check up appointments are advised every six months as routine but if you are in one of the high risk groups it may be advisable to pay more regular visits. The high risk factors include being male and over fifty, with smokers and drinkers (especially both in tandem) being very susceptible.
If you think you are at a high risk of oral cancer or are experiencing any unusual activity in your mouth then make an appointment to see a Bristol dentist as soon as possible. It might just be the best decision you ever make.
Cancer is usually defined as the uncontrollable growth of cells that destroy surrounding tissue. Oral cancer includes any cancer found in the oral cavity including the lips, throat and tongue. It can be a very aggressive form of the disease so early detection is vital to successful treatment.
Men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as women, particularly men over the age of 45. Other high risk factors include people who are heavy drinkers and smokers. In fact smokers are a massive 600 times more likely to suffer from the condition as non-smokers. There are strong links between alcohol consumption and oral cancer, especially for those consuming more than the recommended weekly amount. However, it is important to remember that oral cancer can strike at any time to anyone, even the most abstemious of people, so never be complacent.
The signs of oral cancer are usually small white or red sores in the mouth that will not disappear on their own after two weeks or so. Similar to mouth ulcers, the sores are sensitive to hot and cold food and drink and can be very painful. Re-occurring sores could also be a sign. Other symptoms include sudden and unexplained weight loss and bleeding from the gums.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or have any unexplained soreness in the mouth make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. A Weston-super-Mare dentist will be able to take a swab biopsy of any suspicious looking sores and is trained to spot the early signs of oral cancer. Patients who receive early treatment for oral cancer have a greater than 80 per cent chance of making a full recovery so you have no time to waste.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Cancer is usually defined as the uncontrollable growth of cells that destroy surrounding tissue. Oral cancer includes any cancer found in the oral cavity including the lips, throat and tongue. It can be a very aggressive form of the disease so early detection is vital to successful treatment.
Men are twice as likely to develop oral cancer as women, particularly men over the age of 45. Other high risk factors include people who are heavy drinkers and smokers. In fact smokers are a massive 600 times more likely to suffer from the condition as non-smokers. There are strong links between alcohol consumption and oral cancer, especially for those consuming more than the recommended weekly amount. However, it is important to remember that oral cancer can strike at any time to anyone, even the most abstemious of people, so never be complacent.
The signs of oral cancer are usually small white or red sores in the mouth that will not disappear on their own after two weeks or so. Similar to mouth ulcers, the sores are sensitive to hot and cold food and drink and can be very painful. Re-occurring sores could also be a sign. Other symptoms include sudden and unexplained weight loss and bleeding from the gums.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or have any unexplained soreness in the mouth make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. A Weston-super-Mare dentist will be able to take a swab biopsy of any suspicious looking sores and is trained to spot the early signs of oral cancer. Patients who receive early treatment for oral cancer have a greater than 80 per cent chance of making a full recovery so you have no time to waste.
