Oral Cancer Screening Mississauga

Any type of cancer diagnosis can be scary, and unsettling. Unfortunately, many people don’t know about the effects of oral cancer unless they are personally diagnosed with it. Like any other cancer, it can be a traumatic experience, but knowing the symptoms and signs, and what oral cancer can mean to you, or someone who may have it, is important when it comes to getting it treated quickly, and effectively.

While anyone can get oral cancer, it seems to be more prominent in men than women, and a few lifestyle factors also come into play, including a higher degree of risk for those who smoke, have a family history of oral cancer, or people who use tobacco. Excessive alcohol consumption has also been linked to oral cancer. If you do know that you have a family history of the disease, it’s important to decrease smoking and alcohol in your life to help decrease your overall risk.

Symptoms of oral cancer are fairly consistent, and can be anywhere from irritating and annoying, to painful and unsightly. The most common symptoms include:

• Bleeding within the mouth
• Loss of feeling in the mouth/tongue/neck – a feeling of numbness
• Difficulty chewing and swallowing regularly
• Earaches
• Swelling on the lips, or on the gums

These are just a few of the common symptoms, but as you can see, none of them are exceedingly pleasant. If there’s one positive attribute to these painful symptoms, it’s that oral cancer is typically easy to detect, because the symptoms are far from discrete.

Depending on when the cancer is discovered, it may need to be surgically removed, followed by a treatment regimen that can include practices like chemotherapy. Oral cancer symptoms should not be ignored – the sooner it is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can get underway. If you, or someone you know, shows any signs of any of these common symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a dentist immediately.