Silent Killer: Oral Cancer Awareness

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The shadow of oral cancer looms larger than most realize. Despite its prevalence worldwide, this potentially devastating disease often escapes public awareness until it's reached advanced stages. During Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we're shedding light on three critical facts everyone should know about this silent threat.

Early detection truly saves lives when it comes to oral cancer. Most cases are discovered late, after the disease has begun aggressively destroying oral tissues and spreading to surrounding structures. The most common location? Under your tongue. Any unusual changes in this area demand immediate professional attention – this isn't something to postpone or ignore like a minor toothache. The difference between early and late detection can mean the difference between a simple procedure and extensive facial reconstruction affecting your ability to speak and eat.

Your lifestyle choices significantly impact your risk profile. Tobacco use in any form dramatically increases your chances of developing oral cancer, as does heavy alcohol consumption. Perhaps most surprising is the connection between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oral cancer, particularly among younger adults with no history of smoking. Warning signs that should never be ignored include unhealed mouth sores, persistent lumps, or hoarseness lasting more than two weeks. Many communities offer free screening events through hospitals and dental schools – the Brooklyn Hospital Center conducts weekend outreach providing these vital services.

Even without regular dental care, you can advocate for your own health through regular self-examinations. Remember that oral health transcends mere dental hygiene – it's fundamentally connected to your overall wellbeing and quality of life. When was your last oral cancer screening? If it's been more than a year, it's time to schedule one. Your vigilance today could save your life tomorrow.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month.
It is time for an oral healthbreak, since we know oral cancer
is prevalent in the world, butit's not really a well-known
disease.
I wanted to go over threeimportant facts about oral

(00:22):
cancer.
So the first one is earlydetection can save lives.
Early detection can save liveswith oral cancer.
So most oral cancers are foundlate.
Most of them are found whenthey are, you know, destroying
your oral cavity, your tongue,your throat.
They spread.
You have to get big areas ofyour face resected because it's

(00:46):
too aggressive, the earlier thatyou can find these signs of
oral cancer.
And the most common spot tofind an oral cancerous lesion is
under your tongue.
So if you notice somethingstrange under your tongue, go
have it checked out immediately.
Like, don't be one of thosepeople like, when you get a
cavity, you just let it go untilit stops hurting and they need

(01:07):
an extraction.
This is something you can'tplay with because this is deadly
, life-threatening.
If you have somethingsuspicious under your tongue or
even anywhere in your mouth,have it checked out by a dentist
, or go to the hospital if youdon't have a dentist.
But I encourage you to getthese regular screenings as
often as possible hospital ifyou don't have a dentist.
But I encourage you to getthese regular screenings as
often as possible, especially ifyou are doing tobacco or

(01:32):
alcohol.
Many cities, especially in NewYork City, at the Brooklyn
Hospital Center, we would dooutreach on Saturdays and
different times to do free oralcancer screening.
So if you can find an area or afacility, a school, a hospital
in your town or city that doesthese outreach events, make sure

(01:53):
you go and have oral cancerscreening so you can stay in the
know.
Number two tobacco and alcoholincrease your risk of oral
cancer.
So the more you drink, the moreyou smoke tobacco, you're going
to have a higher risk ofdeveloping this horrendous
disease.
Another thing that causes oralcancer is human papillomavirus.

(02:17):
So this is related to oralcancer, especially in young
adults, even non-smoking adults.
You want to really make sureyou are aware of that fact.
So if you have HPV, this canincrease your risk of oral
cancer.
Number three unhealed mouthsores, lumps and hoarseness

(02:37):
lasting more than two weeks.
You want to get it checked out.
So if you have hoarseness goingon, your throat is sore.
If you have some lumps in youron, your throat is sore.
If you have some lumps in yourmouth that just haven't went
away, because most of the timethese lumps are self-eliminating
, meaning that they go away ontheir own, like canker sores.
Those sometimes go away ontheir own, unless they're more
severe.
Go get it checked out ASAP,save your life.

(03:00):
Self-checks matter Even if youdon't have a dentist.
Check out your mouth, seewhat's going on in there and be
your own health advocate.
So, as a dentist with my tribe,it's more than just about
showing up on here.
Being consistent, I definitelywant to implement the oral
health factor.
I want my tribe to know thatoral health isn't just about
teeth.

(03:20):
It's about knowing how to takecare of your teeth and it's
about total health and earlydetection of any diseases,
cavities and especially thingslike cancer, oral cancer.