(215) 677-2401
When you see your dentist every six months for routine cleanings and checkups, they are looking for so much more than can cavities and gum disease. They are keeping their eye out for a variety of abnormalities that could mean that something in your mouth or elsewhere in the body isn’t quite right. One of the things that is always a concern is oral cancer. Read on to learn more about the different stages, prevention methods, and how it can be treated.
The Stages of Oral Cancer
Stage 0
Stage 0, also called “carcinoma in situ,” is the very start of the ora cancer scale. This consists of abnormal cells in the lining of the lips or oral cavity, which have the potential to become cancerous.
Stage I
This is an early stage of cancer. At this point, the tumor is no more than 2 centimeters, and the cancer has not yet reached the lymph nodes.
Stage II
Stage II describes a tumor that is larger than two centimeters, but no more than 4 centimeters. At this point, the cancer has still not reached the lymph nodes.
Stage III
This stage describes cancer that is either larger than 4 centimeters or has spread to a lymph node in the neck.
Stage IV
This is the most advanced stage of mouth cancer. While it can be any size, at this point it has spread to nearby tissue, like the jaw or another part of the oral cavity, the lymph nodes, or a distant part of the body beyond the mouth.
How to Prevent Oral Cancer
Here are a few steps that you can take to reduce your risk of developing oral cancer.
- Don’t use tobacco products
- Eat a healthy diet
- Practice excellent dental hygiene
- Only drink alcohol in moderation
- Limit sun exposure
- Use lip balm containing SPF
- Remove dentures every night and clean them daily
How Is Oral Cancer Treated?
The treatments needed for oral cancer depends on the type, location, and stage. Here are some common treatment methods that have proven effective in the past.
- Surgery: Early-stage oral cancer can often be treated using surgery to remove the tumor or cancerous lymph nodes. Other tissue around the mouth or neck may also be removed.
- Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy involves a doctor consecutively aiming radiation beams at a tumor. For advanced stages, this is usually combined with chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy: This is a treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells. It can be administered orally or intravenously.
- Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy drugs bind to specific proteins on cancer cells and interfere with their growth. This can be effective in both early and advanced stages of oral cancer.
Oral cancer can be very serious, but it is often preventable and treatable when caught in its early stages. In addition to using the preventive tips listed above, don’t forget to schedule your next oral cancer screening with your dentist. Early detection is key for a full recovery.
About the Practice
At Dentex Dental Group, we have a team of skilled dentists serving patients in the Philadelphia community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about oral cancer or to schedule your next screening, visit our website or call (215) 677-3904.