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Cover Story: Summer Health Myths
Debunking old wives tales on sunburns, swimming and more

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Health News

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Why you need to wear shades
Cheap sunglasses may cost you less, but are they just as likely to protect against the effects of harmful UV rays as expensive sunglasses?

Get a S.T.A.R.T. on your headaches
The National Headache Foundation offers headache sufferers five easy-to-remember strategies for effective headache management and treatment:

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Speack Up: The Truth about Oral Cancer

Dear Editor,

Baseball great, Babe Ruth
Long-time actress, Lana Turner
Father of modern psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud

Each of these famous people has something in common. They shared a fatal battle with oral cancer.

We seem to think that things like oral cancer can抰 happen to celebrities, and we don't think it could ever happen to us either. The unfortunate truth is that oral cancer can happen to anyone at any time.

Oral cancer is typically represented by red, white or discolored lesions, patches or lumps in or around the mouth. It often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot, and is most often painless in its early stages. As these cells spread and destroy healthy oral tissue, the lesions or lumps become more painful. Oral cancer can affect any area of the oral cavity including the lips, gum tissue, cheek lining or tongue.

More than 35,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. The majority of those diagnosed will have one or more major risk factors, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption or excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

What are the symptoms of oral cancer?

• A sore that persists longer than two weeks
• A swelling, growth or sore spot in or around the mouth or neck
• White or red patches in the mouth or on the lips
• Repeated bleeding from the mouth or throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Persistent hoarseness

Patients should contact their dentist immediately if any of these warning signs are noticed.

How can we try to prevent oral cancer?

• Avoid all types of tobacco products
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables in a nutrient-rich diet
• Regularly check your mouth for changes in appearance
• See your dentist for an oral cancer screening and checkup at least every six months

Although the majority of those diagnosed with oral cancer do present risk factors, 25 percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer have none.

One of the main risks of oral cancer is that it is typically goes undetected for quite some time. Many oral cancer lesions cannot be seen with the naked eye, and most are not unpleasant or uncomfortable until later stages when the survival rate is dramatically lower.

The good news about oral cancer is that when it is detected early enough it is actually 90 percent curable. Unfortunately, 70 percent of cancers are diagnosed in the late stages. This makes regular dental visits and routine screenings that much more important.

ViziLite Plus, a new FDA-approved technology for oral cancer screening combines a special mouth rinse and glow stick that illuminates irregular cells in the mouth. This system can detect the smallest lesions, even cells on the pathway to cancer that dentists may not be able to see with the naked eye alone.

I have made it a standard part of care at my clinic. When I detect a suspicious area with ViziLite Plus, I refer patients to an oral surgeon for a biopsy, confident to have detected it as early as possible.

This simple, painless, non-invasive screening takes only a few minutes to perform, and it can detect irregular cells early enough to actually save lives.

A more recent oral cancer diagnosis for Roger Ebert, one of the most recognized movie reviewers in the nation, came with a positive outlook. Thanks to early detection, he completed eight weeks of radiation treatment for cancer detected in a salivary gland in 2003. His cancer was forced into remission.

Even more recently, Zenk Pinter, the Emmy-nominated actress on As The World Turns since 1978, was diagnosed with oral cancer. She completed both radiation treatments and surgery to remove a cancerous area from her tongue. She has since made a complete recovery, returned to her daytime television role, and started campaigning to educate people about oral cancer and the importance of early detection.

These are the success stories we can now have with improved technology and screening capabilities. Oral cancer doesn't have to endanger lives.

Avoid tobacco and alcohol products, keep routine dental appointments, and ask for an oral cancer screening today - it can truly save lives!

Otmane Lahlou, DMD
General Dentist
University Place Dental
618-549-0208
www.universityplacedental.com

Sources: Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Oral Cancer Foundation.

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