Oral cancer is caused by the growth of abnormal cells inside the mouth, on the gums, salivary glands, throat, lips, and tonsils. In some cases, this causes the appearance of tumors that may be malignant. It is important to know the peculiarities of this type of cancer since it is often asymptomatic in its early stages.
This type of cancer, which generally affects people aged 40 and over, smokers and patients with poor oral hygiene, is becoming more prevalent around the world. In this context, General Dentistry in Mississauga professionals are always fighting oral cancer. In the text that follows, this article informs people even more about this disease by resorting to statistics and prognoses.
1 of 5 will die
49,700 – That’s the number of people in the US in 2017 who, according to the American Cancer Society, was diagnosed with oral cancer. Of these, nearly 10,000 will lose their life. That is a staggering number, especially when it means that one out of every five oral cancer sufferers will die.
45 years and over
Americans in this age range are most at risk of developing oral cancer. Unfortunately, because age is a major risk factor, no one is really safe. That’s why General Dentistry in California MD invites patients to do a regular soft tissue examination of their mouth while visiting their dentist regularly for routine exams and procedures.
8th and 13th rank
Oral cancer is the 8th most frequently type of cancer that is diagnosed among American men. As women are less at risk, this cancer is ranked 13th. According to data recently published in the American Medical Association Journal, the incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal (mouth or pharyngeal) cancers increased from 47% to 74% between 2000 and 2012. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that has been linked to cervical cancer for many years. It is now known that it represents a significant risk factor for oral cancer Mississauga, hence the importance of adopting healthy sexual practices.
80%
This is the survival rate after five years, according to the American Cancer Society, of a patient with stage 1 oral cancer.