What You Should Know About Oral Cancer Screening Oregon

By Karina Frost


Cancer of the mouth is a very common and yet very serious disease. There are several causes of it, and some people are more at risk than others, for instance, those who are smokers. To protect yourself from this disease, it may be a good idea to check into getting oral cancer screening oregon.

There are different histologic types of this disease. The first type is the teratoma. The second type is adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands. The third type is tonsillar lymphoma or melanoma from mucosa cells. Approximately ninety percent of these diseases are squamous cell carcinomas. These are carcinomas that originate in the mouth tissues or lips.

The disease often manifests as a non-healing sore or ulcer. This basically means an ulcer that is showing no signs of healing after about two weeks. In the US, this disease accounts for nearly eight percent of all malignant cancers. Men tend to be affected twice as often as women do, especially men that are older than sixty.

If you notice a skin lesion, ulcer or lump that does not heal in two weeks, this could be a sign of the disease. Some of the symptoms to look for is a lump on the tongue, the lip, or some other area of the mouth. It is usually small and pale colored, but it can also show as a dark or discolored bump or sore. Initially, the bump may be painless, but this may not always be the case.

It is a good idea to have this screening test done at least once a year. If there is anything suspicious, the doctor will order special tests, such as an x-ray, a CT scan or an MRI. The doctor may also take a tissue biopsy for further testing. This testing will normally be done in a lab.

Smoking and using tobacco are associated with approximately seventy-five percent of all cases of the disease. This is because smoking causes the mucous membranes in your mouth to become irritated by the heat caused by cigarettes, pipes and cigars. Tobacco has more than sixty carcinogens. The combustion of these carcinogens by smoking and the by-products it creates is the main method of disease contraction. Also, using chewing tobacco and snuff can cause irritation as well when the tobacco or snuff comes in contact with the mucous membranes in your mouth.

Although tobacco is a significant risk factor, some studies suggest that alcohol based mouthwashes may also pose certain risks. Some scientists claimed that constantly exposing the mouth to these alcohol-based rinses could lead to a greater increase in the risk of developing oral cancer, even if the user does not smoke or drink alcohol.

You should understand that nearly seventy-five percent of these cancers are associated with certain behaviors that can be modified over time, such as smoking tobacco and too much alcohol consumption. Other factors such as poor oral hygiene and irritation to the gums caused by badly fitted dentures are also contributors. Having poor nutrition and chronic infections from bacteria or viruses are also red flags. However, if oral cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, medical treatment will generally be effective with the disease.




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