ORAL cancer is the sixth most common form of cancer in the world, with a five-year survival rate of less than 50 per cent. For April, in observance of Oral Cancer Awareness month, it is recommended that patients visit their dentist every six months for a dental exam.Next week: Chemicals, drugs and oral cancerDr Sharon Robinson DDS has offices at the Dental Place Cosmetix Spa located at Shop #5, Winchester Business Centre, 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10. She is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica School of Oral Health Sciences. Dr Robinson may be contacted at 630-4710.

Dental exams do not only help to decrease your risk of oral diseases, such as cavities and gum disease, but they also may help to diagnose potentially life-threatening medical conditions, such as oral cancer. In many cases, however, dentists can identify its early signs and symptoms.

Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it can go unnoticed by patients, as it frequently prospers without producing any pain or symptoms. It can go undetected until it has already metastasized (spread) to another location. If it goes undetected and untreated in its early stages, oral cancer can be deadly.

Checking for oral cancer

Oral cancer typically presents itself as an ulcer, red patch or white lesion. Checking for oral cancer is quick and painless.

Your dentist will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in the neck, throat, cheeks, and mouth, and look for any sores or discolouration. The first line of defence against oral cancer is early detection. When found at an early stage of development that is stages l and ll, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 per cent survival rate.

The problem is that majority of oral cancers are found in the late stages, that is stages IIl and lV, resulting in a mortality rate of 43 per cent at a five-year diagnosis.

Cause of oral cancer

Scientists are not sure of the exact cause of oral cancer. However, risk factors include tobacco and alcohol use, as well as factors that cannot be controlled, such as: age, with oral cancer being on the rise among the younger population, that is those under 45; gender, as oral cancer strikes men twice as often as it does women; and race, oral cancer occurs twice as frequently in blacks than whites.

Increasingly, the Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV16) is a recognised cause of cancer in the oropharynx (tonsils) and base of the tongue. The HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. This makes sexual activity a serious new risk factor for oral cancer.

In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily, scheduling two visits with your general dentist each year helps to ensure that any concerns are caught early.

If you have noticed any bump, ulcer, or discolouration of the tongue or mouth, please contact your dentist immediately to schedule an oral cancer screening.

I will be performing free oral cancer screenings during the month of April. Call my office at 630-4710 to schedule an appointment.