Oral cancer screenings are imperative to a healthy life. As with most cancer types, the best treatment outcomes are a result of early detection. The success of your treatments depends almost wholly on early diagnosis.
Types of Oral Cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma account for more than 90% of oral cancers. Your throat and mouth are already lined with squamous cells. These cells are flat and through a microscope look like scales. Squamous cell carcinoma means that some of your squamous cells are abnormal in shape or size.
Verrucous carcinoma account for about 5% of oral cavity tumors. These tumors also come from and are made up of squamous cells. This is a slow-growing cancer but very important to diagnose as early as possible.
This type of oral cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but can invade the tissue surrounding the site of origin. – The Oral Cancer Foundation.
There are many types of oral cancers that can be diagnosed by your dentist. Each type will require a different individualized treatment. No two cases are going to be the same. Oral cancers are typically grouped with head and neck cancers. This is because they are also often linked. Many oral cancers can spread quickly.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Because of the various amounts of possible oral cancer types, the symptoms can also be just as varied. If you notice a pain in or around your mouth that doesn’t go away for too many days in a row, or you feel like you have cold symptoms (especially if this is also paired with oral pain), you need to contact your dentist and doctor immediately.
Granted it can be difficult to say which symptoms are surely going to correlate with specific oral cancer types, here are some common symptoms to keep in mind if you’re concerned about the possibility of oral cancer. If you’re truly concerned, an oral cancer screening at your dentist’s office is the best course of action.
More Symptoms:
Sores inside your mouth- Constant pain that won’t go away
- A lump in your cheek
- A white or red coloring on your gums, tongue, or lining of your mouth
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Teeth getting looser
- Voice changes
- A lump in your neck
- Halitosis
Eagle Rock Dental Care offers Idaho Falls residences peace of mind by performing these screenings. Why not take advantage of a professional’s opinion if it’s made available to you? Give us a call today.
Idaho Falls: (208) 523-5400
Rexburg: (208) 359-2224
Arco: (208) 527-3472
