High mortality rate due to discovery late in development
by Jason S. Kasarsky, DDS
Suffice to say, my days are long and often complex as I strive to provide the finest dental care possible for my patients. Still, I take time to read and study. And the number one subject I keep abreast of is oral cancer.
Rates of occurrence in the United States are sobering. This year 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer. Of this number over 8,000 will die. This means oral cancer kills about one person every hour. Further, of the 34,000 diagnosed individuals this year only half with live 5 years. Thus, the disease spreads quickly.
These grim statistics have not really improved in decades. What we all need to realize is that the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkins’ disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma). Oral cancer most often occurs in people over the age of 40 and affects twice as many men as women.
Why is the death rate associated with oral cancer so high? Because it is discovered late in its development. At this point the cancer has metastasized to another location in the body. This is most likely the lymph nodes of the neck. At this stage, the prognosis is significantly worse than when it is caught in a localized area.
Oral cancer is a dangerous disease that is difficult to treat. It has a high risk of producing second primary tumors. This means that patients who survive their initial bout with the disease have a 20 times higher risk of developing a second cancer. Patients remain at heightened risk of a reoccurrence of oral cancer for 5 to 10 years. Although there are several types of oral cancers, about 90% are squamous cell carcinomas.
Oral cancer forms in any part of the mouth or throat. Most oral cancers begin in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth. Anyone can get oral cancer, but the risk is higher if you are male, over age 40, and use tobacco or alcohol. Symptoms of oral cancer include:
White or red patches in the mouth A mouth sore that doesn't heal Bleeding in the mouth Loose teeth Problems or pain with swallowing A lump in your neck An earache
Now for the good news. Most oral cancer is preventable. 75% of oral cancers are related to tobacco use, alcohol use, or use of both substances together. Using both tobacco and alcohol puts you at much greater risk than using either substance alone. So...let’s be clear. You can significantly reduce your risk of developing oral cancer by not using tobacco products. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
I cannot stress this enough. Oral cancer is with us and our treatment options at this point are not budging the grim mortality statistics. Our first line of defense is prevention -- and this includes visiting your dentist regularly. It is important to find oral cancer as early as possible when it can be treated. An oral cancer exam is painless and quick; I routinely perform these exams on all my patients. Moreover, I am adding a new technology to my practice called the VELscope System. This is cutting-edge technology based on the direct visualization of human tissue to accurately identify tissue changes at and below the surface before they become apparent under white light examination.
I ask you to keep this in mind. Oral cancer is serious. Pay attention to your oral health and maintain a schedule of regular dental checkups.
Dr. Jason Kasarsky practices dentistry in New York City (212-838-8230). His prac-tice was one of the first in Manhattan to use an extensive array of lasers in daily practice. Dr. Kasarsky is founder of the New York City Center for Sedation Denti-stry. He is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry and a member of numerous professional organizations including American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, American Academy of Laser Dentistry, the American Dental Association -- and the Crown Council, a presti-gious alliance of leading-edge dental teams throughout North America. On the cutting edge of the latest advances in oral care, Dr. Kasarsky has long advocated total wellness as a means of achieving optimum oral health.
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