About Oral Cancer

What is oral cancer? Oral cancer is a result of abnormal cell changes in your mouth.

Who can get oral cancer? Oral cancer is most common in men, African Americans, Native Americans, adults over age 40, smokers, and heavy alcohol drinkers. However, one out of four cases occur in non-smokers and people under age 30. Other causes include viral infection, too much sun exposure to the lips, and poor diet.

What are the symptoms? One of the real dangers of oral cancer is that in its earliest stages you may not be able to see the cancer yourself. The good news is that your dentist can!

Symptoms of oral cancer include:

• A sore which does not heal
• A lump in the mouth or neck
• Painful or difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Voice hoarseness which lasts for a long time
• Numbness in the mouth region
• White or red patches that appear on the gum, cheeks, or under the tongue

IMPORTANT: If you experience any of the above symptoms for longer than 10 days, it is vital that you get checked as soon as possible.

How can I reduce the risk of oral cancer?
To lower your chances of getting oral cancer it is important that you do the following:

• Stop smoking or chewing tobacco
• Stop or reduce alcohol consumption
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Ask your healthcare provider to check for oral cancer

What happens if I get oral cancer? When oral cancer is caught early, the chance of a complete cure is high. However, when it is detected in the later stages, oral cancer can be devastating. Treatments for later stages of oral cancer may include: chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

Can I die from oral cancer? Yes. If not caught early, oral cancer has a very high death rate.

Where can I get an oral cancer check-up? The Detroit Oral Cancer Prevention Project is giving free & painless check-ups to all Detroiters.

To schedule an appointment:

Call 1.877.7CHECKED (1.877.724.3253) Get checked before it’s too late!