Oral Cancer: Serious Health Threat to Minority Men
By Emile C. Commedore, MD, JD
Director of the Office of Minority Health within the Florida Department of Health. Sources: FL Div. of Oral Health, National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention CDC NHANES III, AHRQ/MEPS analysis
Posted: 4:49p.m .est, April 19, 2008

 

 

This year more than 20, 000 American men will be diagnosed with oral (mouth) cancer. Over 5,000 of men will die of the disease. Oral cancer occurs twice as often in men than women. African American and Native American men have a significantly higher incidence rate than whites, and their death rates are two times higher.

 

Oral cancer is part of a group of cancers called head and neck cancers (medical term is oral and pharyngeal cancer). Oral cancer can develop in any part of the mouth (oral cavity). Most oral cancers begin in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth. Almost all oral cancers begin in the cells that cover the surfaces of the mouth, tongue, and lips.

 

Tobacco use accounts for most oral cancers. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing tobacco and dipping snuff are all linked to oral cancer. Long time heavy smokers are at the greatest risk. The risk is also higher for tobacco users who drink alcohol heavily.

 

People who drink alcohol are more likely to develop oral cancer than people who don’t drink. The risk rises with the amount of alcohol that a person consumes. Three out of four oral cancers occur in people who use either alcohol or tobacco or both alcohol and tobacco.

 

Early detection is the key to preventing oral cancer. Do the following self-examination:

 

1	Look at the inside of your upper and lower lips for sores or color changes. Feel for lumps, bumps or changes in texture.
2	Look at the inside of your cheek for red, white or dark patches. Check for any lumps or bumps by squeezing your cheek with your thumb on the outside and your index finger on the inside.
3	Stick out your tongue and look at the top of color and texture changes. Look at the sides of the tongue for color changes or swellings. Place the tongue on the roof of your mouth and examine the floor of the mouth and underside of the tongue for color changes or swelling.

 

Discuss anything out of the ordinary with a dentist or healthcare professional. Pay particular attention to anything that does not go away in two weeks, or has recently changed. Ask a dentist or health care professional about an exam for oral and neck cancer.

 

Black men have the highest rates of oral cancers of any other group in the U.S. and the lowest survival. One of the goals of Florida’s Minority Health Month this April is to raise awareness that oral cancer is preventable and treatable with early detection.

 

________________________ Related Make Sure Your Child Has a Healthy Mouth.   By Emile C. Commedore, MD, JD Director of the Office of Minority Health within the Florida Department of Health. Sources: FL Div. of Oral Health, National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention CDC NHANES III, AHRQ/MEPS analysis   ________________________