Caring For The Oral Cancer Patient

Summary of article: In “Bridging the HPV Knowledge Gap,” Christina Demopoulos and two others talk about the importance of knowledge on HPV and how most patients are unaware of this virus and that is it on the oral health professionals to educate them. This virus is transmitted easily through a small cut or tear in the oral cavity and is associated with a variety of oral lesion, cances, and oropahygnel cancers. The article included a statistic that about 12,000 people between ages 15 and 24 are affected everyday by HPV and its only increasing. HPV causes more than 30,000 cancer cases a year which the average age diagnosis is 62, but ther is arise of cases in the adolescents. With that being said, it is put on oral health professional to discuss the ipmo ratio of HPV with patients, and they should become more familiar with HPV because there is an association between HPV and oropharyngeal cancers. One way to bridge the HPV knowledge gap is to do what NEvada is doing. Nevada has a Immunization program which promotes for better health and they hold a lot of information conferences. Overall,

Tests that examine the mouth and throat are used to help detect, diagnose, and stage oropharyngeal cancer.

Besides staying clear of unhealthy consumption of tobacco and alcohol, it is very important to have an oral examination at least once a year, to catch any newly developed lesions that may have gone unnoticed. The dentist will look for any abnormal lumps and sores and red or white patches. Survival rates are higher when cancerous cells are found at early stages (Cutter). Unfortunately, most oral cancers are not discovered early enough. Once the dentist examines the mouth, the dental hygienist, who cleans the teeth, has the opportunity to re-examine the mouth. It is the hygienist's duty to notice any peculiar areas in the mouth and bring them to the attention of the dentist. Having both the dentist and hygienist examine the mouth adds a cautionary step in the process of oral examination.

No one is immune from the threat of oral cancer, but more often than not, older patients are diagnosed with the disease. Many symptoms—especially those that emerge in less accessible areas of your mouth and throat—are hard to detect on your own, but your dentist can spot the warning signs right away with a thorough screening. Since oral cancer screenings are conducted during each checkup, regular visits are critical to

In the United States alone, an estimated 34,360 people received a diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer in 2007; of these, 7,550 (5,180 men and 2,370 women) died. On average, more than 25% of people who develop oropharyngeal cancer will die of the disease, with only 60% surviving for more than 5 years. In fact, oropharyngeal cancer is as common as leukemia and claims more lives than either melanoma or cervical cancer. Since the mid-1970s, oropharyngeal cancer rates have increased approximately 15%, with significant disparities in some population groups. For instance, oropharyngeal cancer prevalence is significantly higher in males than in females. Prevalence is also higher in Hispanic and black males than it is in white males. The risk of oropharyngeal cancer increases with age, and occurrence is highest in persons older than 50 years and peaks between ages 60 and 70 years. However, there has been a startling 5-fold increase in the incidence of oral cancer in patients younger than 40 years, many of whom have no known risk factors. HPV is associated with 15% to 35% of head and neck cancers worldwide. Fifty percent to 90% of OSCCs in the pharynx, tonsil, and tongue are HPV-positive. Chaturvedi and colleagues investigated the impact of HPV on the

Bladder cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with an incidence rate of about 2.4 times greater in males than females, but with a far worse prognosis in females 1. With multiple risk factors including most importantly smoking1 we will discuss the controversial role played by HPV , a virus proved to be the primary suspect in cervical carcinoma and multiple other carcinomas in the skin and mucous membranes such as head and neck carcinomas 2.

Oral malignant melanoma of the mouth is an extremely rare tumor arising from the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes found in basal layer of oral mucous membrane. Melanocytes are neural crest derived cells that migrate to the skin, mucous membrane and several other sites. It was first described by weber in 1859. Its incidence is estimated to vary widely between 0.2% and 8% of all melanomas and 1.3% of all cancers. Approximately 80% of oral melanomas arise in mucosa of upper jaws in elderly patients with majority occurring on keratinizing mucosa of the palate and alveolar gingivae. Other sites include buccal mucosa, mandibular gingivae, tongue and floor of the

- The article chosen focuses on proper assessment of oral ulceration in the primary care setting to aide in the early diagnosis of oral cancerous ulcerations. Benign oral ulceration may cause by numerous factors ranging acute ulcerations, like trauma (i.e. biting your mucosa), medications, and various infectious agents like (herpiesveridae) (Paleri, V. et. al., 2010). Chronic oral ulceration can develop with persistent irritation, such as dentures. Chronic infections, and medications can be the causative factor to chronic ulcerations (Paleri, V. et. al., 2010). When it comes to Cancerous oral ulcerations can manifest and

Long practiced by oral physicians, or dentists, looking inside the mouth many times revealed diseases such as cancer in the mouth. Today, other diseases are also traceable to the oral regions, and the list seems to grow more evident each day. Let's have a careful look at some of the most prevalent ones listed below.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is an invasive form of head and neck cancer, accounting for 94% of all oral cancers (Bagan et al., 2010). The common etiological factors associated are tobacco and betel quid chewing, human papilloma viral infections and alcohol consumption (Massano et al., 2006). Diagnostic delays have been reported to be an important factor responsible for progression of oral squamous cancers to advanced stages. The average 5-year survival rate for oral squamous cell carcinoma is 50% (Sciubba, 2002). Such invasive cancer is clinically preceded by a premalignant lesion which is associated with high malignant transformation risk.

Most salivary gland tumors are noncancerous (benign). However, cancerous tumors can spread from where it began to other parts of the body (it is called metastasis) through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood

Cigarette smoking not only has a negative effect on respiratory and cardiovascular health, but also has been associated with diabetes, gastrointestinal and thyroid diseases, and almost every other organ system in the body (Johnson & Guthmiller, 2007). Linked to various cancers, smoking is extremely detrimental (Johnson & Guthmiller, 2007). Smoking is also “the major risk factor for periodontitis” (Preshaw et al, 2015). While increasing the prevalence of periodontitis, smoking also has a profound effect on the severity of periodontal disease in individuals (Preshaw et al, 2015). The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) in 2000 found that “41.9% of periodontitis cases in the United States were attributable to current cigarette smoking” (Tomar & Asma, 2000). Smokers have a four times greater chance to be diagnosed with periodontitis (Johnson & Guthmiller, 2007). Indeed, patients who are smokers also do not appear to respond as favourably to periodontal treatment and show a greater risk of refractory and/or recurrent periodontal disease (Fardal, 2008). Multiple studies show that smoking has the potential to alter numerous processes in the oral cavity (Preshaw et al, 2015). Most notably, smoking has been shown to modify various aspects of physiology in patients, impair immunological response and alter the microflora of the oral cavity (Presahaw et al, 2015).

Evidence for a causal involvement of HPV in the pathogenesis of OPSCC comes from epidemiologic and molecular studies. The earliest suggestion of a possible link between HPV and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity (OSCC) was made by Syrjanen et al (1983) where the group observed that some of these tumours have morphological and immunohistochemical features indicative of HPV infection. 59 Subsequent studies have supported the predilection of the virus for oropharyngeal cancers. In two case series (1996 and 1997), 50% and 60% of tonsillar carcinomas were HPV positive, respectively, in comparison to 6% and 10% of tumours at other oral sites.60,61 Additionally, Gillison et al (2000) and Stransky et al (2011) confirmed that the only HNC subsite with a demonstrated carcinogenic role for HPV was the oropharynx.21,62

Oral cancer screenings are conducted by physically examining the inside and the outside of your cheeks, gums, and the entire area of your mouth from front to back. The floor and the roof of your mouth will be especially looked at, as well as your tongue, lymph nodes, and your jaw, which is typically where signs of oral cancer are found. Outside of your mouth, your facial area will also be inspected for signs of swelling and asymmetry, and you will be asked about your drinking and smoking habits, which are the largest factors when it comes to being at risk for oral cancer. Your overall lifestyle, any medications that you are taking, and any specific health conditions you may have will also be put under question to ensure the best results, mostly because the following affects your head, neck, and mouth. You should expect your dentist to use a scope that incorporates a light to reveal any precancerous and/or cancerous lesions in the darker areas of your mouth.

Importance of careful assessment of oral cavity for suspicious lesions for early detection of multiple myeloma.1