PREVENTION

OF
ORAL CANCER
WHAT IS ORAL CANCER???

Any abnormal mass/lump that grows in

the mouth, throat, voice box, thyroid, ear,

These masses/lumps can cause problems

with breathing, eating, talking, and can
even change the way you look FOREVER
HOW DOES IT LOOK LIKE???
HOW CAN YOU KNOW ???
1. Non-Healing Ulcer

2. Unknown source of
bleeding
3. Loose Tooth
4. Loose Fitting Dentures
5. Difficulty in Speaking
6. Difficulty in Swallowing
7. Unexplained Pain

8. Weight Loss
 Signs of Throat Cancer

Large tonsil
tumor Uvula Normal tonsil
1. Ear Pain
2. Painful /Difficulty
Swallowing
3. Muffled Voice
4. Difficultly
Opening Mouth
5. Weight Loss
6. Lump in Neck
 Signs of Voice Box Cancer

1. Hoarseness TUMOR
2. Voice Change
3. Painful/Difficulty
Swallowing
4. Ear Pain
5. Weight Loss
6. Neck Mass/Lump
7. Breathing Difficulty
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES ???
1. Tobacco Products
Tobacco companies would like you to
believe that using tobacco is cool and
attractive, BUT the reality is far from
cool
… It is DEADLY
&
DISFIGURING!
 You Could Be Next….

13 years old – Tried dip for the first time on

a camping trip
17 years old - Got diagnosed with oral
cancer
35 – Number of surgeries he has had since
then
 2. Excessive Alcohol Use

***When used with Tobacco you

have an even GREATER risk!
 Other Causes…

1. Gender – Men 2-3x’s > than women

2. Race – African Americans at greatest risk
3. Age - > 40 years
4. Sun Exposure
5. Poor Oral Hygiene
6. Poorly Fitting Dentures
7. Poor Nutrition (low in vitamins A & B)
8. Environmental/Occupational Hazards
9. Epstein-Barr Virus
10.Exposure to Secondhand Smoke!!!!!
Passive smoking…
WHERE CAN YOU FIND???
1. In areas where tobacco/alcohol have the most
contact…..

2. Where the dip sits in your mouth

 3. Where the smoke blows….in your throat or voice box

4. As the cancer grows, it can travel to your lymph

nodes

It might look like you have a “lump” in your neck.

HOW CAN IT START???
How Does ORAL Cancer
Grow????
Normal Tissue  Pre-Cancerous Lesion  Cancer
What are Pre-Cancerous Lesions?

White Patches that will not rub off

4-18% turn into cancer!
RED PATCHES that do not go away (> 2 weeks)
***Recommend Removal
20-30% will develop into cancer!
Pre-Cancerous  Cancer

These white or red patches can turn into cancer, which can GROW
and GROW and GROW!
Most ORAL Cancers

CAN BE PREVENTED
JUST BY
AVOIDING TOBACCO
AND ALCOHOL!
HOW CAN YOU BE SAFE???
1.Stop smoking
2.Stop alcohol
3.Good oral hygiene
4.Eat fresh vegetables, fruits and balanced food
5.Use a cap when working under sun
6. Wear facemasks/ cover your mouth when working
with dusts and chemicals
What If CANCER is
Discovered???
Head and Neck Cancer
Treatment Team
Your doctor should refer you to an ENT/Oral
surgeons who specializes in Head and Neck Cancer.

A team of healthcare professionals will determine the

best plan of care for you.

Head and Neck Surgeons, Radiation and

Chemotherapy Doctors, Speech/Swallowing Experts,
Cancer Dentist, Nurse, Nutritionist, Physical
Therapy………….
 What Can Be The
Treatment Options???

1. Chemotherapy poisons the cancer

– Hair loss
– Nausea
– Fatigue (tired)
2. Radiation burns the cancer
– Peeling painful mouth tissue (“mucositis”)
– VERY dry mouth
– Scarring
Side Effects from Chemo
and Radiation
 Head and Neck Cancer
Surgery

A Head and Neck Surgeon will REMOVE

the CANCER and the SURROUNDING
TISSUE where the cancer may have
spread.

A Head and Neck Reconstructive

Surgeon will reconstruct the area
removed.
Large tumor of tongue/jaw/chin has been removed
 Head and Neck Cancer
RECONSTRUCTIVE Surgery

Cancerous tongue, jaw bone and chin/neck skin

removed … and then all is REBUILT
Lip Cancer

Lip/chin rebuilt
 Tongue Surgery
Remove ½ of cancerous tongue and rebuild it

Arm tissue to
make ‘new’
tongue

Tongue cancer removed

 Throat Surgery
Removal of cancerous throat and voice box

chest

chest
Patient After Throat Surgery
(after voice box has been removed)

What has changed for this patient?

 Changes After Throat
Surgery

New Way of Talking Can NEVER Swim Again

SO What have you
DECIDED…???

QUIT the habit OR

CONTINUE to risk
your life
Thank You for listening...