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Posts Tagged ‘Oral Cancer Leeds’

The Importance of an Oral Cancer Screening

Thursday, August 4th, 2016

585804_blogWhen thinking about cancer, many forget about the dangers of oral cancer and even more forget that your dentist should be the first stop to diagnosis the disease.

About oral cancer

Oral cancer usually starts off in the mouth as a small spot or sore. These are commonly white or red and can be located in any part of the mouth. If untreated, these sores can affect any area of your mouth, including your gum tissues, tongue, palate, lips and lining of the cheeks. Oral cancer also occurs more regularly in people who smoke and if you combine this with consumption of alcohol, you greatly increase your risk of developing the disease. Signs of oral cancer may include:

  • Colour changes in your oral tissue
  • Difficulty with chewing, speaking, swallowing or moving your jaw and tongue
  • Sores in the mouth that easily bleed and do not heal
  • Lumps or thickening rough spots
  • Small eroded areas in the mouth
  • Pain, tenderness or numbness on the lips and inside of the mouth

Oral cancer screening

By visiting your dentist more regularly you can significantly decrease your chances of suffering with oral cancer, as screenings are part of your routine dental examination. It is therefore important that you have regular full mouth check-ups, so your dentist can detect the early stages of cancer and treat it.  Some spots or sores located in the mouth may not be cancer, but it is always best to check just in case and your dentist will perform a brush test to ensure the sore or spot is not dangerous. If anything is found to be wrong with the sore then it will be removed in a separate procedure, but it is important to know that positive results from the brush test will be confirmed first by incisional biopsy and histology.

Remember, it is important to visit your dentist for an oral cancer check-up, as on average only half of those diagnosed with oral cancer will survive past five years. However, oral cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer if found at an early stage.

Oral Cancer Diagnosed Early in Leeds

Friday, October 16th, 2015

3708143_blogLeeds dentists are fully trained to spot early signs of oral cancer

Dentists are not only trained to spot and diagnose problems with your teeth and gums, such as tooth decay and gum disease, they are also fully trained to notice the early indicators of oral cancer.  This cancer is treatable if found in its initial stages and has a high survival rate, but can be fatal.  Oral cancer is another reason why you should be sure to visit your dentist every six months.

You are at higher risk of contracting oral cancer if you are a man, as they are twice as likely to develop the disease as women.  Other high risk groups include those who smoke tobacco and drink alcohol, but about one in every four oral cancer patients are either women or people who don’t smoke or drink.  Even if you are not in a high risk group you should still be vigilant about oral cancer.

If you find small swellings in your mouth or patches that are rusty then you should report this to your dentist.  Any bleeding from the mouth might be an early sign of oral cancer and these symptoms are sometimes accompanied by sudden weight loss or difficulty and pain in the mouth while eating.

Your dentist is best placed to examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer at your six month check ups but you can use your finger to examine your mouth at home for swellings and look in the mirror for discoloured patches.

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Ask your City Dental Leeds dentist for more information about how to guard against oral cancer. Methods include ceasing the smoking of tobacco, cutting down alcohol consumption and keeping your diet healthy.

How an Oral Cancer Screening Could Save Your Life

Wednesday, May 20th, 2015

658156_blogMany people dread going to the dentist, but how would you feel if a trip to the dentist saved your life? Oral cancer is a deadly disease and screening can literally make the difference between life and death. At City Dental Leeds we are eager to do our bit to raise awareness of oral cancer and we strongly recommend frequent check-ups and oral cancer screening tests.

About oral cancer screening

Oral cancer screening is not used to diagnose oral cancer, but it can be highly effective in flagging up potential warning signs that can then be examined in greater detail. Screening involves taking a close look at the soft tissue in the mouth and throat to check for possible signs of oral cancer. We use state of the art technology, including specially designed intra-oral cameras, to identify abnormalities in the soft tissue. Any abnormalities are highlighted and if your dentist suspects that there may be a potential risk of oral cancer they can then refer you for further tests.

About oral cancer

Oral cancer is not the most common form of cancer, but it is becoming much more prevalent in the UK and it affects more than 6,000 people every year. In the last decade alone, the number of cases has almost doubled, yet survival rates have stalled, as many people are unaware of the causes, risk factors and symptoms and this means that most cases are diagnosed at a late stage, when there is a high risk that cancer has spread.

The most common symptoms of oral cancer are slow-healing sores and mouth ulcers, abnormal lumps or swelling in the mouth and throat, difficulty swallowing and red or white patches in the mouth. If you have a mouth ulcer that lasts for longer than two weeks, we strongly recommend getting it checked out. It’s highly likely that there’s nothing to worry about, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Risk factors for oral cancer include drinking alcohol, smoking, a poor diet and exposure to certain viruses, including the HPV (human papilloma virus), which is also linked to cervical cancer.

If you would like to find out more about oral cancer or you would like to book a screening test, don’t hesitate to call us or pop in and see us if you’re nearby.

Six Facts About Oral Cancer

Monday, March 23rd, 2015

585804_blogAt City Dental Leeds, we are determined to fight oral cancer and we urge all our patients to keep up to date with dental checks and oral cancer screening. Like many forms of cancer, the earlier oral cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of survival. Here are six facts about oral cancer:

  • More than 6,800 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year in the UK. This works out at more than 18 people every day.
  • Oral cancer is much more common in men than women. According to Cancer Research UK statistics for 2011, 4,510 cases were diagnosed in men, compared to 2,257 in women.
  • Oral cancer is becoming more common. Studies and statistics show that the number of cases has almost doubled in the last 10 years.
  • The main risk factors for oral cancer include smoking, drinking, exposure to radiation and other occupational environmental hazards. Around 65 percent of cases are linked to smoking and 91 percent of cases are linked to lifestyle factors.
  • Eating a healthy diet packed with fruits and vegetables can help to reduce your risk of developing oral cancer. A poor diet and insufficient intake of important nutrients contained in fruits and vegetables are linked to more than 50 percent of oral cancer cases in the UK.
  • The most common signs of oral cancer include persistent and slow-healing sores in the mouth or throat, a lump or swelling in the mouth or throat and red or white patches in the mouth. Other signs may include a persistent sore throat and difficulty swallowing.

If you have any questions about oral cancer or you’d like to book a screening test, don’t hesitate to call us. Screening checks are comfortable and they take just a few minutes. We simply use an advanced camera to look inside the mouth and check for any potential signs. Screening is important because it flags up potential abnormalities that may not yet be visible to the human eye.

Kicking-out Oral Cancer in Leeds

Saturday, November 9th, 2013

1341367_blogIf you love to smoke, drink, eat poorly and don’t really care about oral hygiene too much, you are not only putting your teeth and gums at risk, but you can also be making yourself open to oral cancer in the future; these are considered to be among the main protagonists that cause this disease and if you find yourself suffering from irritations for a sustained period of time- sore throats, jaw, ear and headaches, or constant ulcers- you really should get yourself tested as quickly as possible because the faster the diagnosis, the better your chances of beating the problem. It won’t be easy though and it will be a battle; you’ll need the company and support of friends and family for psychological help, as well as having professional nursing afterwards. What is imperative though is you avoid all of the things that may have caused the disease in the first place and improve every area of your lifestyle in order to rebuild the immune system in your body. Essentially you need to change every aspect of your life and make yourself strong for the fight: take heart from the fact though that the recovery stats from this disease are very good indeed in Leeds.

Fighting back against Oral Cancer in Leeds

Sunday, August 18th, 2013

2603730_blogOral cancer is a horrible disease to contract, as is any disease of this nature, but when it comes to your mouth you may well be putting yourself at serious risk in Leeds if you have a wayward lifestyle. Now, the reasons behind oral cancer aren’t exactly specific or that clear, but if you are a heavy smoker/drinker and have an awful diet, it won’t help your cause and if you suddenly realise that you are having constant repetitive problems such as ulcers, sore throats, coughing and ear aches, they are just a few pointers that you are possibly heading into cancer territory and should get yourself tested quickly. The quicker you are looked at, the better the condition can be treated and the good news on this front is that recovery rates are improving. But it won’t be a joyride for you; you will need as much support as you can muster from everywhere you can. You will also have to make lifestyle changes in order to prevent a repeat of what you have gone through and for this you are going to have to enlist professional back-up.

 

Living With Oral Cancer In Leeds

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Oral cancer is the most bitter pill to swallow if you have been diagnosed with it and can take all of the strength you can muster to fight it, along with friends and family to help. Just why the disease persists, and is on the increase in Leeds is anyone’s guess. Doctors and dentists will attribute the problem to poor lifestyle choices from smoking, drinking and diet, yet if that’s the case, why do some people do all of these and live an unblemished life. One thing is for sure though, if the disease is caught early, recovery rates are also on the increase- not the ideal solution but it’s a start, so it is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with the symptoms so that you can get a jump start on the problem. Typical things to watch out for are the repetition of issues in the mouth- aching jaws, sores, ulcers and anyway, you should know yourself when things don’t feel right in your mouth and then get yourself checked out. If the worst news comes through, at least you have given yourself an early chance and once you have been treated, then you can come out of the other side, recover and then focus on changing the lifestyle that got you at this point in the first place.

 

Overcoming Oral Cancer in Leeds

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

There are many things in life that can scare you to the core in life, especially if it’s health related and there is no bigger shock to the system than being diagnosed with some form of cancer: this disease is a real baffler as there seems to be no justification or reason behind what causes it- it can affect the most healthy person in the world.

With oral cancer, it’s still not black and white; however, there are certain things in life that you should avoid putting in your mouth in order to reduce the risk. Smoking, drinking and bad foods on a regular basis will give your mouth a battering and increase the risk of problems arising. Your lifestyle will also affect your immune system and stress levels- also linked to the disease and so we arrive at the conclusion that if you at least try to do everything in moderation and keep yourself on an even keel, you will give yourself a fighting chance in Leeds.

Being able to recognise changes in your mouth is also essential in order to catch things early and get them treated early- the only way to beat the disease. For example, continuous sore throats, coughing, sores and neck aches etc., are not normal conditions the mouth goes through; anything out the ordinary should be analysed immediately. Even though it never seems to go away, the disease is not as powerful as it was because of better treatments- it can be beaten if you are ready for the fight.