How Common is Oral Cancer and is it Really Something to Worry About?

Oral cancer is serious. While oral cancer is only part of a group of cancers referred to as head and neck cancers, oral cancer itself comprises 85% of the category. (https://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/) Close to 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year and the death rate is surprisingly high – not because it is difficult to diagnose, but because it is most often discovered in late stages. In its early stages, oral cancer can grow without producing pain or symptoms that are easily recognized unless discovered by a trained professional. Worse, it can spread to other parts of your body and become nearly impossible to eliminate. The good news is that when oral cancer is discovered early, it is easy to treat and can be eradicated in up to 90% of cases. That is why we perform an oral cancer screening on your mouth for every new patient and at every hygiene visit.]]>