Oral Cancer and its prevention
Where can it appear?
Oral cancer can appear on the lips, tongue, cheek lining, floor of the mouth, gums and palate. However, most cancers appear on the lips and tongue.
Cancers of the oral cavity generally take many years to form and therefore do not usually occur in young people.
80% of oral tumours are attributed to tobacco or alcohol consumption, justifying a regular oral examination especially targeted at this at-risk population: smokers and regular drinkers.
Simple preventive measures can prevent their appearance or mitigate their consequences.
10 risk factors to avoid:
- Tobacco: Smokers are 5 to 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer, with the risk increasing according to the number of cigarettes consumed per day and the longer they have prolonged this habit.
- Alcohol: The risk increases with the number of alcoholic drinks consumed per day.
- The combination of tobacco + alcohol multiplies the risk.
- Personal history of head and neck cancer increases the risk of oral cancer.
- Poor dietary and exercise habits may favour an increased risk of oral cancer.
- Genetic factors.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection increases the risk of oropharyngeal cancer.
- Chronic trauma to the lining of the mouth from sharp teeth, poor restorations and ill-fitting dentures.
- Exposure to ultraviolet light increases the risk of lip cancer.
What can we do to prevent lip cancer?
- Change your lifestyle by taking regular exercise.
- Healthy eating, promoting the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
- Quitting smoking: quitting smoking reduces the risk of oral cancer by 50%; 2 years after quitting smoking, the risk of oral cancer is equal to that of a non-smoker.
cancer, screening, oral, mouth
- Limit alcohol consumption: at most, consume 1 alcoholic drink per day (for women) or 2 (for men).
- Vaccination against the human papilloma virus (Oropharyngeal cancer).
- Good oral and sexual hygiene.
- Limit exposure to ultraviolet light: avoid sun exposure at midday (when ultraviolet rays are strongest), wear a hat and lip protection.
- Go to Udemax Clinics for a screening.
Oral cancer can appear when you least expect it. That is why at Clinicas Udemax we have the latest technology in the early detection of oral cancer. The Velscope is the most advanced luminescent method and of course the only one of its kind in Palma de Mallorca.
