Dentists Can Help Find Oral Cancer Before It Spreads
June 16, 2009

by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Oral cancer exams by dentists can find cancer at an earlier, more curable stage, a study finds.

Researchers from the University of Florida did the study. They surveyed 131 people who had recently been diagnosed with oral cancer.

About 1 in 4 people said they had an oral cancer exam at their last dental visit. Of those who had an exam, 79% had been diagnosed at earlier stages. The tumor was still small and hadn't spread. Others had not had an oral cancer exam. In that group, about 48% had their oral cancers diagnosed at an early stage).

People who said they had a regular dentist were more likely to be diagnosed early. Smokers were more likely to be in advanced stages of oral cancer.

Researchers also found that people with fewer symptoms tended to be diagnosed earlier. The most common symptom was soreness in the mouth. Women were also more likely to receive an oral cancer exam in the dental office than men.

Oral and pharyngeal cancers are found on the lips, tongue, other parts of the mouth, and the top part of the throat, just behind the mouth. The tongue is the most common site. About 20% to 25% of cancers are found on the tongue.

This year, an estimated 35,720 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer. Based on past trends, about 25,240 will be men and 10,480 women.

Finding oral cancer before it spreads increases the chances of survival. For example, 83% of people diagnosed with lip cancer at the earliest stage will survive at least five years. In its late stages — after the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs — about half survive at least five years.

The researchers said their study shows the importance of regular oral cancer exams in the dental office. The study appears in the June issue of the journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology.