Prevention of Oral Cancer

  • Oral Cancer
    Oral cancer refers to cancers of the head and neck. It includes cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, salivary glands, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and pharynx. Brain cancer falls in a different category.  
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 12 October 2015

Can oral cancer be prevented

  • Go for regular screening. People without risk factors should get screened every 6 months. Those with risk factors should get screened monthly. If oral cancer is detected early, the cure rate is more than 80%. Your dentist will examine your mouth during a routine visit, anyway, but if you have any concern, do mention it.
  • Do not use tobacco in any form (both smoking and chewing tobacco can cause cancer)
  • Do not chew betel nut or pan
  • Do not drink alcohol in excess
  • Stay out of the sun, especially between 10am and 4 pm when sunlight is at it's strongest. Use sunscreen if you are outdoors.
  • Use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher
  • Practice good oral hygiene
  • See the dentist frequently
  • Limit the number of X-rays you have
  • Protect yourself against the human papilloma virus by being vaccinated (recommended for those aged 9 years to 26 years, but do discuss this with your doctor even if you are outside this age group).
  • Eat right. Various agents have been studied for chemoprevention of oral cancer, including retinoids, beta-carotene, vitamin E, selenium, and COX-2 inhibitors, curcumin (turmeric), lycopene found in tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, fruits like papaya, berries, apple etc. Tomatoes and garlic also have potent antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties.
  • Exercise regularly.

Look at your mouth in a mirror once a month. If you see something different, tell your dentist.

Community
Cancer
Condition
Oral Cancer
Changed
Wed, 01/16/2019 - 13:32

Stories

  • Nutritious and protein rich spinach soup in 2 bowls for oral cancer patients
    Soft Food Options For Lunch and Dinner
    Oral cancer patients struggle with eating regular meals.  However, it is important for them to eat nutritious meals to keep their strength up during treatment. Here are three simple recipes for lunch and dinner.  Hearty rainbow soup In this recipe, varied vegetables of all colours are used to create a multi-vitamin rich meal. It works well for lunch or dinner, as it fills the stomach but is also not too heavy for patients who may have nausea from treatment. Ingredients: 1/3 cup…
  • Cancer Is A Blessing In Disguise
    Shrenik Shah, 67 from Ahmedabad, India was diagnosed with Larynx (Vocal Folds) cancer, stage IV A 22 years ago. He now speaks with an Electrolarynx to motivate and inspire others. What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? I started getting hoarseness in my voice in late 1996. It was followed by breathlessness at night time and weight loss. I also would get so drowsy that I would sleep while standing. I am a non-smoker and have never had alcohol, tobacco, gutka, masala etc.…
  • Image Description: Head shot of a 77 year old survivor of cancer of the vocal chord
    I Now Realise The Value Of Life
    Dilip Kumar Kanjilal, 77 from Kolkata has fought cancer of the Vocal Chords and emerged a winner. He looks back to recall his struggle which has also reiterated his faith in life. Professionally, I used to be a driver of the long-distance state bus for 30 years. I had the responsibility to take the passengers to their destinations safely and I was good at it. Likewise, when I was attacked by the big C-Cancer, I was not engulfed by fear, tension, agony. I faced it bravely like a warrior. What is…
  • Stock image of a woman in blue scarf in the foreground and a group of people in the background pointing to her
    "Its Time For Film Characters That Survive Cancer!"
    Cancer stigmas are often barriers for seeking diagnosis, as well as treatment and rehabilitation. Shubha Maudgal and Susmitra Mitra of Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), Mumbai give us an insight into the current taboos surrounding cancer and the challenges such stigmas pose for patients and society. 1. What does cancer stigma entail? There are two kinds of stigma involved with cancer. One is Self which is in the mind of patients themselves, stemming from guilt or shame.  The other is…
  • Image: Sanjay Jaiswal, with black hair and a moustache is an Oral Cancer survivor and stands in a red shirt against a yellow background
    At 42, I Learned To Speak Again With The Help Of Tongue Twisters
    Early detection of mouth cancer helped Sanjay Jaiswal minimize postoperative challenges, discomfort and deformities. Here, he recounts his difficult journey and how he worked hard to get back his life. I developed a small ulcer in the mouth when I was 42, sometime in August 2010. It was at the back of my tongue, actually between my tongue, gums and jaw bone. I ignored it initially thinking it to be some kind of a boil. But when it became bothersome I went to an ENT specialist. He gave me some…
  • Non Healing Ulcer in Mouth Could be Cancerous
    There is almost 10 times higher risk of developing head and neck cancers in persons consuming both alcohol and tobacco, warns Dr Shaikh Muzammil, consultant medical oncologist, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical, and advises cutting down on risks to stay protected. Head and neck cancers account for more than 5.5 lakh of the total cancer cases reported in India every year, putting India in the sixth place worldwide. What are main types of head and neck cancers? The most common type of head and neck…
  • Image of a person undergoing radiation therapy
    What Are The Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy?
    And other questions on types of radiation therapy and tips to handle the effects of radiation therapy answered by Dr. Arpana Shukla, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, Sterling Cancer Center Ahmedabad 1.   What exactly is Radiation Therapy? Radiation Therapy is a clinical modality mainly dealing with the use of ionizing radiations for the treatment of cancer patients (and occasionally benign diseases). The primary goal is to deliver a precisely measured dose of radiation to a…
  • Close up of the author Mariyam Raza Haider, caregiver of her father with oral cancer
    Handling Late Night Medical Emergencies
    The most important factor in medical emergencies is to not panic, think calmly and act quickly and effectively. Mariyam Raza Haider, 26, recounts an emergency due to side effects of chemotherapy for her father's treatment of oral cancer and the lessons she learnt from it. This concludes the two-part series. One of the biggest concerns when taking care of a cancer patient on chemotherapy is the bout of side effects. The most common side effects of any form of chemotherapy are — nausea,…
  • Picture of Mariyam Raza Haider whose father has oral cancer
    Ways to De-stress during Chemotherapy Sessions
    Mariyam Raza Haider, 26, gives a first person account of how she makes her father’s chemotherapy cycles for aggressive oral cancer as easy and comfortable as possible. This is the first of a two-part series. Chemotherapy, despite being one of the most rigorous medical treatments, demands a pretty simple administration regime. More often than not, cancer patients spend a few hours at the hospital’s daycare, get the chemo drugs through intravenous catheters, and are then discharged. Most side…
  • How Can I Prevent Cancer?
    Among the ways to prevent cancer – eating a healthy, balanced diet could be your starting point. Try to consume all essential nutrients that will help detoxify your body, stimulate the immune system and prevent healthy cells from turning cancerous. Over the last 25 years, research has produced dietary guidelines that have become conventional wisdom when it comes to cancer prevention. There are a number of substances present in our daily diet which are carcinogenic (cancer causing substances)…