About oral cancer: Oral cancer occurs in the mouth or pharynx. It occurs mostly in people over the age of 40 and is more than twice as common in men as it is in women. In the United States, approximately 40,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer each year, accounting for about two percent of all cancers, and approximately 7,800 of these people die from the disease. On average, 60 percent of people who develop oral cancer survive for more than five years. What factors put people at risk of developing the disease? 1. Tobacco and alcohol. Any form of tobacco use, including smoking, can put you at risk. Drinking large amounts of alcohol also increases your risk of developing oral cancer. Smoking and drinking can greatly increase this risk, much higher than the risk of smoking or drinking alone. 2. HPV infection. Sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (especially HPV type 16) is associated with the development of some strains of oral cancer. 3.Age. The risk of developing cancer increases with age. Most oral cancers occur in people over the age of 40. 4. Excessive sun exposure. Lip cancer can be triggered by exposure to sunlight. 5. Dietary habits. Lack of fruits and vegetables may contribute to the development of oral cancer. Some possible signs or symptoms: If you find yourself with any of these symptoms and they persist for more than 2 weeks, then you should visit your oral surgeon or surgeon. 1. pain, inflammation, lumps or thickened patches in your mouth, lips or throat; 2. white or red patches in your mouth; 3. feeling like something is stuck in your throat; 4. difficulty chewing or swallowing; 5. difficulty moving your jaw or tongue; 6. feeling numbness in your tongue or elsewhere in your mouth; 7. swelling in your jaw that makes it difficult to seat your dentures, or feeling uncomfortable when wearing them; 8. having pain in one ear, but no hearing loss. Early detection: Early detection of cancer in the mouth is important and can increase the success rate of oral cancer treatment. Having an oral cancer screening can detect some of the early symptoms of cancer. This exam is painless and takes only a few minutes to complete. Regular dental checkups are an excellent opportunity to complete an oral cancer screening all together. During the exam, your dentist or dental hygienist will examine your face, neck, lips, and entire mouth to screen for early signs of cancer. During an oral cancer exam, there are parts of the pharynx that cannot be seen directly by the naked eye. You can discuss with your dentist whether you can ask a specialist to examine your pharynx.