Self-exams and early detection can save lives

ROSEMONT, Ill., April 4, 2019 / PRNewswire / – Early detection of oral cancer with a better chance of healing, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) reminds the public, during Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, that it is important to perform monthly self-exams.

AAOMS encourages self-exams and screenings every April with the Mouth Cancer Foundation, which predicts that about 53,000 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in 2019 by United States – resulting in more than 9,000 deaths.

"A monthly self-exam takes only a few minutes and could potentially save your life," said the president of the AAOMS. A. Thomas Indresano, DMD, FACS. "If you do it regularly, you increase the chances of quickly identifying changes or new growths.The survival rate for oral cancer is between 80 and 90% at an early stage of development."

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (SMO) encourage a six-step oral self-examination of oral cancer that involves looking and feeling suspicious wounds in the mouth and feeling the bumps and neck at the nape of the neck . With the help of a bright light and a mirror:

1. Begin by removing the prostheses.
2. Look and feel inside the lips and at the front of the gums.
3. Tilt your head back to inspect and feel the roof of your mouth.
4. Pull the cheek to inspect it and the gums at the back.
5. Pull out your tongue and look up and down.
6. Look for enlarged lumps or lymph nodes on both sides of the neck, including under the lower jaws.

The symptoms of oral cancer may include one or more of the following symptoms if they are persistent and do not resolve:

• Red, white or black spots in the soft tissues of the mouth.
• A sore in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks and bleeds easily.
• An abnormal size or a hard spot in the mouth.
• A mbad or a painless, firm and fixed mbad, felt on the outside of the neck and present for at least two weeks.
• Difficulty swallowing, including a feeling that food is stuck in the throat.
• Chronic sore throat, hoarseness or coughing.
• A chronic earache on one side.

Risk factors for oral cancer are smoking and smoking, alcohol consumption, and the human papillomavirus (HPV).

"About 25% of patients with oral cancer have no known risk factors," said Dr. Indresano. "It is important for everyone to perform a monthly self-check and if you have any of the symptoms for more than two weeks, contact an oral and maxillofacial surgeon immediately." WHO is an expert in diagnosis and treatment surgical treatment of oral cancer. "

Visit MyOMS.org for more information or to find a surgeon.

Experts in facial, mouth and jaw surgery® – The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) is the professional organization representing more than 11,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, WHO residents and WHO professional staff in: United States. AAOMS supports the ability of colleagues and members to practice their specialty through education, research and advocacy. Members and members of the AAOMS abide by rigorous continuing education requirements and undergo periodic office anesthesia evaluations. For more information on oral and maxillofacial surgery, visit the AAOMS websites at AAOMS.org and myOMS.org.

SOURCE American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Related Links

http://MyOMS.org