Unexpected causes of oral cancer

You would never think that oral cancer is linked to sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, it is entirely possible.

Some common risk factors for oral cancer include smoking and chewing tobacco. However, in recent years, scientists have found that 72% of oral and pharyngeal cancers are caused by sexually transmitted infections, most commonly human papillomavirus (HPV). According to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, approximately 20 million people in the United States are infected with genital HPV in the mouth.

The Oral Cancer Foundation has identified oral cancers, including oral cancer, tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, and throat cancer, as being linked to HPV.

According to the same organization, approximately 115 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed in the US each day. The disease is curable in 80-90% of cases if detected early. The 5-year survival rate for late-stage oral cancer is only 43%.

Oral cancer may be linked to sexually transmitted infections. (Illustrative image)

Keith Arbeitman, a dentist in Manhattan, says there's a long-standing misconception that many people still hold: If you don't smoke, drink heavily, or chew tobacco, you have a very low risk of oral cancer.

In fact, HPV infection, contracted through sexually transmitted diseases, is also one of the causes of oral cancer. The risk of HPV-related oral cancer is six times higher in men than in women, and the age at which people are most susceptible is decreasing.

Having a dental check-up every six months is an important first step in starting oral cancer screening. If you are unsure of the signs of oral cancer, you can ask your doctor for further advice.

Just like with any cancer, you need to pay attention to any unusual symptoms in the mouth area, from around the lips, on the face, to inside the mouth... If there are unusual changes in color or slow-healing scratches, hoarseness, etc., you should see a doctor immediately because these could be warning signs of a tumor in the neck or under the jaw.

Oral cancer, when detected, is often in an advanced stage and is difficult to treat, with a lower cure rate.

According to Alobacsi.vn