attachment 9 - oral cancer brochure

Oral
Cancer
Are You at Risk?
What Are the Signs
& Symptoms?
Should You Have an
Oral Cancer Exam?

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health

About Oral Cancer
Oral cancer includes cancers
of the mouth and pharynx
(the back of the throat).
Oral cancer accounts for
roughly three percent of
all new cancers diagnosed
annually in the United
States. Approximately 53,000
people will be diagnosed
with oral cancer each year
and about 10,800 will die
from the disease.
On average, 66 percent of
those with the disease will
survive 5 years or more.
Oral cancer most often
occurs in people aged 55-64
and affects more than twice
as many men as women.

What Puts Someone at Risk?
Tobacco and alcohol use.
Tobacco use of any kind,
including cigarette smoking,
puts you at risk. Heavy
alcohol use also increases
your chances of developing
the disease. And using
tobacco plus alcohol poses a
much greater risk than using
either substance alone.
HPV. Infection with the
sexually transmitted human
papillomavirus (specifically
the HPV 16 type) has been
linked to a subset of oral
cancers.
Age. Risk increases with
age. Oral cancer most often
occurs in people over the age
of 40.
Sun Exposure. Cancer of
the lip can be caused by
sun exposure.

Possible Signs & Symptoms
See a dentist or physician
if any of the following
symptoms lasts for more
than 2 weeks.
• A sore, irritation, lump or
thick patch in your mouth,
lip, or throat
• A white or red patch in
your mouth
• A sore throat or a feeling that
something is caught in your
throat
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing,
or speaking
• Difficulty moving your jaw
or tongue
• Numbness in your tongue or
other areas of your mouth
• Swelling of the jaw; in
denture wearers, this could feel
like dentures have become
uncomfortable or don’t fit right
• Ear pain

Early Detection
It is important to find
oral cancer as early as
possible when it can be
treated more successfully.
An oral cancer examination
can detect early signs
of cancer. The exam is
painless and takes only
a few minutes.
Your regular dental check-up
is an excellent opportunity
to have the exam. During the
exam, your dentist or dental
hygienist will check your
face, neck, lips, and entire
mouth for possible signs
of cancer.
Some parts of the pharynx
are not visible during an
oral cancer exam. Talk to
your dentist about whether
a specialist should check
your pharynx.

For more copies contact:
National Institute of Dental
and Craniofacial Research
National Oral Health
Information Center
1 NOHIC Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3500
1–866–232–4528
www.nidcr.nih.gov
This publication is not copyrighted.
Make as many photocopies as you need.

NIH Publication No: 20-5032
August 2020
NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®