Radiology Specialist Physician Dr. Semih Tanrıverdi stated that oral cancer often occurs behind the lower lip, floor of the mouth, tongue, tonsils and salivary glands. “Oral cancers mostly arise from stratified squamous epithelium cells and are one of the most common types of cancer in the head and neck region,” he said.
“ORAL CANCER IS TWICE MORE IN MEN”
Expert said, “It is twice as common in men than in women. Therefore, regular doctor and dentist examinations are vital for early diagnosis,” he said, warning especially male individuals.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION INCREASES THE RISK
Emphasizing that the most important factors that increase the risk of oral cancer are tobacco and alcohol use, Tanrıverdi said, “90% of oral cancer cases are seen in people who use cigarettes and other tobacco products. The risk increases even more when alcohol habit is added. Alcohol consumption also directly increases the risk of oral cancer. Therefore, as the amount of alcohol consumption increases, the risk also increases.” He listed other risk factors as sun rays, family history of cancer and chronic wounds.
DO NOT IGNORE THE SYMPTOMS
Early signs of oral cancer are often ignored. Dr. Tanriverdi stated that symptoms such as persistent sores in the mouth, white, red or mixed spots on the lips, tongue or floor of the mouth are important warning signs. Tanriverdi said that white spots are called “leukoplakia” and red spots are called “erythroplakia” and emphasized that red spots have a higher risk of cancer. He also pointed out that if symptoms such as bad breath, difficulty chewing and weight loss are noticed, a specialist should be consulted immediately and stated that early diagnosis will facilitate the treatment process.
WAYS TO PREVENT CANCER
Physician Semih Tanrıverdi stated that it is vital to avoid smoking and alcohol use to protect against oral cancer, and emphasized that tobacco and alcohol are among the biggest causes of this disease. Stating that regular doctor and dentist check-ups should not be neglected to reduce the risk of cancer, Tanrıverdi said that early diagnosis facilitates the treatment process and can prevent the progression of the disease.
Tanriverdi also pointed out that wounds in the mouth caused by sharp teeth or dentures can pave the way for cancer, and pointed out the importance of treating such problems without neglecting them. He stated that the society should be more conscious about this issue and underlined that early diagnosis and treatment is lifesaving.
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