Newsletter November 2005
In England, Mouth Cancer Awareness Week is 13-19 November 2005.
- Mouth cancer kills one person every five hours in the UK.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing mouth cancer.
- Poor diet contributes to mouth cancer.
- 25% of mouth cancers in the young occur without the above risk factors.
- 80% of mouth cancer sufferers are unaware of their condition.
- Every year there are 4,300 new cases of mouth cancer and 1,700 deaths in the UK.
All depressing news, not what you want to hear just before Christmas. The facts however are there for us to see and we ignore them at our peril.
Is there any good news with mouth cancer? : Well research shows that early diagnosis is the most effective way of ensuring that the problem is dealt with. It is vital that people who are aware of symptoms like a non healing ulcer, or an unusual red or white patch in the mouth seek advice from their dentist. As I said, early detection considerably increases survival chances and allows for a more simple treatment approach and a better quality of life for the sufferer.
Who is at risk? : People over 40 who smoke and drink yes, but others can also suffer. I am sure that this will increase as we subject ourselves to more additives in foods and drinks!
Where is the cancer?It can appears in all parts of the mouth, tongue and lips.
We all think of a trip to the dentist as a necessary evil at best and only something to be undertaken when pain strikes. However with the risk of oral cancer increasing it makes sense to allow the dentist to not only check the teeth routinely but also the soft tissues.
We are looking for cancer!
We are becoming increasingly aware of the toxic affects of products put into the mouth. Either as foods, drugs, cigarets or even dental care products. Alcohol is blamed for mouth cancer but how many people use a mouthwash that contains alcohol on a daily basis? How many people are still using sodium lauryl sulphate in their toothpaste?
Hans Selye, the Austrian Hungarian Endocrinologist said that, stress is the non specific reaction of the body to any demand placed upon it. We need to to do all that we can to reduce the toxic, structural and traumatic stress placed on the soft tissues of the mouth. If we don’t then we are at risk!
It is my practice to refer early to an oral surgeon if I am worried. It is better to be cautious than proud, a negative result is what I am looking for, not a pat on the back for finding cancer.
Is there any good news with mouth cancer? : Well research shows that early diagnosis is the most effective way of ensuring that the problem is dealt with. It is vital that people who are aware of symptoms like a non healing ulcer, or an unusual red or white patch in the mouth seek advice from their dentist. As I said, early detection considerably increases survival chances and allows for a more simple treatment approach and a better quality of life for the sufferer.
Who is at risk? : People over 40 who smoke and drink yes, but others can also suffer. I am sure that this will increase as we subject ourselves to more additives in foods and drinks!
Where is the cancer?It can appears in all parts of the mouth, tongue and lips.
We all think of a trip to the dentist as a necessary evil at best and only something to be undertaken when pain strikes. However with the risk of oral cancer increasing it makes sense to allow the dentist to not only check the teeth routinely but also the soft tissues.
We are looking for cancer!
We are becoming increasingly aware of the toxic affects of products put into the mouth. Either as foods, drugs, cigarets or even dental care products. Alcohol is blamed for mouth cancer but how many people use a mouthwash that contains alcohol on a daily basis? How many people are still using sodium lauryl sulphate in their toothpaste?
Hans Selye, the Austrian Hungarian Endocrinologist said that, stress is the non specific reaction of the body to any demand placed upon it. We need to to do all that we can to reduce the toxic, structural and traumatic stress placed on the soft tissues of the mouth. If we don’t then we are at risk!
It is my practice to refer early to an oral surgeon if I am worried. It is better to be cautious than proud, a negative result is what I am looking for, not a pat on the back for finding cancer.
What can you do?
- Get checked up regularly!
- Use safe, non toxic, non carcinogenic dental and personal care products.
- Supplement with good minerals, vitamins, trace elements and the all important pycnogenols and procyanidins.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Exercise.
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