Knowing how to look for cancer in you mouth is probably the second most important screening tool you can do for yourself after self breast exams (or testicular exams if you are a man). The first thing to do is to get a hand held mirror and a good light that you can direct in different angles as you look in your mouth. The second thing you must do is wash your hands for at least one minute under warm running water while using a good quality hand soap.
Here is how you look for cancer in your mouth. Examine your mouth for white patches of tissue (called plaque). Examine your mouth for red lumps, sores that do not heal, or raised areas with white or grey nodules. Follow this link to see many different manifestations of mouth cancer. Compare any sores in your mouth to these pictures. You will want to examine every visible surface of your mouth and feel every surface you can reach in your mouth, around your gums and inside your cheeks.
Today because tobacco users find other ways to get nicotine besides smoking cigarettes, there are increased concerns over the incidence of mouth cancer due to chewing tobacco or smoking pipes. There are some little packets of tobacco that look a bit like a mini tea bag that fit between the cheek and gum that come in flavors popular with new users. These packets cause changes in the circulation of the tissue it touches and possible cellular changes as well.
It becomes increasingly important to know how to check your own mouth for early signs of cancer if you engage in any oral intake of tobacco products. Knowing how to look for cancer in your mouth could save your life and could also save you from disfiguring surgery if caught early enough.
Tobacco is not the only thing that predisposes a person to oral cancer. The human papilloma virus-16 also known as HPV-16 predisposes a sufferer to oral cancer and also predisposes women and girls to cervical cancer. If you have ever had unexplained sores in your mouth or if you get cold sores you need to learn how to look for the early signs of cancer in your mouth.
Who would have thought that drinking would cause oral cancer? Research shows that both smoking and heavy drinking increase your risk. What isn’t clear is what percentage of risk can be assigned to smoking and what percentage can be assigned to drinking because typically heavy drinkers also smoke. My first husband drank and smoked. Did he know how to look for cancer in his mouth? Absolutely not and was not interested in learning how. He was to busy smoking and drinking to want anything to interfere. I took every opportunity while he was alive to check his mouth for the tell tale white plaque patches. But when I found a toughened whitish area on one lip he poo-pooed it with a great deal of bravado
I have talked to a lot of tobacco chewing boys and men who seem to believe that oral cancer is the unfortunate lot of the lower classes or drug users but cancer is no respecter of class, age, or position in life. In the April 14, 2009 Women’s Day magazine there is an article titled “The Shock of My Life” written by Micki Siegel as told by actress Colleen Zenk Pinter. Colleen is the actress who made Barbara Ryan of the show As the World Turns into a cult icon for soap watchers. The article details her shocking discovery of mouth cancer and her struggle with the effects of both the cancer and the treatment.
I recommend this article and also that you access to learn how to look for cancer in your mouth whether you engage in risky behaviors like smoking or chewing tobacco or not.
There is a test called a “brush test” that looks for abnormalities in the cells or the mouth. It is a valuable cancer screening tool. Check it out at http://www.sopreventable.com/ where you will also get to watch a video from CBS5 News.
Whether you think you can get oral cancer or not, learn how to check for cancer in your mouth. The few minutes you take may save you many months of misery and may even save your life.
