As many of us in Kentucky are enjoying Spring with warmer weather and more time outdoors, oral health advocates and KOHC want to shine a light on early detection and prevention of oral cancer by lifting up April as Oral Cancer Awareness month. Without early detection and treatment, oral cancer is a serious and deadly disease, and Kentuckians have higher rates of oral cancer than people in other states.
Risk factors for oral cancer may include:
- Tobacco use
- Heavy alcohol use
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
- Exposure to radiation such as the sun’s rays
- Poor nutrition
Regular dental check-ups are a great way to screen for oral cancer signs. Your dentist can perform an oral cancer screening in less than five minutes.
You can also check yourself for signs and symptoms of oral cancer by examining the inside of your lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, roof and floor of your mouth, and your neck for areas of concern. Reach out to a physician or dentist if you notice any of the following:
- Lumps, bumps, or sores in the mouth, under the jaw, or on the neck that haven’t healed in two weeks
- Red or white patches in the mouth
- Numbness in an area of the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing or moving the jaw or tongue
- Pain in only one ear
- Feeling like something is stuck in your throat
- Hoarseness of the voice that lingers for a prolonged time
Check out our step-by-step guide for at-home oral cancer screenings in English and Spanish.
More information about oral cancer self-exams, free downloadable patient resources for providers, and free screenings for patients in eastern Kentucky counties can be found by visiting the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry’s Eradicate Oral Cancer in Eastern Kentucky project page.
