Oral Cancer Awareness: There's no crying in baseball

Cancer continues to touch so many lives of the people I know and love. Oral cancer in particular has touched my families life for the past 14 years, so I wanted to share some things to increase awareness, as early detection and prevention is the key. Of course that doesn’t mean the outcomes are always successful, but oral cancer needs to be talked about and understood.

According to the Center for Disease Control approximately 30,000 people a year will be diagnosed with oral cancer and about 8,000 people will die from it annually. It affects 2x more men than women and those who smoke or chew tobacco, abuse alcohol or drugs are at increased risk as it irritates the delicate lining of the oral cavity. Oral cancer is the 6 th leading cause of cancer in the US for men and in the African American male population it is the 4 th leading cause of cancer. Oral cancer had been very prevalent in the baseball community due to the use of smokeless tobacco. Currently however, due to advocacy programs in baseball, this is no longer the case, You should know however, that you are 50 times more likely to get oral cancer if you chew tobacco, than a non-user. One dip or chew contains five times more nicotine than a cigarette and it has more than 2,500 known chemicals, including 28 carcinogens. The highest risk of chewing tobacco is in our youth, where 13 percent of high school students are at risk for oral cancer due to its use.

Oral cancer can happen anywhere in the oral cavity. The lips,tongue, gums, hard and soft palate, tonsils, floor of mouth, sinuses and throat (pharynx). A study which took place in Maryland reported that only 23 percent of the population in that state knew one early warning sign. Do you know the early warning signs and risk factors for oral cancer? The American Dental Association believes education is the key.

Please know and be aware of the warning signs of oral cancer. These are the main ones that are significant for you to watch for with your oral health. The most common symptom is a sore in the mouth that does not heal in 3 weeks. A white or red patches on the gums, tongue, tonsils or the lining of the mouth. A lump or thickening in the cheek. A sore throat or the feeling that there is a lump that you can’t move in your throat. Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue. Loosening of the teeth or excessive movement of the teeth and jaw. Voice changes and weight loss. A lump or mass in the neck. Numbness and tingling in the tongue or mouth. If you have any of these symptoms please see your health care provider.

Every year you should have an oral cavity scan or sooner if you have any warning signs. Please ask your dentist or medical MD to do this, especially if you are suspicious. They will check the lymph nodes in your neck and under your jaw. They will check your lips and cheeks and gum line around your teeth. They will pull the tongue forward and cheek under the tongue and on the top of the tongue. They will look at the back of the throat, floor of the mouth and palate. According to most studies you will find the warning sign before your health provider, if you know and inspect your oral health routinely. Don’t wait if you see anything odd or unusual. Early detection saves lives with those with oral cancer.

In my profession of physical therapy we care for a lot of people with oral cancer. It is one of the most disfiguring and psychologically challenging cancers in a society that has high regard for physical appearance. There is no way to hide the physical changes from the disease and often treatment causes the loss of the ability to chew, eat certain foods, swallow, kiss or speak. These people become isolated and often do not have a network of support due to the disfigurement.

Oral cancer should not be taking lives. It is my goal that we understand the warning signs for early detection and get annual oral inspection care through your dentist and or MD. Prevention and early detection is the key. Sometimes there are no high risk behaviors and oral cancer shows up anyway. Cancer doesn’t discriminate, it comes and suddenly there you are fighting it. Our desire in the oral cancer arena is to advocate for more research for a cure, to educate our community on prevention and early detection and to encompass those struggling with cancer. This disease has touched my family and we have fought back against it. My father taught us, “There’s no crying in baseball,” so when something bad happens stand up and fight, and fight we will to advocate, educate and decrease the likelihood of oral cancer in our world.

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Sheree DiBiase, PT, is the owner of Lake City Physical Therapy and she and her staff believe it is their calling to care for people with physical injury, pain and loss. Call us in our Coeur d’Alene office at (208) 667-1988, Hayden (208) 762-2100 and in our Spokane Valley office at (509) 891-2623 for an appointment.