Oral Cancer on the Rise Among Non-Smokers Under 50
Oral Cancer on the Rise Among Non-Smokers Under 50
Glendale, CA (PRWEB) January 6, 2011
To quit smoking and drinking remain worthy and suggested public health resolutions for 2011 but they are not sufficient to stop oral cancer, the California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) warned nowadays.
“Tobacco and alcohol use are no longer the only main risk elements for oral cancer,” reports Ellen Standley, CDHA President. “The fastest growing segment of oral cancer victims is the non-smoker under 50 years of age.”
The newest statistics indicate that over the next decade, exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) will likely replace tobacco as the main causative agent for oral cancer, according to the newest research. The HPV positive group, specifically the strain responsible for cervical cancer, is a rapidly growing segment of the oral cancer population. This new high-risk group consists of persons under 40 who have never smoked or abused alcohol.
Registered Dental Hygienists play a front-line role in the battle against oral cancers, which kill a lot more than 8,000 Americans every year even though such diseases are typically treated successfully when detected early.
“Because of this we are much more emphatic than ever about the require for screenings and early detection efforts throughout routine dental visits,” Standley said. “And we are advocating that patients adopt a number of preventive measures to assist decrease their risk for developing oral cancer.”
CDHA credits the “Michael Douglas Factor” with helping to raise awareness about the illness; the famous actor has been very vocal in discussing his recently diagnosed oral cancer.
To further public education, CDHA recommends Californians recognize the following info and prevention tips.
Key Facts:
36,000 new instances of oral cancer are reported annually; that number continues to grow
There are 8,000 deaths due to oral cancer per year
Most of the cases of oral cancer are discovered in later stages, with only a 50% survival rate after five years
When discovered in early stages, treatment has up to a 90% survival rate
Tobacco, alcohol and human papilloma virus are risk factors
Prevention Ideas:
Go to a dental office and be screened at least once a year for oral cancer. Dental hygienists have the opportunity to supply fast, painless and straightforward oral cancer screenings whenever they see a patient.
See a physician once a year for a routine physical examination
Limit alcohol consumption and all varieties of tobacco use, which includes smokeless
Prevent behaviors that promote exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Limit exposure to UV radiation (lip cancer)
Be suspicious of any sore in the mouth or any change in the tissue (color or texture) that lasts longer than two weeks
Be proactive & take preventive measures in your healthcare; ask questions
“We hope that 2011 will be a breakthrough year for the public’s understanding of oral cancer,” Standley said. “With a couple of straightforward steps, and earlier detection, a lot of lives can be saved.”
For a lot more information, please visit the following web internet sites: http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org; http://www.nidcr.nih.gov; http://www.hygienetown.com
The California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA) is the authoritative voice of the state’s dental hygiene profession. The organization was established 25 years ago when two regional associations merged to form a unified professional group. CDHA represents thousands of dental hygienists throughout the state and is dedicated to expanding opportunities for the profession and access to care for all Californians. For a lot more information, go to http://www.cdha.org.
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