Seriousness of oral cancer is underestimated

Despite serious problem does not receive the same attention as other cancers

When it comes to cancer , little is said about how the disease works in the mouth . Unlike what happens in the prostate, the breast, the uterus, the lung and other organs of the body, oral cancer does not appear much in the media nor the target of major government campaigns for the popularization of information. The lack of attention, however, does not diminish the seriousness with which evil must be treated.

The oral cancer ranks seventh in the country in number of diagnosed cases. In Rio Grande do Sul, he reaches the fifth position among the cancers most common. As estimated by the National Cancer Institute (Inca) , 170 Porto Alegre had mouth cancer last year. In the State, would be 1,050 new cases.

According to the dental surgeon and advisor to the Regional Council of Dentistry (CRO) Gaucho, Cleo Saldanha, the idea that there is an oral health, spun off from the rest of the health of the individual, causes the mouth to receive secondary care. “There is a break-up of two health. The overall health and oral health. This indicates that health does not affect one another. Health is a whole. If not in your mouth is healthy, you’re sick as a whole, “he says.

The smoke is a major risk factor for the emergence of some type of oral cancer . The oral cancer can also arise from injuries caused by the use of dentures shoddy and ill-suited. According to Saldanha, are the two main types of cancer affecting the mouth. “The most prevalent is the squamous cell carcinoma , which appears as a sore, red or white does not hurt and does not heal within 15 days. He is very aggressive. It grows fast, “he says. Another type is melanoma. “In this type, there may be injured or not and bleed or not. He appears as a dark speck, “he says. Saldanha also warned to stop the existence of some kind of increase in the facial region, in that the cancer may not present a superficial injury.

The expert indicates the achievement of self-examination to detect any abnormalities in the mouth region. If there is any change in color of skin and oral mucosa, if there are spots that do not fade, non-healing wounds, ulcers or prolonged swelling, lumps or swollen lymph nodes in the neck, the doctor or dentist should be sought.

The dental surgeon criticizes the lack of attention that gets the disease. According to him, oral cancer is underestimated.
“The Mouth cancer is as serious as the breast or uterus. There are public policies for these other cancers, but not for the mouth. “Counselor of the CRO also notes that the mouth is rarely the focus of attention of health professionals. “The detection of cancer, although easy, is not something that is done routinely by the professional dentist. He uses his mouth to look at the teeth. Already doctors use the mouth as a means to reach other organs, such as endoscopy. “Recently, the Porto Alegre City Hall set up a Parliamentary Group to address the issue.

Saldanha also points out flaws in the way the dentists act when they are sought after by patients. “The thorough examination of oral health is part of the protocol of the practitioner’s practice of dentistry. But that’s not what actually happens. The work is very focused on the patient’s complaint. Treatment is symptomatic, “he emphasizes. Prompt diagnosis is essential to healing

The oral cancer in its various types, has a cure. To do so, however, it is essential that you undergo the early diagnosis of disease. Otherwise, the tumor tends to evolve, leading to death.

According to the medical service of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) Mara Deise Lima da Costa, cancer treatment is mainly surgical. “Tumors of the mouth are classified into four stages from T1 to T4. The T1 is the smallest, up to 2cm. T4 is what has already been irradiated, no longer only in its original area. Often, in cases where it has metastasized in the neck, after surgery, the treatment is combined with radiation therapy, “he says.

According to the professional who has worked for 20 years in the area, people seek medical care when the tumor is already in very advanced stage, thus reducing the chances of cure. “It’s rare to see patients with small tumors. It is very difficult to see a T1, for example. So surprising how a person makes something grow in your mouth without seeking medical attention, “he says.

The chances of curing the disease vary with the size at which the tumor is at the time the person seeks treatment. “If he has a T1, the chances to reach 80%,” said Deise. As the doctor in cases where the tumor reappeared after surgery and treatment and in cases in which metastasis occurs, the patient has about a year of survival. “We must stress that oral cancer kills if not diagnosed early and untreated,” he says.

To Deise, there’s a reason dentists often do not observe the presence of a tumor in the mouth of a patient seeking care because of some dental problem. “Most of the patient who has cancer or has no more teeth or very few and not looking for the dentist. The proportion of the population that has the problem, for the most part, do not go to the dentist, “he concludes.