Head, neck and oral cancers

Posted on 30 July 2012

Meet our expert, Dr Fritz Hoogendijk, a specialist maxillo-facial and oral surgeon at Mediclinic Kloof in Pretoria.

What is important to know about oral cancers?
These cancers are more common than you might think. If we look at statistics released by the American Cancer Society, 40 000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, of which 8 000 will die as a result. The earlier it’s found, the better your chances of survival. Whereas a disease like breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer and has a general survival rate of 90%, 25% of those with oral cancer will die within five years. The earlier the cancer is found and treated, the better your chances of limiting its impact on the way you look and function.

How can I limit my chances of head and neck cancers?
• Getting a regular checkup at the dentist and your GP is very important for early detection.
• Quit smoking. Tobacco use is the greatest risk factor for oral cancer – 90% of patients diagnosed with oral cancer have a smoking history.
• Watch your alcohol intake.
• You can’t help this one, but the older you get the more you have to look out for these health issues.
• Viruses such as the human papilloma virus (HPV) can also play a role.

What would my doctor look out for?
Doctors would look for suspicious lesions, such as red or white patchy or pigmented areas, ulcers, swellings or nodules, as well as places where you may have lost sensation. If cancer is suspected, a biopsy is performed for definite diagnosis and treatment is decided from there.

What does my doctor mean by benign or malignant lesions?
A benign tumour or lesion is not cancerous. While both kinds of lesions are the result of the uncontrolled division of cells, something benign will not spread to other organs or areas in the body. But a malignant tumour can spread. You can also get potentially malignant lesions, which might not yet be cancerous but have a greater potential to develop into cancer. If a dentist notices white or red patches in the oral area typical of premalignant lesions, he or she may refer you to a surgeon for a biopsy. Whatever the outcome, this is a warning to change your lifestyle and have regular check-ups in the future.

What is the most important defence?
Make sure you have regular check-ups. Think of this: most women get an annual pap smear to screen for cervical cancer, but oral cancer is more common than cervical cancer, certainly in females. And because it can threaten your life or lead to great loss of quality of life, it’s vital to get to it early. Next time you book a prostate or breast check-up, consider getting your head and neck checked too.

If you have questions or any other cancer-related queries, add them as a comment below or click on the Facebook link to post them there. To find a Mediclinic doctor near you, click on the FIND A DOCTOR/HOSPITAL link on the right.

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.