Your throat and parts of your mouth are covered with many flat squamous cells. Contracting Squamous Cell Carcinoma means that some of these cells have become abnormal and are now actively fighting against the body. Squamous Cell Carcinomas are a relatively pervasive problem, with over 30,000 people being effected by it each year in the United States alone. This means that Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas account for 2.5 percent of all cancer cases in the United States.
Perhaps the most tragic thing about Squamous Cell Carcinomas is how preventable they can often be. In fact, the single largest risk factor that has been identified for this form of cancer is active engagement in smoking and the consumption of alchohol. Less preventable is the role that age plays in the prominence of the disease, with the majority of Squamous Cell Carcinoma victims being above the age of 40. However, refusing to partake in active smoking and drinking can play a tremendous role in decreasing the likelihood of ever having to endure a case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
The lethality of this form of cancer depends heavily on the location in which it is first contracted. For instance, Squamous Cell Carcinomas that develop on the tounge or the floor of the mouth can have a 5 year survial rate as low as 50 percent, with an additional possibility of spreading to other parts of the body. Carcinomas that appear on the lower lip, however, typically have a much higher survival rate, with 9 out of every 10 people surviving 5 years of more.
Verrucous Carcinomas are a relatively rare varient of Squamous Cell Carcinomas, accounting for around 5 percent of all oral cavity cancers. It is typically very slow growing, which means that it rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However, it can become deeply infused with the oral cavity, something which sometimes results in the degredation of the jaw bone or similar features.
Early treatment is important with this form of cancer, as Verrucous Carcinomas can sometimes spawn cases of Squamous Cell Carcinomas. These Squamous Cell Carcinoma cells are not constrained by the slow-moving nature of Verrucous Carcinomas, and as such have the ability to spread to other parts of the body. This means that the danger of Verrucous Carcinomas has the potential to increase significantly over time, turning a very treatable condition into one that can sometimes spiral out of control.
Verrucous Carcinomas are especially common males above the age of 60 years old. However, it is occurring in young people more and more due to a recent willingness to partake in chewing tobacco or using snuff orally. Both of these things increase the risk of contracting this cancer so much that it is sometimes referred to as "Snuff dipper's cancer".
Your salivary glands are responsible for creating saliva, a lubricating substance involved in the early process of digesting food. Salivary Gland Carcinomas are classified when abnormal cells begin to disrupt this bodily function. They are relatively uncommon, only accounting for about 3 percent of head and neck tumors.
Luckily, the prognosis for those who contract this form of cancer is usually fairly positive, with around 72 percent of people diagnosed with Salivary Gland Carcinomas surviving 5 years or more. Even so, more research is necessary to identify new treatment procedures that could improve these odds even further.
The largest currently identified risk factor associated with Salivary Gland Carcinomas is age and gender, as the chance of contracting this disease is highest in males past the age of 50. That said, there do exist some other proposed conditions that some studies have suggested may increase the risk of a particular individual contracting a Salivary Gland Carcinoma. A diet low in vegetables and high in animal fat, for instance, has been proposed as one such condition.
Chemotherapy has always served as a valuable tool for doctors and patients alike to combat Oral Cancers. However, the side effects that this form of treatment can sometimes have has attached a negative stigma to the practice, something which has made some patients apprehensive to attempting it. Thankfully, recent advancements have brought with them new applications of chemotherapy that are both better suited for targeting cancerous tumors and more comfortable for those that must experience it.
One recent approach involves injecting the chemotherapy drug directly into the tumor. While in the past this approach sometimes led to the drug quickly spreading throughout the body, recent advancements have made it possible to prepare the chemotherapy drugs so that they remain in the tumor, thus ensuring a more comfortable and active treatment.
Additionally, chemotherapy for Oral Cancers is sometimes used as a supplement to other treatments, ultimately aiming to shrink the tumor before surgery or radiotherapy. This means we are sometimes able to slowly ween off our dependance on chemotherapy and the many harms that have historically come along with it.
Recent discoveries have done much to better our understanding regarding the actual causes of Oral Cancers, something that has given people everywhere the opportunity to protect themselves from this terrible disease. This means that it is now possible for everyone to take significant steps towards ensuring a healthier, safer life free from the burden of cancer.
The facts are alarming in their clarity: about 80 percent of the people who contract cancers of the Oral Cavity and related reigons participate in the usage of tobacco, be it through cigarettes, chewing tobacco or snuff. Additionally, around 70 percent of people who are diagnosed with Oral Cancer are relatively heavier drinkers. Current projections indicate that smoking and drinking can do so much as double a particular individual's chance of contracting a form of Oral Cancer.
It is through discoveries such as these that we can all be given the ability to advance the fight against cancer, one decision at a time. Information stands alone as the sole thing that possesses the ability to empower people to make healthy choices about what they choose to do and not do. And after all, one of the best ways to combat cancer is through prevention.
The Oral Cancer Foundation has long since been a valuable participant in the battle against Oral Cancers. They have made it their mission to save lives through the promotion of innovative new research and an increased awareness as to the causes of Oral Cancers.
The Oral Cancer foundation has also been responsible for the organization of many nationwide events that have done much to enhance public awareness regarding the disease. The foundation serves as a valuable platform for anyone to get involved in the fight against Oral Cancers through the means of allowing all visitors to their website to create a personal campaign. These campaigns can involve everything from bake sales to neighborhood parades, and are capable of spreading happiness as well as raising money and awareness for the fight against this terrible disease.
The value of this foundation simply cannot be overstated. Every dollar directed towards them advances the fight against Oral Cancers, and it is these individual efforts that could one day end the suffering that this disease has left in its wake. You can join them in their fight by clicking the button below to cast a donation.
Established over a decade ago, The Mouth Cancer Foundation has dedicated itself to supporting people who suffer from mouth, throat, and other related cancers. They provide valuable information for patients and professionals alike, helping both parties deal with their situation in a healthy, efficient way free from ignorance.
They also boast an impressive online support group that has proven to help thousands people gain information regarding how best to deal with the threat of Oral Cancers. In addition to supporting the operation of the foundation, donations directed towards them do everything from providing counseling to families in need to reaching out to communities, hospitals, and schools to provide valuable information.
Simply put, a donation directed towards The Mouth Cancer Foundation is the first step towards ensuring that the threat of Oral Cancers becomes one of the past. They seek to combat this diseases on every front, providing both emotional and financial support to those who need it the most. You can assist them in this heroic goal by clicking the button below to donate.
The internet has made it possible to join the fight against Oral Cancers without spending a single penny. This is the power of word of mouth, the power of sharing our thoughts and ideas to make a change. You can click on the buttons below to get started. Spread the word!