Always make sure to schedule your oral cancer screenings. The detection of oral cancer is extremely vital, as the sooner it is found, the greater the chance for recovery. In America alone, every single year there are over 40,000 new cases of oral cancer detected. Do your part and visit with our office as soon as you can to set up a time to visit us for your screening.
Although oral cancer screenings are a vital part of recovery, it’s always important to do self-examinations on a weekly basis. Knowing the potential signs and symptoms could lead to an early discovery and quicker treatment.
The first step is to look for signs of abnormalities in your mouth. This includes noticeable lumps, bumps, cracks, crusts, swelling, and erosion in and around your mouth. Also look for speckled patches or irregular white or red blotches on your gums. Keep track of sores when they appear in your facial area. Oral cancer can produce sores that last longer than two weeks and bleed early and often.
Other symptoms include persistent sore throats, numbness around your face and neck, difficulty eating and speaking, dramatic weight loss that is not easily explained, and a lump in the back of your throat that fails to go away.
For a diagnosis and treatment, please contact Trecker and Lopez Family Dentistry to book an appointment with Dr. Jonathan Trecker or Dr. Marcus Lopezand in Springfield, Massachusetts. Call us at 413-782-5159. Let us help you achieve a healthy smile!