Did you know that you are still at risk for oral cancer even if you don’t use tobacco products? It is regularly referred to as the “silent killer” because the signs are difficult to catch early. As a result, many people do not realize they have it until it is too late. On average, oral cancer takes a life every hour in the United States and appears three times more often than cervical cancer.
Even worse, 66 percent of oral cancer cases are not discovered until the late stages, a period where the five-year survival rate is barely above 20 percent. Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, your dentist wanted to address how his practice is working diligently to catch oral cancer before it is too late.