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Spot Centre
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Spot Prevent Oral-cancer Trauma (SPOT) Centres are network of connected clinics
under Oral Cancer Foundation banner, vital pipelines that carry out OCF’s mission
of screening for early cancer detection. These clinics are run by dental professionals
who are certified OCF specialists, trained to screen and manage precancerous lesions
to prevent oral cancer. Counselling for simple lifestyle changes and regular screening
can bring down mortality of individuals and to prevent suffering from oral cancer.
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Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) is a profession-lead “call to action” to eradicate
oral cancer, strive for a ‘cancer free-India’ and thus improve the oral health of
Indian by 2020. The detrimental effects of smoking and consumption of smokeless
or chewing tobacco as carcinogenic agents are recognised world over. It affects
the lives of billions of persons, posing an enormous public health challenge in
its complexity, scale and impact, both at an individual and nation-wide level.
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Global Dental Care is an IDA Certified Spot Centre
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Our clinic is a S.P.O.T Centre which aims to promote early detection and intervention
thereby reducing the burden of oral cancer.
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With the help of latest oral cancer detection techniques oral cancer prevention
and early detection is available to the patients.
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A SPOT- (Spot and Prevent Oral Cancer Trauma )Centre
- Provides a valuable service of Oral Cancer prevention and detection to the patients.
- Earns credibility and develops an effective rapport between the doctor and the patient.
- Contributes to the health of our nation, by becoming an effective centre contributing
to the country.
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About Oral Cancer
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Mouth cancer is caused by an uncontrolled growth of cells in the mouth. Mouth cancer
includes cancer that starts anywhere in the mouth, including:
- Lips
- Tongue
- Gums
- Floor of the mouth or under the tongue
- Inside the cheeks and lips
- Roof of the mouth (the palate)
- Area behind the wisdom teeth
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Types of Mouth Cancer
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Nine out of 10 mouth cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. They develop in the flat,
skin-like cells that cover the inside of the mouth. Other, rarer types of mouth
cancer include:
- Salivary gland cancer - starts in the salivary gland cells
- Lymphoma - starts in lymph tissue near the base of the tongue and tonsils
- Melanoma - starts in skin pigment cells around the mouth or on the lips
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Top
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Facts and Statistics
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Symptoms of Mouth Cancer
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Most people with mouth cancer have no early symptoms at all, but others may have:
- an ulcer in the mouth or on the lip that won't heal
- constant pain or soreness
- red or white patches in the mouth
- a lump on the lip, tongue or in the neck
- bad breath
- unexplained bleeding in the mouth
- numbness in the mouth
- loose teeth
- difficulty in chewing or swallowing
- earache that doesn’t go away
These symptoms aren't always caused by mouth cancer but if you have them, visit
your GP or dentist.
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What to Look for?
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Doctors don't fully understand why mouth cancer develops. However, certain factors
make mouth cancer more likely.
- Any obvious lumps, bumps, etc. that may be seen on your face.
- Any change in shape, size number or colour of warts or moles.
- Soreness or swelling along the side of your neck.
- Tenderness or change in colour of lips.
- Any pain or swelling on inner side of cheeks.
- Any swelling or any changes in colour and consistency of tongue and floor of mouth.
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Causes of Mouth Cancer |
Doctors don't fully understand why mouth cancer develops. However, certain factors
make mouth cancer more likely.
- Smoking any form of tobacco - cigarettes, cigars and pipes, as well as bidis or
hand-rolled cigarettes containing cannabis.
- Chewing tobacco, such as betel quid, gutkha and paan.
- Drinking excessive alcohol, especially at the same time as smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Having already had cancer of the head and neck.
- Exposure to the sun or UV light - this increases the risk of lip cancer.
- A weakened immune system - people who have HIV/AIDS, or who are taking medicines
that suppress the immune system, are more likely to develop mouth cancer.
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Diagnosis of Mouth Cancer |
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The earlier mouth cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of recovery. Your
dentist may spot mouth cancer in its early stages during a routine check-up, so
it's important to visit your dentist regularly.
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Your doctor or dentist will ask you about any symptoms, and examine you using a
small mirror for harder-to-see areas. He or she will feel your neck and face for
swellings. You may then be referred to an ear, nose or throat specialist for further
tests.
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You may have the following tests to confirm diagnosis.
- Mouth and throat examination - your doctor may use a special instrument called a
laryngoscope to look inside your mouth and throat.
- Biopsy - a sample of cells or tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory for diagnosis.
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Staging the Cancer |
If the biopsy shows that you have cancer, you will have further tests to find out
how far it has spread and to help decide the type of treatment you will need. This
is called staging the cancer. The tests may include the following.
- X-rays of the upper and lower jaw (Panorex X-ray), or the chest, or both.
- Barium swallow - this test involves swallowing a drink containing barium (a substance
which shows up on X-rays). The X-rays will show up any unusual growths in the throat.
- Scans - these may include ultrasound, MRI or CT scans. These are done to check the
muscles, organs and tissues in your face, throat and chest.
- Further biopsies of nearby lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are glands throughout the body
that are part of the immune system.
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Treatment of Mouth Cancer
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Treatment depends on the type of mouth cancer, where it is and how far it has spread.
Your doctor will discuss your treatment options with you. There are three main treatments
for mouth cancer.
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Surgery
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Surgery (including the use of lasers) involves removing just the affected tissue.
How much surgery is needed depends on how much tissue is affected. Surgery is sometimes
followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment to make sure all the cancer cells
are destroyed.
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Non-surgical Treatments
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- Radiotherapy - radiation is used to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy - anti-cancer drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. They are usually
injected into a vein but sometimes may be given as tablets.
- Biological therapy - special manufactured monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab) are
used to block areas on the surface of cancer cells that can trigger growth. Radiotherapy
is then used to destroy the cancer cells. Cetuximab is a new treatment and is approved
for use only in advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.
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Prevention of Mouth Cancer |
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Prevention is the best cure…..in fact, prevention is the only cure for oral cancer.
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Simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of mouth cancer.
- Visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
- Look for any changes in your mouth such as, sore patches or ulcers that don't heal
and report them to your physician.
- Don't smoke.
- Don't chew tobacco.
- Drink only in moderation.
- Eat a healthy diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
- Protect your skin from sunlight and other UV exposure such as sunbeds. Wear sunblock
on your lips, stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm and wear a wide-brimmed hat
to protect your face.
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