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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 2-8, 2009 Page C-8
A closer look at oral cancer
Grosse Pointe oral cancer survivor shares her story
Young? Healthy? Think president of Delta Dental of diagnosis, Fish has become office.
you’re safe from oral cancer? Michigan. “The key is early de- a mother to a healthy, happy
Grosse Pointe resident Kelley tection because it can signifi- little boy, who has become her
An oral cancer exam is a
Fish thought so, too – until cantly increase your chances motivation to remain healthy.
quick and painless procedure
she was diagnosed with stage of survival.” She continues to have some
that can help catch cancer
4 oral cancer at just age 34.
early. It involves an evalua-
Fish’s doctors never sus-
side effects from her experi-
tion of the neck, head, mouth,
“I went to my doctor be- pected oral cancer because
ence and still suffers some
gums, throat and tongue.
cause I felt a lump on my neck she didn’t fit the typical mold
anxiety about her cancer re-
During the process, your den-
and was prescribed antibiot- for the disease. When antibiot-
turning, but she is determined
tist will use a piece of gauze
ics,” Fish said. “Cancer never ics weren’t helping, her doctor
to make a difference. Fish is
to pull the tongue forward and
crossed my mind. I had never ordered additional tests. The
working with Delta Dental to
move it from side-to-side in
heard of oral cancer before I lump on her neck was surgi-
raise awareness and educate
order to check the harder-to-
was diagnosed.” cally removed, tested and de-
others about the dangers of
see areas in the mouth. When
In the past, oral cancer was
termined to be cancer. One
oral cancer.
oral cancer is detected early,
perceived as a disease that
month later, Fish underwent Delta Dental aims to edu- patients have an 80- to 90-per-
attacks men over 40, and es-
a modified neck dissection, cate the public and dispel the cent survival rate.
pecially those who used to-
removing high-risk lymph perception that oral cancer is
bacco and alcohol excessively.
nodes on one side of her neck, rare or affects only smokers,
An estimated 34,000 Amer-
Now, the face of oral cancer is
and had her tonsils removed. drinkers or older adults.
icans will be diagnosed with
changing. Many young people
These procedures revealed
oral cancer and another 8,000
who live healthy lives and
her cancer originated on her
“My advice to everyone will die from the disease this
lack traditional risk factors
left tonsil and spread to the
is to minimize the abuse year alone. Oral cancer is
are being diagnosed unexpect-
right side of her neck.
you put your body through,” more prevalent among minori-
Fish said. “Although I’m not ties, occurring twice as often
edly. “I had an attitude that noth- sure the exact cause of my in African Americans. The
Recent research suggests
ing bad could happen to me so cancer, knowing what I know five-year survival rate is just
the apparent shift to oral ORAL CANCER survivor Kelley Fish with her son, Henry.
I was shocked to hear that I now about HPV, I would also 33 percent.
cancer cases in younger pa-
had cancer. It didn’t really hit say that you have to be care-
tients may be attributed to
active Americans – both men “The potential link between
me until after my treatments,” ful and practice safe sex, and
“Because HPV is contract-
human papillomavirus, more
and women – will be infected HPV and oral cancer is star-
said Fish. “It was horrifying. I that means orally as well.
ed sexually, some people are
specifically, the sexually
with genital HPV at some point tling and we encourage people
realized, ‘Oh my God, I don’t Don’t smoke, get regular den-
reluctant to talk about it. It is
transmitted HPV-16 and HPV-
in their lives. In addition, the to be alert to early warning
have that lifeline anymore.’” tal check-ups and insist that
vital that people know about
18 strains. According to the
American Cancer Society es- signs and be proactive in talk-
After 32 grueling radiation
your dentist conduct an oral
oral cancer and risk factors
national Centers for Disease
timates HPV is connected to ing with their dentist,” said
treatments and three cycles
cancer screening.”
like HPV that contribute to its
occurrence,” Jacobson said.
Control and Prevention, at 39 percent of oral cancer pa- Dr. Jed Jacobson, chief sci- of chemotherapy, Fish was de- Another noteworthy statis- “It is extremely important to
least 50 percent of sexually tients. ence officer and senior vice clared cancer-free. Since her tic: there are no known risk regularly visit the dentist and
factors found in 25 percent of understand the importance of
oral cancer cases. One way to oral cancer exams. They can
Fight oral cancer: Be alert, be aware, be proactive
protect yourself is to have an save lives.”
oral cancer exam during your
regular visit to the dentist’s
When oral cancer is found early, pa- cancer exam, there is an adjunctive di-
tients have an 80 to 90 percent survival agnostic test covered by Delta Dental
rate. Late-stage diagnosis often occurs, called the BrushTest™. The test is a
Helping your loved ones
however, because of an apparent lack
quick and relatively painless way to
of public awareness.
sample and analyze potentially precan-
to continue living at home.
Signs and symptoms associated
cerous and cancerous cells. A sample
• Up to 24 hour care
with oral cancer can include:
is collected and mailed off to a labora-
tory for computer-assisted analysis. If
• Non-healing red or white spots that • Affordable Hourly Rates
appear on the lips or anywhere inside
the test shows abnormal cells, an oral
the mouth and throat
surgeon can remove the cells and pre-
• Light Housekeeping
vent cancer from developing. If the cells
• Tiny marks that resemble canker sores
show early oral cancer, treatment often
that last longer than two weeks
• Meal Preparations
can stop the disease in its tracks.
• A bulging lymph node on the neck
More research is needed and an in-
• Hygiene Assistance
• The area behind the wisdom teeth no
creasing amount of research is being
longer being symmetrical.
conducted. As the research continues,
• Errands
• Swelling of the tongue or throat
Delta Dental is urging people to be
Joyce K. Stalllings,
aware, be alert and be proactive:
• Respite
Director
• A lump in the mouth or neck
Be aware of HPV and its possible • Medicaid Accepted
• Numbness in the mouth region
link with oral cancer.
America’s Choice In Home Care! Serving Detroit and Wayne County
• Vocal hoarseness that lasts for an ex-
Be alert to the warning signs and
tended time
symptoms.
• Sores that bleed and don’t heal (in
Be proactive by limiting your expo-
later stages)
LIVING ASSISTANCE SERVICES
sure to risk factors and encouraging
Should a dentist find unexplained your dentist to conduct a thorough oral
AN EARLY symptom look at oral cancer.
red or white spots during their oral cancer exam every time you visit.
Call for your personal assessment | 313-272-9401
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