Oral Cancer Survivors

According to MD Anderson, a leading cancer treatment hospital,

Thanks to earlier detection, improved treatments and the supportive care of family and friends, there are now more than 10 million cancer survivors in the United States. One out of every six people over 65 is a cancer survivor, and 1.4 million were diagnosed more than 20 years ago.

Some survivors may live with cancer as a chronic disease requiring periodic treatments, while others may go into long-term remission. Many will lead normal lives with few side effects, if any. In fact, two-thirds of survivors report that cancer has not had a significant long-term impact on their lives.

Early detection is the best way to survive cancer.  According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,

Oral cancer survival rates have increased approximately 15 percent from the mid 1960s until the latest (2004) National Cancer Institute Survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

The more awareness that is raised regarding the concerns of oral cancer, the higher the likelihood of early detection.  Encourage your friends and your family to incorporate regular oral cancer screenings in their dental checkups.

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Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.

Comments

2 Responses to “Oral Cancer Survivors”

1. jane gennusa says:

   July 24, 2010 at 8:14 pm

   hi ca survivers, i had oral ca. it’s been 11 months since i finished radiation and i still cannot eat anything. my mouth is so dry —food turns into sawdust and will not go down. my taste is still not right. i have a hard time tasting sweets but i can taste a little salt. just wanting to hear what others are experiencing. i am so depressed over this. i crave a cheesburger and so many other things. feeling alone—-jane
2. Arma says:

   August 1, 2010 at 10:16 pm

   You are not alone Jane. So many people go through the same thing. It is very hard to predict how much of your taste buds will come back. The best thing is to talk with your surgeon to see what they say. There are some support group that are associated with us. Tell me where you live and I will look one up for you. You can email me at Info@fightoralcancer.org if you prefer.