Menreet Hendy

Tentative outline

Introduction:

According to Diana Harrison, in 2008, I noticed that my voice began to sound different. I began
experiencing a sore throat. Knowing something was wrong, I went to see my primary care physician to
help alleviate my symptoms. After the exam, I was diagnosed and treated for allergies. Over the next
few months, I noticed the discomfort slowly progress to a stabbing pain in my ear. The increased pain
caused me to withdraw from many activities. Then I started to feel like I was losing my hearing. I went to
a new primary care physician, and the doctor felt a swollen gland in my neck. The doctor referred me to
see an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT). The ENT performed a biopsy on the lymph gland on the
right side of my neck. The doctor called the next day and asked me to come in. At the appointment, the
ENT told me I had cancer and it was at the base of my tongue. The specialist recommended a radical
neck dissection, which would remove my jugular vein, lymph nodes and, potentially, a portion of my
tongue. It begins in the mouth, also called the oral cavity. This region of the body includes the lips, the
inside lining of the lips and cheeks (called the buccal mucosa), the teeth, the gums, most of the tongue,
the bottom of the mouth, and the bony roof of the mouth, or hard palate. Mouth cancer, or oral cancer,
can occur anywhere in the mouth, on the surface of the tongue, the lips, inside the cheek, in the gums,
in the roof and floor of the mouth, in the tonsils, and in the salivary glands. It is a type of head and neck
cancer and is often treated similarly to other head and neck cancers. According to the American Society
of Clinical Oncology, 48,330 Americans were expected to receive a diagnosis of oral or pharyngeal
cancer in 2016, and about 9,570 deaths were predicted. Mouth cancer mostly happens after the age of
40, and the risk is more than twice as high in men as it is in women. In the early stages, there are often
no signs or symptoms, but smokers and heavy drinkers should have regular checkups with the dentist, as
they may identify early signs. The overall 1-year survival rate for patients with all stages of oral cavity
and pharynx cancers is 81%. The 5- and 10-year survival rates are 56% and 41%, respectively. As part of
your routine dental exam, your dentist will conduct an oral cancer screening exam. More specifically,
your dentist will feel for any lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face, and oral cavity.
When examining your mouth, your dentist will look for any sores or discolored tissue as well as check for
any signs and symptoms mentioned above. Oral cancer is treated the same way many other cancers are
treated -- with surgery to remove the cancerous growth, followed by radiation therapy and/or
chemotherapy (drug treatments) to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Cancer is defined as the
uncontrollable growth of cells that invade and cause damage to surrounding tissue. Oral cancer appears
as a growth or sore in the mouth that does not go away. Oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips,
tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat), can be life
threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

Conclusion:

Conduct oral self-examinations to check for any pre-cancer indicators. Irritation of tissues inside your
mouth caused by dental trauma is one of the factors possibly associated with mouth cancer. You can
check inside your own mouth using a hand mirror to look for any abnormalities that could be indicators
of pre-cancer or cancer. Catching cancer early is one of the best ways to ensure you can treat it before
real damage occurs. Check all the areas of your mouth, such as your gums, tongue (back and sides), lips,
the insides of your cheeks, the roof of your mouth, and under your tongue. If you see any color changes,
like white, red, or grey patches, you should visit your dentist for a check-up, as it may indicate a pre-
cancerous condition. Also, check for lumps, bumps, painful areas in your mouth. If you have an ulcer
that is not healing, or if you have repeated ulcers in the same area, then visit your dentist immediately
to get your mouth examined. Conducting a self-examination at least once a month for a few minutes is a
good precaution to take against mouth cancer. Visit your dentist regularly to get a professional opinion.
Even better than giving yourself a self-examination, is allowing a dental professional to examine the
state of your mouth. Dentists have been trained extensively in many varieties of mouth disease. Your
dentist will be able to quickly and confidently assess the state of your oral health, and warn you if mouth
cancer has developed or could develop. It is important to visit your dentist every 6 months for a
complete oral checkup. You can also ask for an oral-cancer screening test if you are under high risk for
cancer (for example, due to regular tobacco use). Your dentist will check the entire mouth and he/she
will identify the precancerous changes in your mouth at early stage. These dental checkups are really
important to reduce cancer risks, especially in tobacco and alcohol users. Protect yourself from
excessive sun exposure. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays increases the risk of various kinds of
cancer, including cancer of the lips. Avoiding excessive sun can lower your risk of lip cancer, a cancer
that can spread to other parts of the mouth. If you want to spend time in the sun, be sure to use broad-
spectrum lip balm and sunscreen. Avoid going out in the sun during peak hours, usually between 10 a.m.
and 2 p.m. The lower lips are more commonly affected than the upper lips, due to their higher degree of
exposure to the sun. Consider using a broad hat, which provides shade to your face and lips. Eat cancer-
preventing foods and avoid foods that are linked to cancer. The foods in your daily diet play an
important role in fighting cancer-causing agents in your body. Incorporate plenty of fresh fruits and
vegetables in your diet, while avoiding preservatives and processed foods. This type of diet will minimize
your chances of developing mouth cancer. Include lots of dark green leafy vegetables, beans, berries,
tomatoes, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, soy, green tea, citrus fruits, fish, poultry, and olive oil in your diet.
Eat at least 2½ cups of vegetable and fruits daily. Choose whole grain breads and pastas over the white
versions of these foods. It is better to prepare foods by baking, boiling, or steaming, rather than grilling
and deep-frying. Residue and char from grilling can be carcinogenic. Do not add artificial food flavors,
instead add natural spices and curry powder for flavor. Try to avoid red meat and processed meats.
According to Stuart Scott “When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by
how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live”.