Oral cancer screening In Elmhurst, IL

Oral cancer can appear in different parts of the mouth and throat, with the most common areas being the tongue, tonsils, oropharynx, gums, floor of the mouth, lips, cheek lining, and hard palate. Although this disease can affect anyone, men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer. Men over 50 who are heavy smokers and frequent alcohol consumers are particularly vulnerable. Other risk factors include exposure to UV radiation from the sun or sunlamps, gastro-intestinal reflux disease (GERD), previous radiation treatment to the head and neck, exposure to certain chemicals, and poor diet. While the death rate from oral cancer has decreased in recent years due to early detection and improved treatment methods, there has been a recent rise in cases of oropharyngeal cancer caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).