Oral Cancer Awareness Month: cancer can start with a habit

In the United States, over 59,000 people are diagnosed with an oropharyngeal, or “oral,” cancer each year.

“It often begins quietly, with a small sore that doesn’t heal, a rough patch on the tongue, red or white patches in the mouth, difficulty chewing or swallowing, a lump in the neck or a lingering pain in the mouth or jaw that seems like a dental issue,” says Deanna Prine, Health Impact consultant. “Oral cancer rarely announces itself loudly. Instead, it often starts with subtle symptoms that are easy to overlook, until they aren’t.”

Each April, Oral Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that many oral cancer cases are preventable. People who use tobacco and/or nicotine products are six to ten times more likely to develop oral cancer compared to those who don’t.

“Cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pouches and other nicotine products expose the mouth’s tissues directly to carcinogens and dozens of cancer-causing chemicals that can damage DNA over time,” says Prine. “Quitting tobacco and nicotine can significantly reduce the risk of oral cancer. Research shows that as the body begins repairing itself after quitting, the risk of oral cancer declines over time.”

Since nicotine is highly addictive, most people need support to succeed. At IU Health, two evidence-based programs support patients who want to quit:

• Centralized Tobacco Treatment Program (CTTP): CTTP offers live, personalized coaching by telephone with trained tobacco treatment specialists. Participants receive one-on-one counseling, medication guidance and long-term relapse prevention support.
• The EX Program: The EX Program provides live, digital professional coaching, free nicotine replacement therapy and personalized quit plans and tools designed to help participants navigate cravings and build new habits.

“Our programs offer flexible options to meet patients where they are at in their quit journey,” says Prine. “Sometimes the most important oral cancer prevention strategy doesn’t begin in a laboratory or an operating room – it begins with a conversation and the decision to quit.”

Explore IU Health’s tobacco cessation options here or call 317-963-0400.