Dr. Paolo Boffetta Highlights the Symptoms and How to PreventOral Cancer

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• June 30, 2020
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Oral cancer refers to malignant tumors that develop in certain regions of a patient’s mouth. These include the lips, tongue, palate, tonsils, glands producing saliva, pharynx, and the cheeks’ inner surface. This disease occurs when the cells of these organs undergo sudden mutations in their Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This is the material that contains specific genetic instructions telling the cells how to function correctly. As a consequence, cells which are the verge of dying out continue to grow, multiply, and expand. With time, these abnormal cells affect the healthy ones and combine to form tumors that spread rapidly to other areas.

Dr. Paolo Boffetta is a renowned cancer research specialist from Italy who currently lives in America. His area of expertise lies in cancer prevention, molecular, cardiovascular, and genetic epidemiology. He has ground-breaking contributions to understanding the influence of factors in the development of cancer. These include the environment, smoking, nutrition, occupation, and alcohol abuse. He has the privilege of working with some top international cancer research institutions during his illustrious career. These include the German Cancer Research Center, American Cancer Society, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and American Health Foundation. Presently, he holds the office of the Associate Director for Population Sciences at The Tisch Cancer Institute.

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He says people need to understand that oral cancer is a curable disease with a high survival rate. However, this is possible only when doctors specializing in oncology can diagnose and treat it at an early stage. Moreover, the disease occurs due to certain bad habits that patients develop during their lifetime. These include smoking tobacco products, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to harmful ultraviolet sun rays, and consuming an unhealthy diet. In some cases, it can result from a human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Patients who have oral cancer generally exhibit the following symptoms:

1. A sore ulcer in their mouths which does not heal naturally with a few weeks,
2. A reddish patch appears in the inner regions of the patients’ mouth,
3. Having difficulties in eating and swallowing foods because of excruciating pain,
4. Changes in the patients’ voice and speech, and
5. Persistent lumps in the region of the lymph glands.

He further explainspeople can avoid suffering from oral cancer by adopting the following measures:

1. They should quit smoking or chewing all form of tobacco products,
2. Abstain or limit alcohol-consuming to only two drinks a day,

• Avoid going outdoors between 10 am to 4 pm when the sun is at its peak, and

1. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and wholesome vegetables.

As per Paolo Boffetta MD oral cancer is a curable disease only if doctor scan diagnose and treat it at an early stage. Patients suffering from it exhibit sore ulcers in their mouths and have difficulties in swallowing food. They even complain of persistent lumps in their lymph glands and changes in their voice. Fortunately, people can avoid this disease by quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, and eating fresh fruits and wholesome vegetables.