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Michael Douglas who is an oral cancer survivor has released a video that underscores the importance of early diagnosis of oral cancer. It can be watched on YouTube. Oral cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lips, oral cavity, or oropharynx. The number of new cases of oral cancer and the number of deaths from oral cancer have been decreasing slowly. Tobacco and alcohol use can affect the risk of developing oral cancer. Other risk factors are being infected with a certain type of human papillomavirus (HPV), exposure to sunlight (lip cancer only) and being a male.
There is no standard or routine screening test for oral cancer. Screening for oral cancer may be done during a routine check-up by a dentist or doctor. The exam will include looking for lesions, including areas of an abnormal white patch of cells (leukoplakia) and an abnormal red patch of cells (erythroplakia). These lesions on the mucous membranes may become cancerous.
