Oral Cancer is Now Plaguing Younger Generations

Once the disease of older people who regularly drink and smoke, oral cancer is now plaguing younger generations, causing facial deformities, and, in some cases, death.

Studies show a link between oral cancer and the human papilloma virus (HPV). Research in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that people infected with HPV are 32 times more likely to develop oral or throat cancers compared to the increased risk associated with smoking (three times more likely to develop these cancers) and drinking alcohol (two-and-a-half times more likely).

Some are attributing the correlation between oral cancer and HPV to changes in sexual practices among young adults in recent decades, in particular an increase in oral sex. People with oral and oropharyngeal cancer linked to HPV infection tend to be younger and are less likely to be smokers and drinkers.

Two young women beat the odds, and want to emphasize the life-saving importance of early detection.

Misdiagnosed at Age 30

At age 30, Jill Sutcliffe found an unusual white area on her tongue. �Her dentist referred her to an oral surgeon, who dismissed it, saying, "You are too young for oral cancer."�Even though she continued to have pain, Jill didn't receive her devastating diagnosis for eight more years: Stage 4 oral cancer.

The life of the young mother of four took a dramatic change. Surgery was scheduled within a few days to remove the cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes and neck. Today, Sutcliffe knows how lucky she is to be alive. Oral cancer is one of the least survivable cancers. She warns to avoid tobacco and alcohol use, but notes that while HPV didn't figure into her case, it is a factor. Self-awareness, she said, is your best defense.

"Be aware of changes in your oral tissues," said Sutcliffe. "Sores that are prolonged should be examined.� Lumps or bumps that are new or have changed should be examined.� Like most cancers, there is not a 'typical' oral cancer patient.� Be self-aware and seek out professionals with questions or concerns!" �

Sutcliffe can no longer eat normal food, she struggles to maintain weight and her teeth are slowly decaying due to the rigors of chemo and radiation.�Despite all this, she is eager to share her story about trusting your intuition and pushing for an answer when the pain just won't go away.

"It is important to always be aware of your health and your body," Sutcliffe told EDGE. "Any changes in your health or pain or new bumps/lumps should always be investigated -- especially if the pain lasts for over a period of time or something is new and just doesn't look 'right.'�Your dentist should check the health of your mouth -- in addition to your teeth -- at every exam.� Any spots or sore areas deserve a follow up or a 'second look' to determine if it is unusual or merits additional investigation." �

Against All Odds

At age 27, Brooke Vitense had a great job, a fianc� and was in the home stretch of graduating with a degree in human resources. But a routine trip to have her wisdom teeth removed set a new course for her life.��Her surgeon noticed a strange spot and sent her to a colleague to have it removed with the assurance that at her age oral cancer was extremely rare. �

"For me, there was no pain or discomfort, but it was concerning to me that the white spots on the underside of�my tongue were not going away," said Vitense, who said she wasn't a tobacco user, adding that oral cancer did not run in her family. "Luckily my dentist was very adamant about me having a biopsy even though the likelihood of oral cancer was low for someone my age."�

Her pathology report showed she had stage one oral cancer. Vitense's promising career was put on hold, a battle with insurance companies began, and a once-happy engagement ended in disaster. �

"My oral cancer was linked to a strain of HPV," she said. "I had gotten the HPV vaccination about 8 years prior to my diagnosis, but unfortunately the vaccination doesn't prevent all strains. There are hundreds of different strains of HPV."

Today Vitense is something of a modern miracle.�Her cancer is gone, she can speak normally, and she's back at work and finished with school.�She's accomplished a great deal in her young life, but has one last goal: to help young people become of aware of how to detect oral cancer before it's too late.

"Since there is not a clear cause for oral cancer in young people, it is incredibly important to be observant of oral care. I never thought it would be something I would have to worry about," said Vitense. "I am not the typical demographic at all. I was young, have never been a tobacco user, it didn't run in my family, and was in all other regards a very healthy person, in fact I have always been very diligent with my oral care, brushing, rinsing, and flossing multiple times a day. I rarely got sick and had never spent a day in the hospital prior to having cancer."

Vitense said she always her good oral hygiene wasn't enough to protect her. If you find any strange spots, bumps, pain, or tenderness, you should certainly consult with your dentist right away. If they recommend any type of scan or biopsy, it is crucial to do that as soon as possible to be sure that anything that may by wrong is caught as soon as possible and treated quickly.

She was very lucky to catch her oral cancer, and was able to remove it completely with surgery and did not have to go through any sort of radiation or chemo treatment and the cancer did not spread.�Young people especially should know that oral cancer is a serious issue that requires attention.

"Young people should be aware of their oral health, in addition to their general health," said Sutcliffe.�"Most people are aware that they should see a doctor annually for a physical, men and women should be screened for gender related illnesses and they should see a dentist every six months. However, they need to know that their mouth should be checked in addition to their teeth, to ensure the entire mouth is healthy!"�