Battle against Mouth Cancer - World Oral Health Day (WOHD)

History-

World Oral Health Day (WOHD)

It is celebrated every year on 20 March. It is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene to looking after everyone old and young.

Organized by the FDI World Dental Federation, World Oral Health Day was launched in 2013 to raise awareness of maintaining good oral health and its significance in safeguarding general health and well-being.

Survivor-

The fight against mouth cancer is a hard and difficult task but with his family and friends by his side every step of the way David Shakesby was determined to emulate his sci-fi idols and battle it bravely.

For father of one David, from Loughborough, being diagnosed with mouth cancer at the age of 39 was a complete shock; one which has turned his life and that of his family upside down.

David took pride in his oral health and visited the dentist every six months and right up until his diagnosis he hardly ever had any oral health problems. But in April 2015 he knew something was wrong and during his regular check-up, he got the news he had been dreading.

David had been experiencing pain in his mouth when he ate, and after a previous scare two years prior in which a biopsy gave him the all clear, always paid close attention to what was going on in his mouth.

As a non-smoker and only occasional drinker, David would not usually be considered a high risk when it comes to a mouth cancer diagnosis. So when his dentist rushed him for checks at the Leicester Royal Infirmary it was a sign that something was truly wrong.

Just a couple of weeks before his 40th birthday, David received the news which would change his life; he was told he had mouth cancer.

David’s cancer originated at the back of his tongue, where many HPV related cancers start, and his initial course of treatment involved having part of it removed in an attempt to stop cancer in its tracks.

His treatment moved as quick as the flash and after two operations, and also spending his 40th birthday in the hospital recovering, he was told his treatment has been successful and his tumor had gone.

But this was far from the end of David’s battle.

After recovering well his world was once again sent into a spin when, just a few short months later, during a routine check, David’s doctor found the lump in his neck. His cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.

A third grueling operation followed in the autumn, but unfortunately, surgeons were unable to remove the tumor and more devastating news followed when they confirmed that his cancer was a particularly aggressive type.

With all his surgery options, exhausted David was told he would have to undertake a grueling six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which finished in January this year. Following a recent scan, David’s tumor in his chest has decreased in size and his battle against mouth cancer continues.

David and his family have had even more hurdles thrown in their way as during his ordeal they have also had to come to terms with the sad loss of his father from leukemia. David’s parents and sister have been his support network with his father driving him to and from all his appointments and having him move in with them during his recovery.

Darth Vader himself, David Prowse, has sent David a personal message of support. But as Darth Vader is the ultimate anti-hero his sister, Karen Chappell, has described David as a superhero.

David and his family faced a long and heroic battle filled with the love and support of his many friends and family.

With mouth cancer survival relying so heavily on early diagnosis Karen is fighting on to generate awareness of mouth cancer by encouraging early detection and diagnosis through charity work. She said, you don’t think it could ever happen to you but everyone is pulling together

Things to watch out: 

An ulcer or sore in the mouth that lingers for three weeks or more.

A red or white patch anywhere in the mouth, including the tongue.

Any persisting pain or discomfort in the mouth.

A sore throat or croaky voice.

Any unexplained lumps in the neck.

1. Surgery

Surgery to remove the tumor- 

Your surgeon may cut away the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue that surrounds it to ensure all of the cancer cells have been removed.

Surgery to remove cancer that has spread to the neck- 

If cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in your neck or if there's a high risk that this has happened based on the size of your cancer, your surgeon may recommend a procedure to remove cancerous lymph nodes and related tissue in your neck (neck dissection). 

Surgery to reconstruct the mouth-

After an operation to remove your cancer, your surgeon may recommend reconstructive surgery to rebuild your mouth to help you regain the ability to talk and eat.

2. Radiation therapy- 

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. 

3. Chemotherapy- 

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. 

4. Targeted drug therapy- Targeted drugs treat mouth cancer by altering specific aspects of cancer cells that fuel their growth.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Do not smoke (or chew) any type of tobacco product.

Drink alcohol in moderation (one to two drinks per day) and never binge drink.

Always brush and floss your teeth regularly. 

See your dentist or dental hygienist regularly (at least every six months) and ask for an oral cancer screening to be done. 

Conduct a self-exam at least once a month. 

Alternative medicine

No complementary or alternative medicine treatments can cure mouth cancer.

Famous Quotes -

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa

“Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” – John Diamon

“Time is shortening. But every day that I challenge this cancer and survive is a victory for me.” – Ingrid Bergman

Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” – Emory Austin

“There is no hope unmingled with fear, no fear unmingled with hope." – Baruch Spinoza

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon

“We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell.” – Lance Armstrong

“Cancer affects all of us, whether you’re a daughter, mother, sister, friend, coworker, doctor, or patient.” –Jennifer Aniston

Strength is born in the deep silence of long-suffering hearts; not amidst joy.” – Felicia Hemans

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.