Advances In Oral Cancer Detection

More Cancer Awareness Articles

Advances In Oral Cancer Detection

Early detection of oral cancer, as with any type of cancer, is very important to give a person the best chance of success. Did you know that The Oral Cancer Foundation has stated, “The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma)”.

Specific risk factors that increase your chance of developing oral cancer include tobacco use of any kind, (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff), heavy alcohol use, excessive sun exposure to your lips, human papilloma virus (HPV), and a weakened immune system. Regular dental appointments can be vital for early diagnosis of oral cancers.

You should expect an oral cancer screening at each dental visit. It only takes a few minutes and can be crucial in early detection. Your oral exam should include both visual and tactile observations of your face, neck, lips, mouth and throat. The clinician is looking for white or red patches, sores and lumps or thickened areas.

To accomplish this they will inspect your face, throat, mouth, tongue and lips as well as will feel your neck, cheeks, lips, tongue, roof and floor of your mouth. You should let them know if you have experienced any of the following symptoms of oral cancer a feeling that something is caught in your throat, difficulty chewing, swallowing, moving your jaw or tongue, numbness in your tongue or other areas of the mouth, swelling in your jaw that has caused dentures to fit poorly, and/or pain in one ear with no hearing loss.

New technologies are available to assist your dental professional with screenings. These technologies use special lights to look at the tissues in your oral cavity. Vizilite uses a pre-rinse and a light to identify suspicious areas. VELscope and Identafi use only a light to detect the suspicious tissue. Identifi has different lenses to further tell the difference in tissue vasculature. If suspicious tissues are seen then you may be advised to have a biopsy of the tissue. If you feel at risk for oral cancer ask your dental office if any of these new tools are available to you.

You are your own health advocate and can check for the signs and symptoms of oral cancer regularly at home. If you notice a discolored patch of tissue, lump or sore that has not resolved within 14 days you should have it checked out by a health professional. Regular dental check-ups, at least twice a year, are important for everyone's overall health.