Oral Cancer Screenings Performed at Our Office

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer, accounting for 40,000 newly diagnosed cancers each year and 9,000 deaths. Less than half of all oral cancer patients are cured, because it is usually diagnosed in later stages. You are more likely to develop oral cancer if you are male (2 times) and after age 45.

While the potential for oral cancer may be genetically inherited, the risk increases with smokers, spit tobacco users, too much exposure to sunlight and excessive alcohol consumption. Habits such as lip or cheek biting and ill-fitting dentures also heighten the risk of developing oral cancer.

To read the entire article, click here

Fluorescence Visualizaton Technology for Early Detection of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in males in the US. Unlike several other cancers, the survival rate for oral cancer has remained unchanged for decades. The overall 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is 52%, but when discovered early, it increases to over 80%. Unfortunately, only 35% of oral cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages. Why? Because there have been few advances made in screening techniques and there are significant limitations inherent to white light and chemiluminescence light examination of the oral mucosa Pre-malignant changes actually start below the surface, at the basement membrane. These changes may not be apparent to the naked eye until the disease progresses to the surface.

To read the entire article, click here