It is now commonplace to annually get a Pap smear for cervical cancer, a mammogram to check for breast cancer, or PSA and digital rectal exams for prostate cancer. These screening efforts have been possible as a result of the increased public awareness of the value of catching cancers in their earliest forms, combined with effective technologies for conducting the examinations. Oral cancer is no different.
Who is at risk for oral cancer?
Primary risk factors
• age 40 and older
• tobacco use including “smokeless” tobacco
Other risk factors
• heavy or chronic alcohol consumption
• viral infections, particularly HPV 16/18
• long term exposure to the sun (lip cancer)
• a history of white or red patches on the oral tissue.
According to many sources, oral cancer is the sixth deadliest cancer in the world with close to 390,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Approximately 8,000 Americans die each year – an average of one per hour – compared to cervical cancer with 3,710 deaths per year, 66 percent of the oral cancer cases are not diagnosed until they are in the late stages, and approximately 50 percent of the victims will die within five years. This death rate is higher than Hodgkin’s disease and cervical, skin, ovarian, and brain cancers. The real issue is that oral cancer is 80 to 90 percent survivable if caught early.
Within the past couple of years, as a result of a heightened awareness and technological advancement, several new products have come into existence that aid in the detection of oral cancer in the earliest stages possible. ViziLite, for example, is an oral lesion identification and marking system that is used as an adjunct to the conventional head and neck examination. It is comprised of a unique light source which improves the ability of a healthcare professional to accurately identify lesions that may become cancer.
In general, most people see their dental health provider at least twice a year and their general physician… not as often. It is for this reason that dental health providers have taken an active role in examining more than just the health of your teeth and gums. Traditionally, a dentist or hygienist performs screening for oral cancer by visually examining the mouth for any abnormal looking areas, and feels the neck for unusual lumps. The only downside to this type of screening is the cancer must have advanced to a stage that has visual symptoms, decreasing the chances of it being treatable.
Dr. Omeltschenko and his staff continue to perform the visual and manual screening for oral cancer for every patient. Dr Omeltschenko believes ViziLite improves the ability to identify suspicious areas at their earliest stages, and recommends it to his patients on an annual basis. This exam takes only a few minutes and can be done at any visit.
If you would like to improve your next oral cancer screening with ViziLite, or would like to schedule a visit for an oral cancer screening, call us today at 513-245-2200.
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