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Call for an appointment: Livonia, MI 734-542-0570

Livonia Oral Cancer Screening - ViziLite Plus - Dr. Leslie Swartz, DDS

 Oral cancer detection

OUR OFFICE BELIEVES IN THE

"EARLY DETECTION" OF ORAL CANCER 

One person dies every hour from oral cancer in the United States and the mortality rate has remained unchanged for more than 40 years. Late detection is the primary reason that the mortality rate has not improved.

 

ORAL CANCER FACTS 

  • 75% of head or neck cancers begin in the mouth
  • There are 34,000 cases of oral cancer each year in the U.S.
  • There are 8,800 deaths yearly (one every hour)
  • Smokers and drinkers have a 15 times greater risk of developing oral cancer
  • 25% of oral cancer victims have no risk factors
  • The overall  5 year survival rate is 59%
  • The mortality rate has not changed in 40+ years
  • According to the American Cancer Society, more women in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year (12,000 cases) than will be diagnosed with cervical cancer (<10,000 cases). Also, there are as many cases of oral cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV 16/18), a sexually transmitted disease, as there are HPV-related cases of cervical cancer.

After the regular utilization of mammograms, pap smears, PSA tests and colonoscopies, the survival rates improved for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancers.

The best way to improve survival rates is to increase the rate of early detection!

Our office has implemented a formal early cancer detection program!

  1. Every patient receives a clinical oral cancer screening at their initial comprehensive exam
  2. Every patient receives a clinical oral cancer screening at each bi-annual checkup hygiene exam
  3. All patients are encouraged to have a ViziLite Plus exam
  4. If a suspicious lesion is found, either visually or with the ViziLite Plus, a referral for a biopsy will be done

SIGNS OF ORAL CANCER

  •  A sore or lesion in the mouth that doesn't heal in two weeks
  •  A lump or thickening in the cheek, tongue or floor of the mouth
  • A white or red patch on the gum, tongue, tonsils or lining of the mouth
  • A sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
  • Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth
  • Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or uncomfortably


                    For more information abour Oral Cancer please click the link below
                                                      www.oralcancerfoundation.org