Oral Cancer Screening Montgomeryville, Bucks County, Doylestown
With early detection and timely treatment, deaths from oral cancer could be dramatically reduced. The five-year survival rate for those with localized disease is 76 percent compared with only 19 percent for those whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Early detection
of oral cancer is often possible. Tissue changes in the mouth that might signal the beginnings of cancer often can be seen and felt easily. Regular dental checkups, which include an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of both cancerous and precancerous conditions. A person may have a dangerous oral lesion and not be aware of it. Oral Cancer occurs more often in those who use tobacco in any form including: cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes, and cigars; or those who consume large amounts of alcohol. But oral cancer can and does develop in people of all ages, races and lifestyle habits. Over 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol socially. An oral lesion may be a persistent sore of irritation, a small, flat, red or white patch, or a growth, lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or irritated area. It is often painless, and you may not be aware of it. Because many oral lesions are flat, very small, or in an area of your mouth that you cannot see, they often only can be detected during an oral examination by your dentist.