Cancer Is Always At Large

Last week, our team attended a conference for oral cancer. It not only reinforced for us  how important it is to screen patients for this disease, but it also renewed the personal connection I have with cancer.

A stage IV oral cancer survivor recounted her battle and victory with the disease and the treatments, and it made me think about not only what it means to be a patient who can suffer from cancer, but also as a care provider that has the right approach to recognizing and treating oral cancer.

A little over a year ago, my assistant died from a very insidious form of cancer called melanoma. It was a cancer that was initially recognized as a fatty, benign tumor on her belly.. There is a great likelihood that it was not properly screened and/or diagnosed in its early stages. She was going to suffer from this cancer regardless, but in my opinion, there could have been a chance to institute appropriate treatment earlier, giving her a shot at a longer lifetime with all of us.

Last year, my uncle was diagnosed with cancer of the tonsillar tissue, a legitimate oral cancer. He had a persistent sore throat. After talking with his dentist and ENT, he began the process of uncovering the mystery, and treatment was started quickly. Both my assistant and he went through chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  My uncle is doing well now, recovering from the effects of treatment, and it doesn't appear that he will have many issues to face in the near future. But the long-term future is uncertain. I began to process this before, during and after the conference. And I came up with a list of facts about oral cancer that every patient should know:

1) There is nothing certain in life.  Uncertainty exists in everything we plan, do, and have accomplished. The same is true for oral cancer--its occurrence, its diagnosis, its treatment, and its chances of recurrence.
2) Oral cancer is difficult to accurately diagnose. It is difficult to treat. It is difficult to endure.
3) Something that appears benign may not be benign. It requires follow-up study and specific treatment to accurately assess and determine the course of action for patients.
4) The prevalence of oral cancer has not decreased. Rather, it is likely that it will increase over time. Because of the larger presence of HPV, HPV-related cancers are starting to increase.
5) Physical (tactile) screenings for oral and pharyngeal cancers are important twice yearly at dental hygiene visits.
6)  Low-level light equipment (Identafi, Velscope) is essential to early detection of oral cancer, and must be a part of regular screenings.
7) Your physician typically doesn't have the training, experience, or equipment to perform the screenings, and in most cases, your dentist is going to be someone you see more often than your physician. Therefore, your dentist will have a better likelihood of identifying and treating an oral or throat cancer issue.

The woman who recounted her experience started a mission a few years ago to raise awareness for doctors and patients about oral cancer.  Her name is Eva Grayzel. Please go to her website, sixstepscreening.org,  and become better informed about oral cancer, its risks, and the appropriate care it requires.

October is Cancer Awareness Month

Typically, October shines a light on the victories as well as the challenges women face with breast cancer. But this month also provides an opportunity to become better informed about all types of cancer, including the prevention, screening, and treatments for countless other forms of the disease.

The American Cancer Society is a great resource for learning more about the efforts you can lmake to prevent the disease, as well as support ongoing research for cures.

In dentistry, our professionals have a unique opportunity to examine and screen patients more than once a year for oral cancer. Dental professionals have more contact with patients than most physicians, which makes dentists and hygienists better suited to perform a regular oral cancer screening. But more importantly, your dentist will likely be the first to diagnose the onset of oral cancer. And that's where the best part of today's dentistry comes in.

The Identafi 3000 is a state-of-the-art screening tool that uses visible light to identify abnormal changes to skin of the mouth, tongue, and parts of the upper airway. The tool was introduced to improve early detection of oral cancers. And with early detection, treatment options are more successful, and outcomes are better for patients.

The risk of oral cancer has increased in recent years due to the prevalence of the human papilloma virus, or HPV. Both women and men are at higher risk for oral cancer due to certain strains of HPV. Along with tobacco and alcohol consumption, HPV is now an important consideration when screening patients for oral cancer. The Center for Disease Control has an information page about prevention of HPV.

For the month of October, Cascadia Dentistry will offer the Identafi 3000 oral cancer screening at no cost to patients. Call us to reserve your appointment today.

Oral Cancer Update

In their latest issue, The Journal of the American Dental Association features multiple articles about the connection between human papilloma virus (HPV) and oral cancer. HPV has been recognized as a significant factor in contracting certain forms of oral cancer.

Cancers in the back of the throat, around the tongue and tonsils are the most common cancers caused by HPV. According to literature reviews, HPV-positive cancers have a lower incidence of death and recurrence as compared to HPV-negative cancers.

HPV has been most commonly associated with cervcial cancers, and several vaccines against that form of HPV, as well as other HPV types, has been available for several years. However, the types of HPV associated with oral cancers have no effective vaccine at this time. Currently, there is no test for detecting HPV infection. Prevention of HPV infection is the best approach to reducing oral cancer risk.

Oral HPV is thought to be acquired during oral sex, and also passed on by kissing. More research is needed to clarify the specific means of transmission.

Even though preventing HPV infection is effective at reducing the risk of oral cancers, it is also important to understand that tobacco and alcohol are significant risk factors in contracting oral cancer. About 75% of all oral cancers are related to smoking and alcohol use.

Cascadia Dentistry has been using the most effective oral cancer screening tools available for the past 2 years. The Identafi 3000 is a tool that uses visible light to detect abnormal oral tissue. It is valuable in early detection of oral cancers, and can help patients seek treatment earlier, and in many cases help them avoid more significant treatment. Detecting cancers earlier can reduce deaths in many cases.

Call us today to have an oral cancer screening as a part of your routine dental visits.

The standard for oral cancer screening is here!

Oral cancer prevalence is on the rise. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has recently been recognized as a significant factor in oral cancer. Usually, the first healthcare providers to recognize oral cancer are dentists. With the increased risk in the general population, we were interested in offering our patients the best way to screen for the disease. So we now offer the Identafi 3000, a visible-light instrument that can differentiate between healthy and abnormal oral tissues.

The Identafi 3000 is easy for to use, is comfortable for you, and can better identify signs of cancer at an earlier stage than the traditional "see and feel" oral cancer screening.

We perform an annual screening with the Identafi 3000 for all our patients. There is a reasonable cost associated with this service. But the value of early detection outweighs the cost of treatment and rehabilitation associated with advanced-stage oral cancer.

Call us today to schedule an examination that includes the Identafi 3000. For more about the instrument, visit http://www.trimira.net/.