Oral Cancer Screening
A revolutionary non-invasive screening system for the early detection of oral cancer and other tissue abnormalities is available through our specialists.
The good news is that there has been a recent breakthrough in technology, which means that oral cancer can now be detected at very early stages, even when there is nothing apparent to the naked eye. This technology is called ‘tissue fluorescence visualisation’. The equipment delivering the technology and allowing examination to take place in the dental surgery is called the VELscope Oral Cancer Screening System (www.velscope.com).
Examination with the VELscope takes between 1-2 minutes to do and is now carried out for all new patients, and annually for all existing patients, as part of the service at Pritlove-Carson Associates. A bright blue light is used to detect abnormal tissue in a completely painless and non-invasive way. Any abnormality detected can then be followed up in the normal way by either careful monitoring or further investigation through biopsy or appropriate referral
FACT: Oral cancer has a five-year mortality rate, which is higher than that of breast cancer, cervical cancer and skin melanoma.
FACT: If oral cancer is detected in the early stages, the survival rate is 80% or higher, with minimally invasive treatments being carried out.
FACT: In the UK around 4,750 cases are diagnosed annually and around 1,600 people die of mouth cancer every year.
Mouth cancer has traditionally been associated with poor diet, heavy alcohol or tobacco consumption (smoking or chewing) but more recently, has been associated with a strain of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV). Common symptoms in the mouth include non-healing ulcers, red or white patches, any unusual changes.
For more information visit www.mouthcancer.org
