This article is printed from http://www.selfgrowth.com
Shining A Light On Oral Cancer
By Richard Neufeld, DDS
Jul 10, 2008
One American dies every hour from oral cancer and the survival rate is only 50%. If you think you aren’t at risk you might be surprised to learn that 27% of oral cancers occur in people who don’t smoke or have other reasons to be considered high risk. We hear a lot about other types of cancer, but somehow oral cancer does not get talked about as much. It’s time to talk about it now.
Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it is caught early, but it is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. By the time it is visible to your dentist or health professional, it is usually more advanced, often at Stage 3. Catching it earlier can limit the disfigurement due to surgeries and increase the survival rate to 95%!
ViziLite Plus helps dentists detect cancer cells at an early stage. It is easy, painless, and 99% effective. The technology is similar to what is used for mammograms, Pap smears and PSA. With ViziLite Plus, you simply rinse with a special solution and then the Hygienist or Dentist examines the oral tissue with the ViziLite luminescent light. If there are any areas of concern, they can be checked further with a special stain that adheres to abnormal cells. Oral cancer exams are recommended yearly, and may be repeated more often for people at higher risk of developing this dangerous disease.
Everyone is at risk for oral cancer, however certain factors can increase that risk:
Tobacco use
Alcohol consumption (1 or more drinks daily)
Age 40 and over
Sexually active – HPV (the same virus that contributes to cervical cancer).
Dental insurance might not cover this cancer screening, just as they did not cover sealing children’s teeth to prevent cavities for a long time. This technology has been in the medical field for a number of years, but is new to dentistry. While each dental office sets their own fees, an average cost might be about $60 to $80. How much do you spend on getting your hair or nails done, going out to dinner, or playing a round of golf? In comparison, how much is it worth to take care of your health?
Dentists are the first line of defense in the reduction of deaths and disfigurement related to oral cancer, which takes more lives each year than cancers we commonly hear of such as cervical or skin cancers. Yearly ViziLite Plus screenings will save lives. Will yours be one of them?
Bite of Wisdom: “It is better to light one candle then curse the darkness.” Eleanor Roosevelt.