In honor of National Oral Cancer Awareness month, we are hoping you'll read on about stopping this terrible disease. Celebrities like Roger Ebert and Eddie Van Halen are survivors, yet oral cancer and its effects caused the death of Aaron Spelling, Bruce Paltrow, Humphrey Bogart, Lana Turner, George Harrison, Sammy Davis, Jr. and countless others.
http://www.fightoralcancer.org/stories/faces/
How can you keep from joining these statistics? Two words: early detection. Death rates from numerous forms of cancer have been reduced through early detection. Early discovery and diagnosis means better long-term outcomes and lower mortality rates for people who undergo treatments. Simply put, getting checked can save your life.
Are you at risk? These factors elevate your risk of oral cancer.
ˇ Tobacco use (any form)
ˇ High alcohol consumption
ˇ Prolonged exposure to the sun (for lip cancers)
ˇ Diagnosed with HPV 16-human papilloma virus
Unlike many malignancies, oral cancer (including precancerous lesions) is not hidden within the body in some hard to find location; it is literally in plain view and can be seen with the naked eye or felt with the fingers. In most cases, a painless 3-5 minute exam can detect oral cancer in its early, highly-survivable stages.
We use an oral cancer detection method called ViziliteŽ. During either a new patient visit or routine cleaning, patients swish with an oral solution that causes abnormal cells to appear white under a special fluorescent light. Since many insurance plans don't pay for oral cancer screening, the test is optional. However, if you're at risk or have a family member who has been diagnosed with similar symptoms, testing can prolong your life.
http://www.zila.com/40/VIZILITE%26REG%3B%20PLUS/
