San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and that means it’s time for you to schedule an oral cancer screening. It might sound scary having an examination to be screened for cancer. Still, the general dentists in the Bay Area at Glen Park Dental want to assure you this is a simple and routine procedure—especially when the alternative could be living with undiagnosed cancer. Our dentists think that once you find out what an oral cancer screening entails, you’ll be ready to schedule one for yourself.
What is oral cancer?
Oral cancer is more widespread and dangerous than you might realize. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, there are about 145 cases of oral cancer diagnosed every day—part of nearly 53,000 cases of oral and Oropharyngeal cancer that are identified each year. Unfortunately, oral cancer is not commonly discussed, and many people believe that only tobacco users get it. Simply put, that is not the case. There are other risk factors that could increase your chances of being diagnosed with oral cancer, including alcohol use, age, HPV, or other pre-existing medical conditions. Anyone could get oral cancer. This deadly disease is not limited to one “type” of person.
Is oral cancer serious?
Oral cancer has an 80-90 percent survival rate when discovered in the earliest stages. Catching oral cancer in the early stages, however, isn’t all that common. Unfortunately, many oral cancers are not identified until in their latter stages after they have metastasized to other locations, most frequently the lymph nodes in the neck. For this reason, oral cancer has a significant mortality rate. Roughly 43 percent of people diagnosed with oral cancer die within five years of their date of diagnosis. Glen Park Dental, a general dentist practice in the Bay Area that offers oral cancer screenings, has a well-trained staff that is experienced in providing oral cancer screenings to identify signs of cancer even in early stages.
What is an oral cancer screening like?
When you arrive for a cancer screening at Glen Park Dental, we will assess both soft and hard tissue that occurs in or around the mouth. The screening will include pain-free gentle palpitations of the tissue in the mouth, as well as a visual exam, and X-rays. If there is any area that needs further inspection, a biopsy or other diagnostic procedures may become necessary.
Screening for Oral Cancer in San Francisco
The American Cancer Society recommends oral cancer screening should be performed by a dental professional every three years for anyone over age 20 and yearly for those over age 40. Our general dentists want you to make the best decision for you and the people you love. That means undergoing regular oral cancer screenings.
April may be Oral Cancer Awareness Month, but there is no wrong time to prevent oral cancer. If you live in the Bay Area, don’t hesitate to schedule your oral cancer screening by calling (415) 585-1500 or request a consultation online today.
