Sadly, in the U.S., 58,450 new cases of oral cancer arise each year, as noted by the American Cancer Society. This number is beginning to rise as cases of human papillomavirus increase. While prevention is the best medicine, getting routine oral cancer screening, especially when you’re at risk, can lead to a better outcome. 

Fortunately, Dr. Shields is more than just a cosmetic dentist in Jacksonville, FL, and can provide routine oral cancer screenings during your bi-yearly dental check-up.

Why Early Patient Detection Is Key

Dr. Shields stresses the importance of regular oral health cancer screenings for various reasons, such as:

Treatment Options Change When it Spreads

Oral cancer can spread beyond your mouth. While metastases can occur anywhere, they most often spread to the lungs and surrounding lymph nodes as cells from the tumor detach and migrate. Once the cancer spreads, the treatment becomes more aggressive and possibly will cause undesirable side effects. 

When it’s still local, the treatment is usually surgery, such as thin resection, surgical stripping, or Mohs surgery, to remove the cancerous spot(s). The goal is to remove as little healthy tissue as possible while removing all of the cancer.

Once it spreads beyond the mouth, a single surgery isn’t enough. You may need a surgical procedure on the lymph nodes or any of the following, depending on staging and type of cancer:

• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy

The number of visits you need will depend on the severity of the cancer and the type of treatment. But, realistically speaking, you’ll need multiple appointments. Not only could this interfere with work, your family, and other obligations, but this typically means more extraordinary medical expenses.

Prognosis Changes When it Spreads

In the early stages, mouth cancer is curable in most patients after surgery. Not to mention, recurrences are less likely in patients who had their cancer detected in the early stages than those with advanced cases.

Furthermore, when oral cancer is in its early stage, meaning it’s still local to the mouth, the five-year survival rate is 86.3 percent. Once it spreads to nearby lymph nodes and other tissue, the five-year survival rate drops to 69 percent. And if oral cancer has the opportunity to travel distantly, the survival rate decreases to 40.4 percent.

Overall, with routine screenings, Dr. Tiffany Shields of Jacksonville, FL, can detect cancer early, when the prognosis is better.

What Happens During a Patient Healthcare Cancer Screening

While the concept of an oral cancer screening may seem stressful, the process is non-invasive. You won’t need any sedation, nor does it require any prep, such as needing to fast for 12 hours. It’s a multi-step process consisting of:

Visual Screening and Palpation

During the screening, our practitioner will specifically check your cheeks, gums, roof and floor of your mouth, tongue, lips, and tonsils with care. Often, it only takes five to 10 minutes. The process includes our dentist evaluating your mouth visually for any signs of cancer, such as:

• Bumps or lumps
• Rough or crusty patches
• Dark areas
• Thickening of tissue
• Swelling
• Red or white, velvety specks
• Ulcers or sores

This portion of the assessment will also involve our dentist pressing on different areas of your mouth and the outside of your throat to check for abnormalities.

Asking You Questions

During your screening, our practitioner will ask questions about any symptoms you’re experiencing, such as ear pain, difficulty speaking or swallowing, hoarseness, or voice changes.

Specialized Testing Care

Sometimes, your evaluation will consist of a specialized test, such as one that uses dye or light.

Possible Healthcare Referral 

After the oral cancer screening, our dentist will share the results and may refer you to a specialist for further testing.

Contacting Us for a Patient Health Screening Appointment 

When you visit Dr. Shields, you can receive a thorough screening to detect oral cancer so you can receive treatment to help prevent it from spreading and possibly cure it.

There isn’t a recommended age as of now, but it doesn’t hurt to start at 18. And if you’ve never had a check in the past, no matter your age, it’s not too late to start.

Contact us at 904-731-0777 to schedule a routine exam and oral cancer screening.