Dec 30, 2008 5:12 pm US/Eastern
Health: Oral Cancer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Oral cancer is on the rise in the U.S. and kills twice as many Americans each year as cervical cancer. But a new test may help reduce that devastating statistic. A non invasive test can help determine if lesions in the mouth contain pre-cancerous cells. If detected, they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
A trip to the dentist may have helped Ken Schneider prevent oral cancer.
"I saw what I thought was an unusual white spot or a lesion and I decided to have it examined further," said Kenneth Schneider, patient.
Ten-percent of Americans have these lesions which can turn into oral cancer. While most are not pre-cancerous, the "Brush Test" can help you be sure without any cutting. The dentist scrapes cells off the spot with a brush and sends them to a lab where they're tested for abnormal or pre-cancerous cells.
Ken's test came back positive and he immediately went to an oral surgeon to have the lesion removed,.essentially preventing a cancer from occurring and may have saved his life.
"By the time you're diagnosed with an oral cancer, a lot of times it's so invasive, it gets your tongue, it gets your jaw bone, it gets your lymph nodes," said Dr. Gabriela Lee, Dentist.
Only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years. Studies show its rapidly growing among women, young people and non-smokers. As with all cancers,early detection is key.
"It's always better to determine and deal with suspicious lesions, earlier rather than later.
The American Dental Association has now launched a nationwide ad campaign urging Americans to ask their dentists for the BrushTest.
VIEW: Complete Brush Test List (PDF File - may have to rotate view)
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