It’s always eye-opening when you come across the stories of those that have survived oral cancer and their battle against it. There is no one like a survivor that understands the “real deal”. Recently, we ran across an article of a chef that survived.  The article made a true assertion: we have to be our own advocates. It is up to the individual to really push the professional to look for oral cancer. Oral cancer is not easily diagnosed, so it should be monitored by the individual and second, third and even fourth opinions are worth the effort.

See below for a clip of the article discussing the type of oral cancer test that did not work for him and what he suggests for the reader. You can find the full article here.

The hardest part for Achatz is how easily the spot could have been identified as cancerous had doctors administered something called a “brush test.” “If even one of my dentists had used this simple test, my whole ordeal could have been avoided,” he writes. He urges anyone who sees or feels a spot on his or her tongue to see a dentist who uses the brush test, which tests the cells beneath the spot to see whether it is precancerous.

As always…

“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.”

Fight Oral Cancer Foundation (FOCF) will be holding a free oral cancer screening at Campion Trail, T.W. Richardson Grove Park on September 19th.

Support Groups are an important part of walking through the treatment process for those that have been diagnosed with oral cancer.  SPOHNC (short for Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer) is committed to developing programs to support those that are on that journey.

Last year the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation had the privilege of participating in the SPOHNC fundraiser in Irving. While at the event we conducted free oral cancer screenings. Dr. Fitzgerald screened many attendees and referred 5 attendees to seek further diagnosis from doctors.

FOCF in collaboration with SPOHNC is delighted to be a part of this event again this year on September 19th. We will be conducting free oral cancer screenings.  You are invited to come out to the event and be a part of the great work that SPOHNC is doing to make a difference in the lives of those that have fallen victim to this horrible disease.

Click here for the full sized poster in PDF format.

Date:

September 19, 2010

Location:

Campion Trail, T.W. Richardson Grove Park
333 East Interstate 635
Irving, TX

Time:

Start Time: 7am
Screening: 9-11am

FOCF was pleased to participate in a free oral cancer screening on May 26, 2010 in Plano, TX during the Plano Senior Recreation Center’s health fair. We donated our Identifi (Trimira) machine and informational pamphlets, wrist bands and some other goodies for the cause.

This was the first time the Center conducted Oral Cancer Examinations using the Trimira Identafi, a leading oral cancer screening piece of technology.   Volunteers from three schools of Dental Hygiene at Texas Women’s University, Collin College and Baylor preformed the examinations. They were assisted by volunteers from Contemporary Oral Surgery and Dr. Lesslie Moore.   Approximately 200-250 people were screened.

The event was organized by Deborah Stewart with the help of Community Dental Care,  Dr. Lee Fitzgerald,  and the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation.

Awareness for oral cancer is of such great importance because the high fatality rate among oral cancer patients could have been lessened with earlier detection.  Today we are going to talk about oral cancer symptoms and the types spots that those screening for oral cancer symptoms are looking for. MD Anderson Cancer Center offers an excellent resource for information on oral cancer.

There are three types of suspicious spots: Leukoplakia, Erythroplakia and Erythroleukoplakia.  Below is information from MD Anderson on the types of areas that raise concern when oral cancer screenings are being conducted and oral cancer symptoms to look for:

Suspicious Areas:

Leukoplakia is a white area or spot in the oral cavity. About 25% of leukoplakias are cancerous or precancerous.

Erythroplakia is a red, raised area or spot that bleeds if scraped. About 70% of erythroplakias are cancerous or precancerous.

Erythroleukoplakia is a spot with both red and white areas.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer:

• Sore in the mouth or throat that doesn’t heal
• Loose teeth
• Lump or thickening in the neck, face, jaw, cheek, tongue or gums
• Difficulty swallowing or the sensation that something is caught in the throat
• Earache or sore throat that does not go away
• Dentures that cause discomfort or do not fit well
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue or jaw
• Persistent bad breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Change in voice

A person who is experiencing these oral cancer symptoms does not necessarily have oral cancer. However, as early detection is critical to increased survival rate, it is important to have an oral cancer scan conducted by your dentist in order to ensure health.  Many dentists are beginning to make oral cancer screening a routine part of patient appointments.  Check with your dentist to learn if it is a part of your appointment and request a screening if not.

The focus of this article is the Identafi technology and its effectiveness for finding oral cancers. Recently, a free oral cancer screening was held at Saratoga Race Course in Houston. Using the technology they were able to find a case of oral cancer.

“You have a lot of people who come from all over the country, especially to Saratoga,
who haven’t been to a dentist,” Dr. Robert Trager said. “Even the ones who have been
to a dentist still don’t realize what oral cancer is and how deadly the threat can be.”

As with all cancer, early detection is a key point of survival.  New technology like the Identafi makes early detection even more likely.  For dentists looking for a new piece of technology to benefit their patients, please click on the icon to the lift for the complete article.

The below article was written by Lawrence A. Hamburg, DDS.  Dr. Hamurg is a dentist that was diagnosed with oral cancer.   He states in the article:

There are many ways to learn, but I wish I had not had to learn firsthand the experience of Stage IV oral cancer.  Seventy-eight percent of those diagnosed with Stage IV oral cancer are dead within five years. I’m lucky. I’m in remission.

Like Lou Gehrig, I feel I’m the luckiest man on the face of the earth — or, as I wrote in the Feb. 6, 2008 issue of Newslweek, ‘The luckiest person coming out of the 10th floor at Beth Israel’s head and neck cancer ward.’

Two years ago I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Fortunately, I was able to save my tongue and vocal chords. I firmly believe I was spared so that I could speak to you, my fellow dentists, and convey a first-person message of how critical it is for you to screen your patients for this dreaded disease.

For the full article, click the PDF image to the left.

“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.” – The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation

For those of you who enjoy case studies and learning how those in the medical field are coming to conclusions regarding early detection of oral cancer, below is an article with a medical case study. On page 4, the article states:

Increasing need for additional non-invasive tests to augment conventional white light
oral examination has driven the development of various real-time light-induced
fluorescence visualization devices for detection and delineation of potentially
malignant oral lesions.

“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.”  – The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation

In an effort to continue to provide up to date information on what is going on in the fight against oral cancer, below is an article written by By Mark Nichols, DDS. Mark Nichols is the Vice President of Clinical Affairs for Bering Omega Dental Clinic.  Bering Omega is the only clinic that is dedicated (and free) to HIV/AIDS patience.  Their work is truly remarkable.

Working in with high risk patients means that for them to have the best screening equipment when patients arrive with lesions is critical to early detection.  This article discusses the type of screening equipment they are using to enable early detection.

Click on the icon below for the complete article on the Optical Exam.

“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.”  – The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation

Oral cancer is killing one person every day and this article, appropriately named, shines a light on oral cancer.  Unfortunately, although the risk is high and the number of diagnosed cases are rising, the entire dental care community has not been making oral cancer screening a priority.  There are many new technologies that are available for accurate oral cancer screenings, and yet this article points out that only 9% of dentists plan on purchasing a VELscope cancer screening system within the next year.  This should raise concern.  Why are more dentists not taking oral cancer screenings more seriously? You can view the complete icon below for the complete PDF “Shine the Light on Oral Cancer.”