Oral Cancer Exam
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 30,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year, with more than 7,000 of these cases resulting in death. The easiest way to detect this type of cancer is an annual oral cancer exam.
What Is Involved?
The oral cancer examination is an easy and painless process that can be completed in a matter of minutes. During the exam, Dr. Gurinsky will look at your face, lips, mouth, and neck for any unusual bumps or other indications of cancer. He will also feel around the sides of your neck and jaw to check for any lumps. The inside of your mouth, including the back of your throat and under your tongue, with then be examined. Lasers may also be used during this exam to highlight any lesions that are unable to be seen by the naked eye.
What About Abnormalities?
If Dr. Gurinsky finds an abnormality an impression will be taken for diagnostics and a treatment plan will be started. If the treatment plan is unsuccessful further testing will be done to determine a proper diagnosis. All areas of concern will be checked bi-annually to watch for any changes.
Possible Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
If you have noticed any of the following symptoms for longer than a couple weeks, please call our office to schedule an appointment.
- Change to your voice
- A constant sore throat or a feeling of something stuck in your throat
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- Numbness, pain, or unusual bleeding in the mouth
- Red or white patches on the gums, the lining of the mouth, or tongue
- Sore/lump that will not go away, or heal, on the mouth or lip
Please contact us today to schedule your annual cancer screening.