Oral Cancer Exam

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, over 3,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year, with over 700 of these cases resulting in the death of the patient. Fortunately, oral cancer can be diagnosed with an annual cancer exam provided by Dr. Gainey and his team. Recognized early, oral cancer can be effectively treated.

Oral cancer is a pathologic process, which begins without symptoms, thus making it hard to recognize without a proper oral examination. There are many types of oral cancers, including teratoma, adenocarcinoma and melanoma. The most common form of oral cancer is malignant squamous cell carcinoma. This typically originates in the lip and mouth tissue. There are many other places in which oral cancers occur, including: the tongue, salivary glands, throat, and gums.

What to Expect

The oral cancer examination is completely painless. Dr. Gainey and his team will carefully examine the head and neck, for abnormal structures. Lasers may be used to highlight pathologic changes. Some of the signs that will be investigated include, red or white patches, a general thickening of tissue anywhere and long standing sores. Leukoplakia is a hardened white or gray, slightly raised lesion that can appear inside the mouth, and may be pre-cancerous.

It is also important to note that over 75% of oral cancers are linked with avoidable behaviors such as smoking, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Dr. Gainey and his team can provide you with literature and options about quitting dangerous behaviors, such as tobacco use.