About Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a devastating, even deadly, cancer that can go unnoticed until it has progressed to later stages. Twenty-five percent of all oral cancer victims are non-smokers, non-drinkers and have no other lifestyle risk factors. According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the human papillomavirus (HPV) 16, a common sexually transmitted virus, is associated with oral cancers located in the upper throat and back of the tongue.
As with any cancer, early detection and diagnosis is key; it’s important for patients to see an oral healthcare professional regularly, particularly if they are in the high-risk groups, those who use tobacco, abuse alcohol or have been exposed to HPV.
ViziLite Plus with TBlue - the leading oral cancer screening system was developed to help oral healthcare professionals identify and mark abnormal oral lesions including precancerous or cancerous cells that may be difficult to see during a regular visual exam, giving you peace of mind.
*According to the American Cancer Society, oral cancer affects more than 35,000
people in the U.S. each year.
*Oral cancer causes 7,500 deaths each year and only slightly more than half of oral
cancer patients survive five years.
*Seventy percent of oral cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage, which partially
accounts for the poor five-year survival rate of approximately 60 percent.
If you are 18 or older, the CDC recommends all patients 18 or older have an annual oral cancer screening.
