Oral Cancer Screening
Helping find any signs of potential mouth cancer early.
As part of every examination our dentists and oral health therapists will perform a oral cancer check, analysing your mouth and throat to observe any changes. This kind of systematic examination of the tissues reduces the chance that lesions will be missed.
What causes oral cancer?
Oral cancer is caused by mutating cells which proliferate and damage healthy tissue. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are the two principal risk factors for developing oral cancer, and account for 75% of oral cancers. Sun, age, nutrition and genetic disposition can all play a part, and there has recently been an increased focus on the human papillomavirus in the development of oral cancers.
What are the signs of oral cancer?
- Any sores in the mouth, or on the face and neck that do not heal in 2 weeks.
- Swellings, lump or bumps on the lips, or anywhere inside the mouth.
- White, red or dark patches in the mouth.
- Repeated bleeding in the mouth not associated with periodontal disease.
- Numbness, loss of feeling or pain in any area of the mouth, face or neck.
We take a digital record of the lesion and can refer you to an Oral and Maxillofacial Specialist just down the road at Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital Richmond on Bridge Road, Richmond for further care.
Get in touch with our friendly team today to schedule an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Mouth cancer is often first detected by dentists, who are on the lookout for any unusual signs in the mouth during your routine dental check-ups. This can be red or white patches in the mouth, uneven tonsils, loose teeth, or sores that won’t heal. You may even be able to spot some of these signs for yourself if you know what to look for, especially if something in your mouth is causing you pain.
Whether you or your dentist first notice the signs, they will refer you to a specialist to have a biopsy of the tissue taken. This will either rule out cancer or confirm the presence of cancerous cells so you can begin treatment immediately.
When discovered and treated early, the prognosis for mouth cancer is positive. The five-year survival rate for oral cancers that are caught and treated early varies from about 60% to 90%, depending on the type of cancer.
As the cancer spreads, the survival rate begins to drop, so the sooner it is discovered and treated, the better.
It depends on the type of cancer, however as most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, they do tend to spread quickly. It will begin by spreading to nearby structures, such as the rest of the mouth and head, before spreading to the rest of the body. A prognosis for a five-year survival rate is usually given based on how far the cancer has spread.