VELscope-Detection of Oral Cancer

Chances are, you don't have oral cancer, but wouldn't it be nice to be sure? Our practice has recently invested in a state-of-the-art VELscope® system, and important new tool in our oral cancer examination.

What every person should know about oral cancer:

• Oral cancer has 3 times as many victims as cervical cancer
• One North American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day.
• The incidence of oral cancer is growing.
• The biggest growth in oral cancer is among non-smokers, and the main cause is HPV.
• When oral cancer is discovered in early stages, the survival rate is very high, but when discovered late (which normally is the case), the survival rate is very low.
• Health experts recommend that all adults receive annual oral cancer screenings.

Because of this risk, Dr. Gross has added the VELscope as part of our conventional oral cancer examination to help us discover potentially dangerous tissue that we might otherwise miss. Of course, the odds are that we won't find anything that concerns us. But if we do, the VELscope device will increase our odds of finding it early rather than late.

An oral cancer examination with a VELscope screening takes only a few minutes, involves no pain or inconvenience, and is completely safe. The scope allows us to see beneath the surface to detect potentially dangerous growths we might otherwise have missed.

In some cases, this exam is covered by your insurance company, but even if it isn't, we think you will find this reasonable additional cost to be worth the peace of mind.

What is We Find Something?

In most cases, the VELscope exam will indicate that there is nothing to worry about. However, it is of course possible that some suspicious areas could be revealed. In that case, it could very well be that the suspicious-looking area is of little or no concern, such as if it is caused by chewing the inside of your cheek or by irritation from dentures or braces. If necessary, we may ask you to come back in a few weeks so that we may take another look.

If the area has improved in the meantime, we'll know that oral cancer was not involved. If the area has not improved, we will recommend further exams, which may include a biopsy that can be evaluated by an oral pathologist. In the unlikely event that biopsy reveals cancerous or pre-cancerous tissues, you will be referred for appropriate treatment.

Fortunately, the survival rate for oral cancer discovered at early stages is extremely high. That is why it is so important that you have an oral screening once a year, or twice a year if you smoke or chew tobacco. And it is why we have invested in this new technology.

If You Are Sexually Active, You Are At Risk

Oral cancer has traditionally been associated with tobacco usage, and it's true that the majority of oral cancer victims smoke or use chewing tobacco, consume alcohol and are over 40. But the group experiencing the highest growth rate of oral cancer does not fit this traditional "at risk" profile. More and more, oral cancer is striking younger people who don't use tobacco or abuse alcohol.

In many cases, the cause appears to be one of two strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV-16 or HPV-18) that can be contracted during sexual intercourse and especially oral sex.