Could You Have Oral Cancer?Dr. Burns Now Screens For It Using the Revolutionary ViziLite System.
Most people are surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer. This death rate that has remained virtually unchanged for more than 40 years. In fact, recent statistics published by the American Cancer Society indicate that while the incidence and death rates for cancers overall has decreased, the incidence of oral cancer has increased by 5.5%.
Oral cancer is far too often discovered in late stage development, the primary reason for the consistently high death rate. Oral cancer treatment often results in disfiguring effects on patients, and can seriously compromise their quality of life. Early detection and diagnosis can make a tremendous difference in life expectancy; oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages. Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, III and IV, leading to a five-year survival rate of 57%.
We Don't Want You To Be A Victim
* Every hour of every day, one American dies of oral cancer.
* The mortality rate associated with oral cancer has not improved significantly in the last 40 years.
* The death rate in the United States for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or ovary.
* More than 30,000 Americans will receive an oral cancer diagnosis this year. In five years, only 57% will still be alive.
* 27% of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol and have no other lifestyle risk factors.
Annual Screening
The American Cancer Society recommends people have an oral cancer screening at least once a year. Early detection is the key to reducing the devastating impact of oral cancer on victims and their families. Annual oral cancer screening of patients at increased risk for oral cancer, patients age 18 and older, and tobacco users of any age, is the only way to achieve the early detection of oral cancer necessary to reduce the death rate of oral cancer.
How the 3-Minute VELscope Exam Works
Dr. Burns uses a special type of laser called VELscope to painlessly check for oral cancer. It's quick, easy, painless and could save your life. If you haven't been checked yet, we highly urge you to get checked out immediately.
The VELscope handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, causing tissue fluorescence. Special, optical filtering in the handpiece allows us to immediately view the different fluorescence signatures in your mouth. The various flourescent colors differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue. Abnormal tissue, such as dysplasia or cancerous lesions, typically appear as irregular, dark areas that stand out against the otherwise normal, green fluorescence pattern of surrounding healthy tissue. VELscope's technology allows us to identify potentially dangerous growths that might have been missed with the naked eye. Miraculous isn't it?
