Oral Cancer Screening Madison WI

Oral cancer is a serious condition that has a very high mortality rate. However, it if is detected soon enough, there is an 80 to 90% survival rate. Unfortunately, too many people don’t receive an oral cancer screening until it is too late.

At Madison Smile Solutions we use the latest technology to making screenings fast and easy and – most importantly – reliable. This technology uses a hand-held tool that produces light at different wavelengths to identify potential problems that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

This simple and fast screening can make a life-saving difference. It only takes a couple minutes to identify pre-cancerous spots, existing oral cancer, and other abnormal lesions while they're still in their earliest stages.

A serious condition

Oral cancer is extremely serious, and even more so because it can sneak up on people without much warning. Tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with it every year, and thousands will likely die from it.

The problem is that not all the symptoms are readily apparent, and by the time they do appear, the cancer may have already begun to spread.

This is also why many instances of oral cancer lead to a higher risk of developing a second cancer in the head or neck.

Detection and treatment

The high mortality rate associated with oral cancer is often attributed to the lateness of discovery. If these abnormal tissues or cancer is detected early enough, it may be easier to treat.

In general, if the problem area is spotted in the first or second stages of its development, oral cancers have an 80 or 90% survival rate. But these numbers depend on getting a screening during that window of opportunity.

If we do detect signs of cancer, we can work with you to determine the best treatment methods. Your options will depend on certain factors, including:

• The stage of the cancer
• Your ability to talk and eat
• Your age
• The current state of your health
• The size of the abnormal tissue or tumor
• The location of the cancer (lip or oral cavity)

Signs of oral cancer

While many symptoms can be hard to detect, there are some signs that you can watch for. If you do detect any of these symptoms, be sure to talk to us about it immediately.

• A lump or mass in your mouth or neck
• An unexplained numbness in or around your mouth
• Pain when you swallow, speak, or chew
• Wart-like masses that keep growing
• Hoarseness that doesn’t seem to go away

The importance of regular screening

When you come in for your regular dental checkup and cleaning, we may recommend an oral cancer screening. You don’t have to be nervous. It doesn’t mean we suspect there is a problem. In fact, the whole point of a cancer screening is to do them before you have any cancer symptoms.

A screening will also help us determine whether any potential symptoms need a closer look, or if they’re just benign changes that happen naturally.

Get Screened today!

Oral cancer is a serious disease, but early detection can make a huge difference.

At Madison Smile Solutions, we have the tools and experience to make an accurate diagnosis and spot any early warning signs.

Contact us today to set up an appointment for your oral cancer screening.

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