Have you seen the ads from the American Dental Association? A quick, easy test is now available that can detect unhealthy cells in the mouth long before they turn into oral cancer.
Oral cancer is more common than you may think — it is about as common as leukemia (but seems to get less notice in the news). Oral cancer takes more lives than melanoma (skin cancer) or cervical cancer.
Bad news — oral cancer is on the rise among women, young people, and non-smokers. More than a quarter of all oral cancers develop in people who DO NOT SMOKE and have no other risk factors. Don’t assume you’re safe just because you don’t smoke or use other tobacco products.
Smoking is a major risk factor for developing oral cancer in about seventy-five percent of all cases. Avoid using tobacco in any form in order to keep your risk of oral cancer low.
The BrushTest is a quick and easy test that can look for unhealthy cells in the mouth. During a routine exam, your dentist will brush the tiny white and/or red spots seen in your mouth. The samples will be analyzed at a laboratory with pretty high accuracy — the National Cancer Institute says the test is more than ninety percent accurate. If the test finds unhealthy cells, you and your dentist can discuss removal before they become cancerous.
There aren’t many forms of cancer that can be detected and stopped before they can start. I can think of three:
- Cervical cancer (preventable thanks to the vaccine and early detection with routine Pap smear tests)
- Colon cancer (preventable thanks to colonoscopy and other tests)
- Oral cancer (now preventable thanks to the BrushTest)
The next time you’re due for a check-up, talk to your doctor about the BrushTest — especially if you’ve ever been a smoker or used other tobacco products.