Screening Procedures- Oral Cancer

In India, the incidence of oral cancer remains prominent due to the frequent usage of tobacco chewing products. Especially in rural areas, tobacco chewing is common and this can lead to oral cancer. Cancer in the mouth, however, does not show up all of a sudden and sometimes can be manifested as a precancerous lesion, or a small unnoticeable growth that can grow into a bigger size. With cancer, is it important to diagnose it as early as possible, so that one can begin treatment right away. And that is why something known as an oral cancer screening may be performed.

Let us look at what oral cancer screening is, and how it is performed.

What is Oral Cancer Screening?

Oral cancer screening is a thorough oral examination performed by a dentist to look for any signs that may point towards oral cancer or a precancerous lesion or condition. Your dentist may perform an oral cancer screening even during a routine dental consultation. The main idea behind the oral cancer screening is to catch the disease at an early stage, so that treatment can be started as quickly as possible.

How is Oral Cancer Screening Performed?

There is no special procedure for a basic oral cancer screening. A dentist does a thorough examination of your mouth, tongue and neck to look for signs of cancer. The dentist may do all of the following:

• Look for any growth, red or white patches or sores inside your mouth. The areas observed are the insides of your cheeks, your palate, lips and tongue.
• The dentist may palpate these surfaces, in order to detect any abnormal lumps or growths.
• Your dentist will also most likely palpate your neck and throat region, to check your lymph nodes and look for lumps.

There may be a couple of additional procedures done as a form of oral cancer screening, like:

Oral Cancer Screening Dye: Your dentist will ask you to rinse your mouth with a special blue dye. If there are any abnormal cells in the tissues of your mouth, they will take up the dye and will appear blue.

Oral Cancer Screening Light: A special cancer screening light will be shone in your mouth, where any abnormal tissues will appear white, while normal and healthy tissues appear dark.

Results of the Oral Cancer Screening

In case your dentist notices any abnormal tissues in your mouth during the screening process, depending on the presentation, they may opt for any one of the following:

• Your dentist may request a follow up visit in order to keep track of the abnormal area. In the follow up visit, they will check whether the original findings are still present, have worsened or grown smaller.
• If your dentist is convinced that you have abnormal tissues that may point towards cancer, they may advise a biopsy. In a biopsy, a small sample of the tissue is collected and sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination. This can give your dentist a confirmed diagnosis of oral cancer.

To conclude, oral cancer screening can be an excellent way to catch early signs of oral cancer and intervene in time, to either treat the precancerous condition or remove the cancerous growth when it is small, rather than later.