Oral Cancer Screening/VELSCOPE

About Oral Cancer

Most people are surprised to learn that one American dies every hour from oral cancer; a 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% and the death rate has increased by 1.5%

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%.

THE DEADLY STATISTICS 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.

We now know that oral cancer claims one life every hour in the U.S.--- more than the number of lives lost to skin cancer, cervical cancer or Hodgkin’s disease, and it is of great concern to Dr. Herringshaw.

Because early detection is the key to successful outcomes, this practice has incorporated Velscope, a technology cleared by the FDA, into the standard of care of the practice, to ensure that you receive the most comprehensive oral cancer screening possible.

Velscope is a simple, painless and non-invasive technology that improves the doctor's ability to visualize, mark, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages, before they can progress to something far more serious, and potentially life-threatening.  Velscope helps the doctor see what he/she can't see with the unaided eye.