Oral Cancer Screenings in Kearney, NE

Oral Cancer Screenings in Kearney, NE

Along with treating dental and gum problems, Dr Eric Ahrens at Platte Valley Dental Clinic also treats head, neck, and mouth diseases. While our dentist examines teeth and gums during routine exams, they also do oral cancer screenings near you.

Who is Predisposed to Oral Cancer?

Before starting the physical exam portion of the screening, our dentist will ask you some questions about your medical history and the symptoms you may be experiencing. While anyone can develop oral cancer, the risk factors include:

  • Drinking heavily
  • Smoking
  • Being over 45
  • Sunbathing
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Fair skin
  • Being male

Sometimes people experience symptoms that are mistaken for other issues. Symptoms include:

  • White or red lesions in the mouth or on a lip that doesn’t heal
  • Feeling like something is in your throat
  • Lumps on the mouth, tongue, throat, or neck and thick tissue on the cheek
  • Changes in voice

While it’s vital to tell our dentist in Kearney, NE about any symptoms you have, many people don’t have any before being diagnosed with oral cancer.

Why Screenings are Necessary?

Since many people do not have symptoms of the disease before being diagnosed, dentists need to do oral cancer screenings in Kearney, NE. Diagnosing this cancer as soon as possible is often the difference between life and death. The five-year survival rate for patients with stage one of the disease is about 85 percent.

However, if patients receive a diagnosis after oral cancer spreads to a localized region, the five-year survival rate drops to around 67 percent. If it spreads to other places in the body, the survival rate drops into the mid-30s. Discovering the disease as early as possible is essential to surviving it.

Oral Cancer Types

Oral cancer is more than one disease, and why screenings by our dentist near you are essential. Several forms of oral cancer exist based on the location of the tumors. There are:

  • Oral cavity cancer
  • Lip cancer
  • Tongue cancer
  • Mouth cancer

If you have any oral cancer symptoms, inform Dr. Eric Ahrens at Platte Valley Dental Clinic, and schedule an oral cancer screening. If you don’t have symptoms, visit our dentist every six months for routine dental exams and cleanings. During these exams, they will also do oral cancer screenings.

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