In This Section: Oral Cancer by Trisha O'Hehir, RDH, MS Hygienetown Editorial Director


Oral Cancer

by Trisha O'Hehir, RDH, MS
Hygienetown Editorial Director


Despite the best efforts of dentists and hygienists to perform head and neck oral cancer screening exams, many oral cancers go undetected until the tumor is in an advanced stage of development. To overcome this, clinicians need to use their detective skills, beyond the typical head and neck screening exam. Discussions with the patient might reveal any unresolved areas of inflammation in the mouth and about the head and neck that could be early signs of cancer.

The June 2009 issue of Hygienetown Magazine featured Lynda Young, RDH on the cover, and her story of oral cancer. A traditional head and neck screening did not reveal her cancer. She had a persistent earache that finally sent her to the emergency room and luckily, the physician examining her remembered that an earache in an adult could be a sign of oral cancer. With only a 15 percent chance of survival, surgery, chemotherapy and a positive attitude helped her beat the odds. She lived until 2012, when she succumbed to brain cancer, all beginning with undetected oral cancer.

This month we present the story of another dental hygienist who survived oral cancer. Sandra Boody's case was similar to Lynda, both cases undetected by the traditional oral cancer screening exams. Sandra didn't have the earache, but she did have an unresolved upper respiratory infection and a swollen lymph node.

In retrospect, Lynda did experience a deviation of her uvula, in the direction of the tumor and a feeling of too much saliva, as the tumor pushed up, making the floor of the mouth shallower.

In addition to the traditional oral cancer screening exam, ask a few questions to determine if any simple problems seem to persist longer than usual. This might lead to earlier detection of oral cancer and better outcomes for your patients.

Inside This Section
104    Perio Reports
108    Profile in Oral Health: A Hygienist's Personal Experience with Oral Cancer
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