A New Mouthwash for Detecting Oral Cancer?
Could detecting oral cancer be as simple as using a mouthwash? Read about a new, non-invasive way to look pick up cancers of the oral cavity early.
Could a special mouthwash make it easier to detect oral cancer before it spreads? Oral cancer is a cancer that arises from the oral cavity – including the mouth, throat, tongue, tonsils, and lips. Oral cancers are more common in men, sun worshipers, and people who smoke or use alcohol. Cancer of the oral cavity doesn’t have a very high cure rate with less than a third of people surviving it. The reason? Oral cancer is usually found at a late stage when a cure is difficult. If found early enough many of these oral cancers would have a good prognosis. To solve this problem, scientists have developed a special mouthwash for cancer detection that makes diagnosing an early oral cancer easier.
A Mouthwash for Cancer Detection?
This mouthwash for cancer detection is easy to use, inexpensive, and accurate. To test for oral cancer, the patient rinses or gargles with the mouthwash and then spits into a container. Special antibodies are added to the container to see if they react with the patient’s saliva. If a color change occurs within two days, the test is considered positive and a closer search begins for an oral cancer. How good is this mouthwash for cancer detection? It was able to distinguish between an oral cancer and healthy tissue almost nine out of ten times. Not bad for a non-invasive test.
A Good Screen for Smokers
This mouthwash for cancer detection could be especially useful for screening of smokers since up to eight-five percent of oral cancers occur in people who smoke. Although dentists are trained to do a visual screening for signs of oral cancer, not everyone visits their dentist regularly. It’s also important to do a check at home once a month to detect any suspicious lumps, sores, or discolored areas that could be warning signs of oral cancer. The neck and under the mouth should be thoroughly checked for swollen lymph nodes which can indicate oral cancer. Any bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or persistent areas of soreness should be evaluated by a dentist right away.
The Bottom Line?
This mouthwash for cancer detection will, hopefully, become widely available soon – making it easier to diagnose oral cancers while they’re still easily cured. Until then, see your dentist every six months and ask them to do an oral cancer screening at each visit – especially if you’re a smoker. It could save your life.
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