New HPV Information

According to Reuters Health Information, US vaccine advisers voted on Tuesday to recommend that boys be routinely vaccinated with Merck and Co's Gaurdasil vaccine. This vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, a cause of oral and other cancers.

HPV, specifically the 16 strain of HPV has been proven to cause oral cancers. The cancers tend to be in the tonsillar area, posterior (back) tongue, and oropharynx.

When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent survival rate. However, most cancers are found as late-stage, which has a death rate of 45% at five years from diagnosis.

Finding oral cancer in its early stage is key to survival. Routine Velscope screenings help improve that morbidity and mortality percentages. Suwanee Dental Care is focused on keeping you healthy and yearly screenings with the Velscope could save your life.

Screening is Important

Oral cancer concerns are hitting the national news circuit more and more. A recent post to CNN has caught many people's attention and has been a source of concern. To learn more visit:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/03/increase-in-oral-cancers-linked-to-hpv/?iref=allsearch

When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90% survival rate. Unfortunately the majority of cases are found as late-stage cancers, accounting for the high death rate of about 45% at five years from diagnosis, and high treatment related morbidity in survivors.

• Found early, while still Localized (confined to the primary site), oral cancer's five-year survival rate is strong: about 83%. Only 33% of all oral cancer discoveries fall into this category.
• Found while Regional (after progressed to regional lymph nodes), the five-year survival rate drops significantly, to about 55%. Approximately 46% of all oral cancer discoveries are Regional.
• Found late, oral cancer's five-year survival rate is poor: approximately 32%. This accounts for approximately 14% of all oral cancer findings.

Clearly, finding oral cancer in its early stages is key to survival. Routine VELscope Vx examinations can improve the morbidity and mortality of oral-cancer, because the VELscope Vx system assists in early detection, potentially saving lives through less invasive, more effective treatment. (Velscope.com)