Oral Cancer
Screening Process
First, we perform an extraoral exam, inspecting your neck, face and head for any asymmetry or skin changes such as growths, crusts, fissuring or colour change. We also check to see if your lymph nodes have enlarged.
Next, we complete a perioral and intraoral soft tissue test. In this exam, we proceed with a seven-step assessment including examining your lips, floor of your mouth, hard/soft palates and tongue.
After the exam, if we notice signs of precancerous or cancer lesions, then we schedule a follow up appointment a few weeks later. When you come back in to see us, we check to see if what we found in your previous booking has grown or changed. We may take a biopsy if necessary, to remove sample cells for testing in the lab. This test will determine whether cancer cells are present. The biopsy can be done by us or we may refer you to a doctor that specializes in this type of treatment.