From routine dental visit to oral cancer… california mom of two has half of her tongue removed and a new one reconstructed with forearm

Someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States aloneEarly DETECTION – early cure: Oral Cancer Awareness Month in AprilLos Angeles, CA, February 26, 2014… A routine trip to the dentist saved the life of a California mom of two. The American Dental Association estimates that “60% of the US population visits a dentist every year, however less than 15% of them report having received an oral cancer screening.” Although the number of deaths each year from oral cancer is astoundingly large, it is highly curable if diagnosed early. Early detection is a key factor in oral cancer care and a 90-second dental examination could literally save your life.  Joana Breckner lives in Los Angeles and does not smoke, drink alcohol regularly, have diabetes or poor oral health and yet she developed oral cancer.  By sharing her story, Joana’s hope is that she can encourage people to get screened for oral cancer, start to understand the risks associated with it, and share how to prevent it.Ms. Breckner is 44 years old, married and a stay-at-home mom with two young daughters.  In a routine teeth-cleaning, her dentist discovered small benign white spots on her tongue called leukoplakia and referred her to an ear, nose, throat doctor (ENT). Subsequently, she has undergone numerous surgeries removing cancerous tumors from her tongue and neck.  She had half of her tongue removed and reconstructed with skin and tissue from her fore...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - Category: Dentists Source Type: blogs