| Oral Cancer Risk Assessment | ||||
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| Dr. William Sheffield 123 Main St. Seattle, WA 98101, Phone: 555-555-1234, Fax: 555-555-6789 Exam Date: 2/22/2006 |
Sally Smith
Age: 51 Risk Assessment ID: 44c4c36c-03ad-4102-af25-49d78dedf1bf PreViser Patient ID: ee4c80a5-fdde-4e2d-9b3e-5c8ddf3b884d | |||
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| Oral cancer includes mouth cancer, tongue cancer, and throat cancer. Oral cancer can result in disfigurement and other negative effects on quality of life. 56% of all patients treated for oral cancer survive 5 years. However the percentage of patients that survive 5 years is 82% when cancer is localized, 46% when regional, and only 21% when it has spread to a distant site. Hence preventing disease is most desirable followed by diagnosis and treatment at the earliest possible stage. Risk of oral cancer predicts the likelihood of developing the disease and indicates the need to lower risk by selecting interventions targeted to the risk factors. Your risk score is reflected against the chart to the left and interventions appropriate for your risk level and factors are listed below. Early diagnosis is very important. Common symptoms that require an evaluation include a red or white patch or ulcer, especially when present for more than 14 days. Other symptoms include numbness, a lump in your mouth or neck, or difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing. Oral cancer, like many other diseases, can progress without pain or readily apparent symptoms. A diagnosis of oral cancer can only be determined by a biopsy. The conventional examination is visual and palpation, which can be assisted with diagnostic tools designed specifically to make identifying lesions easier. A positive finding warrants a biopsy, especially if the lesion has been present for more than 14 days. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less Risk
| What Changed The information below shows the progression of your risk scores: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Risk of Oral Cancer: | | | | | |
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| Visit The Dentist | ||||||||||||||||||
 | Regular visits, which include a conventional oral cancer examination, to detect disease in the early stages can prevent more complex and expensive treatment. You can help your dentist to diagnose disease by reporting any discoloration, sores, soreness, or swelling in your mouth. | |||||||||||||||||
| Oral Cancer Screening Examination | ||||||||||||||||||
 | Screening for oral cancer is recommended for each patient at age 40, preferably utilizing diagnostic technology specifically developed for the purpose. This examination should be repeated at 5-year intervals when risk is 1, 2, or 3. A 2-year frequency is recommended when risk is 4. Patients at the highest risk level, which is 5, should have a thorough annual examination. Should these examinations indicate suspicious lesions, further tests including biopsy may be indicated. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tobacco Use | ||||||||||||||||||
 | Tobacco use of any kind increases the risk of oral cancer in addition to many other diseases. The combined risk factors of tobacco use and alcohol consumption increases oral cancer risk much more than either factor alone. Because tobacco plays an important role causing disease, reducing treatment effectiveness, and leading to complications, stopping the habit is a fundamental part of prevention and treatment. |
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| Alcohol Use | ||||||||||||||||||
 | 3 or more alcoholic drinks per week increases the risk for oral cancer. Consuming 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily greatly increases the risk for oral cancer. An alcoholic drink is defined as 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler. The combined use of tobacco with alcohol greatly increases your risk for oral cancer. You can reduce your risk by limiting your consumption of alcoholic beverages. | |||||||||||||||||
| Family Cancer History | ||||||||||||||||||
 | Some inherited genes have been shown to be factors in cancer. Many factors other than inherited genes appear to more important in the development of cancer. It would be wise for you to be especially concerned about cancer that has occurred in your family. | |||||||||||||||||
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