Dental Clinic First In Capital To Offer Vizilite Oral Cancer Screening, London

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 14 Aug 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Mouth Cancer kills one person every 3 hours in the UK because of late detection

The London Day Surgery Centre (LDSC) is the first clinic in the Capital to offer ViziLite oral lesion screening, a new pain free technique for oral cancer, one of the fastest growing cancers in the UK.

ViziLite Plus with TBlue is a painless, non-invasive examination. It helps detect abnormalities than can be early indicators of cancer. The oral lesion identification and marking system comprises of a chemiluminescent light source to identify any possible lesions and a blue dye to mark those lesions identified by the technology.

First the patient rinses with a solution for one minute, then the specialist activates the light wand and shines it into the patient's mouth, while examining oral tissue for abnormalities, which will glow a blue/white colour. A blue dye is applied to any suspicious areas to visualize the precise extent of the lesion. If any lesions show cause for concern, the patient is referred to a specialist.

Malcolm Torz , Dental Specialist and Clinic Director at the London Day Surgery Centre comments:
"In its very early stages, mouth cancers can be invisible making it extremely hard to detect. Chances of survival improve dramatically if diagnosed and treated early - making testing advisable for anyone who is worried about oral cancer"

Torz adds:

"Oral cancer is on the increase in the UK. Every dentist should be doing visual screening for cancer on their patients as routine.. This revolutionary and simple test can help save lives, which is why we are delighted to be the first clinic to offer the screening in London".

The importance of early detection for oral cancer is crucial in its treatment success rate, but all too often discovery is at a late stage in its development. This is the primary reason for a consistently high death rate and often disfiguring effects on patients requiring cancer surgery. Oral cancer is 90% curable when found in its early stages. Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, III and IV, leading to a five-year survival rate of 57%.

Smoking, high alcohol intake, binge drinking, chewing tobacco and family history of the disease are all known to contribute to oral cancer, as well as the chewing of beetlenut and a tobacco additive, often known as beetle quid or paan in the Asian community. But it is important to note that 27% of oral cancer occurs in people who don't fit into any of these risk factors.

According to statistics from Cancer Research UK, around one third (31%) of oral cancers are diagnosed in the mouth cavity and just over a quarter (29%) on the tongue. Cancers of the oropharynx, piriform sinus and hypopharynx together account for a further quarter (28%) of cases and the least frequent type of oral cancer is lip cancer (7%).

Notes

The London Day Surgery Centre (LDSC), based in North London, prides itself on providing personalised care and the highest level of specialist surgical expertise with excellent recuperative facilities.

The LDSC carries out a wide variety of procedures, including anti-aging, cosmetic, general, cataract, dental and vascular surgery. It also has experts in ENT, dermatology, podiatry, laser and IPL techniques. In addition it provides screening and ultra-sound capabilities and has a travel clinic, providing a one-stop clinic for all travel health requirements.

The London Day Surgery Centre is accredited by all major insurance companies, including BUPA and AXA PPP Healthcare.

For further details please go to: http://www.ldsc.co.uk

For further information please go to http://www.capio.co.uk.

London Day Surgery Centre