Oral Cancer Screening

A Guide For Healthcare Providers

Alma Fuentes
Importance:
In 2017:
▰ Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians is expected to be
diagnosed with cancer at some point during
their lifetime
▰ Of these, 1 in 4 are estimated to die from
oral cancer
▰ 4,700 Canadians were diagnosed with oral
cancer
▰ 1,250 Canadians died from oral cancer
▰ Canadian Cancer Statistics Advisory Committee. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2018. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2018. Available at:
cancer.ca/Canadian-Cancer-Statistics-2018-EN
Risk Factors

▰ Tobacco ▰ Diet low in vegetables and fruit

▰ Alcohol ▰ Weakened immune system
▰ Betel quid and areca nut ▰ Graft-versus-host disease
▰ Human papillomavirus (HPV) (GVHD)
▰ Previous cancer ▰ Lichen planus
▰ Family history of squamous cell ▰ Poor oral health
carcinoma (SCC) ▰ Inherited conditions
▰ Sun exposure
Extra Oral Cancer Screening:
Steps 1-4
Extra-Oral Cancer Screening:
Steps 5-8
Extra-Oral Cancer
Screening:
Steps 9 & 10
Intra-Oral Cancer
Screening:
Steps 1-3
Intra-Oral Cancer
Screening:
Steps 4-6
Intra-Oral Cancer
Screening:
Steps 7-9

Brought to you by:

 What To Look For
Clinically:

- Leukoplakia (thickened white patches)

- Erythroplakia (smooth red areas)
- Raised areas inconsistent
with surrounding tissue
- Other bumps, lumps,
lesions
- IF YOU’RE NOT SURE, REFER
 What To Look For:
Client’s Complaint

▰ Persistent earache in only one side

▰ Continuous sore throat or persistent infection that
lasts for a long time or recurs
▰ Hoarseness or change in speech
▰ Pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking, chewing or
moving the jaw or tongue
▰ A lump in the throat or feeling that something is
caught in the throat
▰ Numbness in the mouth or face
Final Thoughts

- ADVISE the client to perform oral

self-exams and teach them how to
Visit:
perform them https://files.cdha.ca/Education/Cou
rses/Oral-Cancer-4page-

- REFER client to a specialist if you booklet.pdf

find possible pathologies

- Oral cancer that is found early may yield a 90%
survival rate
 Quiz
2. What statistic represents the number
of cancer patients who are victims of
oral cancer?
1. What clinical findings should you be
- 1 in 2
diligent in looking for?
- 1 in 4
- Leukoplakia (thickened white patches)
- 2 in 10
- Erythroplakia (smooth red areas)
- 1 in 7
- Raised areas inconsistent
- with surrounding tissue
- Other bumps, lumps, lesions
- All of the above
Quiz
3. Which of these chief complaints
may indicate the client may
have oral cancer?
- Acute sore throat and infection
- A lump in the throat or feeling that
something is caught in the throat
- Soreness of the ocular area
- None of the above
1. What is the first step of the
intra-oral examination?
- Look for red or white patches of
swelling on the inside of the cheeks
- Look for red or white patches,
swelling, or tenderness on the gums
- Palpate preauricular lymph nodes
- Examine the lips with a finger and
thumb
 References

Canadian Dental Hygienist's Association. (2015). CDHA.ca[Brochure]. Author. Retrieved from

https://files.cdha.ca/Education/Courses/Oral-Cancer-4page-booklet.pdf

Risk factors for oral cancer - Canadian Cancer Society. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-

type/oral/risks/?region=on

College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario. (n.d.). SEVEN-STEP “LOOK AND FEEL” ORAL CANCER SCREENING[Brochure]. Author.

Retrieved from https://www.cdho.org/docs/default-source/pdfs/isc/oralcancer_pullout.pdf?sfvrsn=481180a0_10