Oral Cancer Screenings in Federal Hill

What the screening is

Dr. Ellis checks the soft tissues of your mouth: the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the cheeks, the roof, the back of the throat and the neck. She is looking for anything that has changed and should not have. It takes a couple of minutes and involves nothing more than looking and feeling.

Why it is part of every exam

It is included in your routine exam rather than booked separately, because the point of it is regularity. Changes in the mouth are much easier to act on when someone has been looking at the same mouth over time and notices something new.

Found early, these things are far more treatable than they are once they have been left. That is the entire reason the check exists, and it is why it is done whether or not you have noticed anything.

What to mention between visits

Most of what people notice turns out to be harmless, and it is still worth getting looked at rather than waiting for your next appointment. Call us about:

• An ulcer or sore that has not healed after two or three weeks.
• A lump or a thickened patch anywhere in the mouth or on the neck.
• A red or white patch that stays put.
• Persistent hoarseness, numbness, or difficulty swallowing.

Getting something checked and being told it is nothing is a good outcome, not a wasted appointment.

Cost

The screening is part of your routine examination, so there is no separate charge for it.