Six-Step Screening: Six Steps to a Thorough Oral Cancer Screening

evagrayzel
evagrayzel Member Posts: 1
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi everyone. I don't know when this group was created but I'm sure glad there is one for H&N. I was dx'ed 14 years ago with stage IV lateral tongue SCC, and no risk factors. If you saw me, you would never know I had a radical neck and reconstruction of 1/3 of tongue. I'm lucky and I know it. I couldn't go on ethically without doing what I could to prevent the same to happening to someone else so I started Sextet Screening. Because people couldn't open the first three letters of the URL, i changed it to Six-Step Screening.

On the sixstepscreening.org site, there is an email reminder to ASK for a screening at your next dental appt. If you input the date, you get an email reminder a day before. If you input your dentist's email, he/she will also get a reminder to GIVE you a six-step screening.

Also, there is a page called Is It Oral Cancer? Newly Diagnosed, and the Face of Oral Cancer. I'd LOVE if you submit a pic and a few details about yourself (stage, smoker, symptoms) so all the dental professionals who are on the site can see that the face of OC is you and me!

If you have comments for improvement, I'd greatly appreciate your feedback.
Eva

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Mission Statement...
    I haven't looked it over entirely as of yet, some good information on early screening via the Dentist.

    I like the concept and intent of the Mission Statement

    Six-Step Screening

    Although, I don't really classify mine as Oral Cancer in conversation, though I suppose it is. I'm more used to thinking of the cancer I had as Head & Neck.

    Having my dentist check me over before cancer really never entered my mind I guess. But after having it, my ENT is my main contact for exams.

    I was STGIII SCC Tonsils HPV+, non-tobacco user....Dx January 2009.

    Kind of mixed emotions at the moment....

    I'm not sure if your intent is one of mainly health awareness or self promotion, or maybe a little of both.

    Hopefully you'll share some of your experiences with the many members here in various stages of survivorship. Some just starting, some mid-stream, some just out of treatment, and others several years out, like yourself.

    Myself, I like the fact that you have gone on with your life and proof that life does go on after cancer, and many years out.

    Best,
    John
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 727 Member
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Mission Statement...
    I haven't looked it over entirely as of yet, some good information on early screening via the Dentist.

    I like the concept and intent of the Mission Statement

    Six-Step Screening

    Although, I don't really classify mine as Oral Cancer in conversation, though I suppose it is. I'm more used to thinking of the cancer I had as Head & Neck.

    Having my dentist check me over before cancer really never entered my mind I guess. But after having it, my ENT is my main contact for exams.

    I was STGIII SCC Tonsils HPV+, non-tobacco user....Dx January 2009.

    Kind of mixed emotions at the moment....

    I'm not sure if your intent is one of mainly health awareness or self promotion, or maybe a little of both.

    Hopefully you'll share some of your experiences with the many members here in various stages of survivorship. Some just starting, some mid-stream, some just out of treatment, and others several years out, like yourself.

    Myself, I like the fact that you have gone on with your life and proof that life does go on after cancer, and many years out.

    Best,
    John

    Dentist
    John,

    Just a FYI. My Dr. sent me to an Oral Surgeon to check my teeth before RT. After being screened the OS said I was the third H&N patient sent over and he also discovered two on his own. It was only 1pm and already he had seen five cancer patients.

    Moral of the story, dentists should know how to screen for cancer but most don't. I'm not even sure of my regular one being competent yet.

    Just the usual 2¢

    Tom
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    tommyodavey said:

    Dentist
    John,

    Just a FYI. My Dr. sent me to an Oral Surgeon to check my teeth before RT. After being screened the OS said I was the third H&N patient sent over and he also discovered two on his own. It was only 1pm and already he had seen five cancer patients.

    Moral of the story, dentists should know how to screen for cancer but most don't. I'm not even sure of my regular one being competent yet.

    Just the usual 2¢

    Tom

    I Agree...
    My team also sent me to see an oral surgeon after the Dx and before treatment...but that was after the fact. already diagnosed.

    But after treatment, I did find a dentist that did at least recognize that I had special needs because or all of the radition.

    He also is one that does offer cancer screening exams.

    JG

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