Brush biopsy or mouth sores can be used to detect oral cancer

What is it about?

Red and white discolored areas inside your mouth may be cancerous. To know for sure a dentist or oral surgeon must take some tissue surgically for diagnosis. We and others have shown that by brushing the area of your mouth with a tiny brush the few cells taken are enough to diagnose cancer based on the miRNA that is present. This method is easy and unlike surgical biopsy is not painful. It has the potential to be more accurate then surgical biopsy for diagnosing oral cancer. Others are trying to detect oral cancer by examining slaliva or blood.

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Why is it important?

Too many people are diagnosed late with oral cancer because they do not get biopsies soon enough. A late diagnosis results in death within 5 years for most cases.