🎗 April — Oral Cancer Awareness Month
Free Oral Cancer Screening at Enhanced Wellness — April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month
Early detection of oral cancer increases the 5-year survival rate from under 30% to over 90%. This month, Dr. Wakim is offering free screenings — no appointment needed, no insurance required, no catch.
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and at Enhanced Wellness in Washington, PA, we're doing something about it. This month, Dr. Elizabeth Wakim is offering free oral cancer screenings to all patients — new and existing — because early detection isn't just important. It's lifesaving.
Here's the number that should stop you:
90%+
5-year survival rate
when caught early
when caught early
<30%
5-year survival rate
when caught late
when caught late
The difference between those two outcomes is almost always early detection — and early detection almost always happens at a dental appointment, not because the patient noticed something was wrong. Most people don't. That's the problem.
What Is Oral Cancer — And Why Should You Care?
Oral cancer refers to cancers that develop in the mouth, lips, tongue, cheeks, the floor of the mouth, the hard and soft palate, sinuses, and throat. It's more common than most people realize — over 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer every year, and roughly one person dies from it every hour.
The reason the death rate remains high despite advances in treatment isn't that oral cancer is particularly aggressive in its early stages. It's that it's almost painless at first. There's no alarm system. No obvious symptom. By the time most patients notice something — a persistent sore, difficulty swallowing, a lump they can feel — the cancer has often already progressed to a later stage.
⚠️ Warning Signs to Never Ignore
A sore that doesn't heal after two weeks, white or red patches inside the mouth, a lump or thickening in the cheek, difficulty swallowing or chewing, persistent hoarseness, or unexplained numbness in the mouth or lips. Any of these warrant an immediate dental visit — don't wait.
Who Is at Risk?
The honest answer is everyone with a mouth. But certain factors significantly increase your risk:
Tobacco Use
Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, or snuff — the single biggest risk factor for oral cancer.
Heavy Alcohol Use
A major risk factor on its own. Combined with tobacco, risk increases exponentially — not just additively.
HPV-16
Human papillomavirus has become a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers, especially in non-smokers.
Sun Exposure
Prolonged UV exposure increases the risk of lip cancer specifically.
Age
Majority of cases occur in adults over 40 — though rates in younger adults are rising.
Family History
A personal or family history of cancer increases your baseline risk across all cancer types.
Important
Even if none of those risk factors apply to you — even if you've never smoked and you're in your thirties — oral cancer can and does occur. Regular screening is the only reliable way to catch it before you'd ever notice it yourself.
How Oral Cancer Screening Compares — By Detection Method
| Detection Method | What It Catches | Misses | Available at Enhanced Wellness? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-examination | Obvious visible lesions | Early-stage, subsurface, or posterior abnormalities | — |
| Standard visual exam | Visible lesions under normal light | Pre-cancerous tissue that looks normal to the naked eye | ✓ Yes |
| OralID Fluorescence Screening | Abnormal tissue at a cellular level — including lesions invisible under normal light | Very little — the gold standard for in-office screening | ✓ Yes — included |
| Biopsy | Definitive diagnosis of suspicious tissue | N/A — diagnostic, not screening | ✓ Referral arranged if needed |
What Does the Screening Involve?
At Enhanced Wellness, Dr. Wakim uses OralID fluorescence technology — not just a visual inspection. Here's why that matters, and exactly what happens during your appointment:
1
Fluorescence Examination with OralID
Dr. Wakim uses the OralID device to illuminate soft tissue under fluorescent light. Healthy tissue fluoresces differently than abnormal tissue — revealing precancerous or cancerous changes that look completely normal under standard lighting.
2
Full Soft Tissue Examination
A complete visual and tactile exam of all soft tissues: lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, and throat. Dr. Wakim is looking for any changes in color, texture, or surface character.
3
Head and Neck Examination
A manual examination of the face, jaw, and neck to check for any unusual lymph node changes or tissue irregularities that might indicate spreading disease.
4
Results and Next Steps
If everything is normal, you leave with peace of mind. If something warrants a closer look, Dr. Wakim explains what she sees and discusses next steps — including biopsy referral if indicated. Finding something suspicious is not a diagnosis. It's information, gathered early enough to act on.
Why a Dentist for Oral Cancer Screening?
The mouth is a dental professional's primary domain. Dr. Wakim examines oral tissue every single day — she knows what healthy tissue looks like and what changes are worth investigating. Most people see their dentist more regularly than any other doctor, making the dental chair the first and often only place a healthcare professional examines oral tissue. Dentists are the front line of oral cancer detection.
This Month: Free Screening for Everyone
To mark Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Enhanced Wellness is offering free oral cancer screenings throughout April. No appointment required to add the screening to an existing visit. Standalone screening appointments are also available for anyone who wants to come in specifically for this.
- New patients welcome — no existing relationship required
- Takes about 2 minutes
- Completely painless — no instruments, no discomfort
- OralID fluorescence technology included
- Can be added to any existing appointment
- Standalone appointments available
- No insurance needed — completely free this month
- Serving Washington, Canonsburg, Peters Township & surrounding areas
Oral Cancer Screening FAQs
For most adults, once a year is the standard recommendation — typically included as part of your annual comprehensive dental exam. If you have elevated risk factors (tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, HPV history), more frequent screenings may be appropriate. Dr. Wakim will advise you based on your specific situation.
Not at all. The OralID screening uses a handheld light device — there's nothing inserted, no pressure, no discomfort. The manual neck and lymph node exam involves gentle palpation that most patients barely notice. The entire process is completely painless and takes about two minutes.
Finding something that warrants a closer look is not a diagnosis. It means Dr. Wakim has identified a tissue change worth investigating further. She'll explain exactly what she sees, why it's worth monitoring, and what next steps make sense — which may include a follow-up visit to monitor the area, or a referral for biopsy to get a definitive answer. Either way, you'll leave with a clear understanding of what happens next.
Yes. HPV-related oral cancers are rising significantly in non-smokers and non-drinkers — particularly in adults under 50. Oral cancer doesn't only happen to people with obvious risk factors. Annual screening is recommended for all adults regardless of lifestyle, and this month it costs you nothing.
It's genuinely free throughout April with no strings attached. We offer this every Oral Cancer Awareness Month because we believe screening shouldn't be a barrier to early detection. You won't be pressured into any additional services. Come in, get screened, and leave with peace of mind — or information you can act on.
Oral Cancer by the Numbers
| Stage at Diagnosis | Approximate % of Cases | 5-Year Survival Rate | Detectable by Routine Screening? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Localized (Stage I–II) | ~29% | 83–90%+ | ✓ Yes — often asymptomatic |
| Regional (Stage III) | ~46% | ~65% | ✓ Sometimes — changes may be subtle |
| Distant (Stage IV) | ~25% | <30% | ✗ Patient usually symptomatic by this point |
Source: American Cancer Society / National Cancer Institute SEER data. Numbers are approximate and vary by cancer subsite.
Don't Wait Until Something Feels Wrong
By then, you've already lost the advantage that early detection gives you. Two minutes. No cost. No reason not to.
Enhanced Wellness · 620 N Main St, Washington, PA 15301
Serving Washington, Canonsburg, Peters Township & surrounding areas
Serving Washington, Canonsburg, Peters Township & surrounding areas
