| Breast
cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United
States. In 2006, the American Cancer Society estimated that there would
be 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and in that year, 40,970
women would die from it. Many women’s lives could be saved if this
cancer was diagnosed earlier, and early diagnosis could be achieved if
there were more and easier opportunities to do so.
Sebastian Z. Paige and Charles F. Streckfus, DDS,
MA, the authors of the study, “Salivary analysis in the diagnosis and
treatment of breast cancer,” published in the March/April 2007 issue of
General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD)
clinical, peer-reviewed journal, researched a new method of diagnosis.
They found that the protein levels in saliva have
great potential to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
care of breast cancer. And general dentists are perfect candidates to
assist with this diagnosis samples because they can easily remove saliva
samples from a patient’s mouth during routine visits. As the AGD’s
Vice-President Paula Jones, DDS, FAGD says, “Since a patient visits the
dentist more frequently than their physician, it makes
sense that this diagnostic tool could be very effective
in the hands of the general dentist.”
Salivary testing has some advantages over blood
testing. The authors of the study argue that saliva is a clear,
colorless liquid, while blood undergoes changes in color, which might
affect test results. The authors also say that saliva collection is
safe (no needle punctures), non-invasive, and can be collected without
causing a patient any pain.
This method of early diagnosis is not yet approved
by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If it does receive approval,
dentists and physicians could use it to collaboratively diagnose breast
cancer.
But Dr. Jones also warns that this is not the only
means for diagnosis. “It would not eliminate the need for regular
mammogram screening or blood analysis; it would just be a first line of
defense for women,” she says. “For example, if the salivary screening
did show a positive result, a mammogram or other imaging test would be
necessary to determine in which breast the cancer was located.”
Advantages of salivary testing:
- Salivary testing is safe (no needle punctures)
and can be collected without causing the patient any pain.
- Salivary testing does not require any special
training or equipment.
- Patients who may not have access to or money
for preventive care could easily be tested through saliva.
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