Healthcare Industry News: oral cancer
News Release - April 5, 2007
New Device from LED Dental May Allow Earlier Detection of Oral Cancer
VELscope(R) Intended to Help Reduce Alarming Rate of oral cancer OccurrenceVANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, April 5 (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) - The Medical Devices Bureau of Health Canada recently gave British Columbia's LED Dental Inc. approval to use its VELscope device to assist dentists in detecting precancerous and cancerous growths that may be missed with traditional examinations.
This approval is based on studies conducted by scientists at the British Columbia Cancer Agency and the University of British Columbia. The studies report cases that demonstrated VELscope's ability to facilitate the detection of lesions that were not visible by an expert under conventional white light visualization.
oral cancer: The Forgotten Disease
oral cancer is one of the few forms of cancer that have not experienced a significantly decreased mortality rate in the past 30 years. Deaths from oral cancer are higher than from cervical, testicular, laryngeal or thyroid cancer. It is estimated that over 35,000 North Americans will develop oral cancer in 2007, and that only about half of them will be alive in five years. One North American dies of this disease every hour of every day.
The traditional profile of an oral cancer victim is that of a heavy user of tobacco and alcohol who is at least 40 years old. However, the number of victims who do not fit this profile has been growing at an alarming rate in recent years. One reason may be the growth in the occurrence in the human papilloma virus (HPV), one strain of which is now thought to be a possible cause of oral cancer. Because of this, many health professionals are now recommending that annual oral cancer screens be performed not merely on the traditional at-risk group, but on all adults 18 years-old and older.
oral cancer: Detectable and Treatable
The high mortality rate of oral cancer is largely the result of the late stage at which the disease is typically detected. Fortunately, the 5-year survival rate is estimated to be 80% or higher when oral cancer is detected at early stages. Annual dental hygiene exams are generally considered to be the ideal opportunity to conduct an oral cancer screening. The VELscope exam is intended to supplement the conventional white light visual exam and can be given by a hygienist in only one or two minutes.
"VELscope is uniquely able to help facilitate the early detection of oral cancer, as it is the only adjunctive device approved to aid in the identification of lesions that may not be visible to the naked eye, such as precancerous or cancerous lesions," said Steven Semmelmayer, president and CEO of LED Dental Inc. and its parent, LED Medical Diagnostics Inc.
"We have been gratified by the response we have received from dental practices about VELscope," said Semmelmayer. "Their staffs appreciate the fact that a VELscope exam is easy to perform and completely non-invasive, while their patients are grateful that the practice is not only demonstrating a serious concern for their health, but might even save their life."
About LED Dental
LED Dental Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LED Medical Diagnostics, which was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, call 1-888-541-4614, or visit www.VELscope.com.
LED Medical Diagnostics Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the company) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to anticipated future revenues of the company and success of current product offerings. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the company. For a description of additional risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: LED Dental
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