What to Know About Biopsies to Check for Oral Cancer

Your dentist or doctor may decide that an area of your mouth looks suspicious. Having a biopsy is the only way to know for sure if you have cancer. This involves little discomfort, is inexpensive, and takes little time.¹

To take a biopsy, your doctor removes a small bit of the tumor or suspicious area.²   This is usually done with a small incision. A pathologist will examine the removed cells under a microscope to check for cancer. It usually takes one or two days to get the results of your biopsy, but it may take longer.³ After the results come back, your doctor knows if you have oral cancer. The biopsy also shows what type of oral cancer it is.

Find out how your doctor plans on letting you know about your test results. And let your doctor know if there is a way you would like to be told about the results.

¹ “Oral Cancer Facts.” Oral Cancer Foundation. http://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/index.htm Accessed 2010.

² “Dictionary of Cancer Terms.” National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db_alpha.aspx?CdrID=45164 Accessed 2010.

³ “Testing Biopsy and Cytology Specimens for Cancer: How long does biopsy and cytology testing take?” American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/UnderstandingYourDiagnosis/ExamsandTestDescriptions/TestingBiopsyandCytologySpecimensforCancer/index Accessed 2010.