Video illustrating how to properly perform an oral cancer screening (OCS) during a head and neck (H&N) examination.
🦷 How to Perform a Complete Head & Neck Exam | Oral Cancer Screening for Providers
April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to sharpen one of the most important clinical skills we have as healthcare providers: the oral cancer screening exam.
In this video, I walk you step-by-step through how to perform a thorough head and neck exam, including both visual and tactile components, so you can confidently evaluate your patients and identify findings that warrant further workup.
Why this matters:
According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER), only about 26% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed at a localized (early) stage (https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/oralcav.html)
That means the majority are found after the disease has already spread—when treatment becomes more complex and outcomes are worse.
Early detection can be life-saving. When caught early, oral cancer has significantly improved survival rates compared to advanced-stage disease.
This content is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual cases may vary, and viewers should consult their healthcare provider for personalized evaluation and treatment recommendations.
HPV – Common Misconceptions!
Response to a Common HPV Misconception on the Girls Gotta Eat Podcast (Rayna Greenberg, Ashley Hesseltine & Harry Jowsey)
“HPV Affects Men Too: A Response to Girls Gotta Eat Podcast (Harry Jowsey Episode)”
In this video, I’m responding to a clip from the Girls Gotta Eat podcast (featuring Harry Jowsey) where HPV was discussed in a way that reflects a very common misconception – that HPV primarily affects women and doesn’t impact men.
I’m a huge fan of Girls Gotta Eat, and this video isn’t about calling anyone out—it’s about using a real conversation as an opportunity to share accurate, evidence-based information.
For clarity, the podcast clip included has only been edited to bleep out cuss words, and no other changes have been made to their content.
As a board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist, I wanted to take a moment (especially during Oral Cancer Awareness Month) to clarify the facts.
HPV is not just associated with cervical cancer. Today, high-risk HPV (most commonly HPV-16) is responsible for approximately 70% of oropharyngeal cancers, which include cancers of the tonsils and base of tongue. These cancers affect both men and women, and in fact, oropharyngeal cancer is now the most common HPV-associated cancer in men in the United States.
This video is not about criticism, it’s about making sure we are sharing accurate, up-to-date information.
I also discuss how risk factors for head and neck cancers have shifted over time, from primarily tobacco and alcohol use to now including HPV as a major driver of disease, particularly in the oropharynx.
Most importantly, I highlight why prevention and early detection matter. Routine dental visits should include an oral cancer screening, and any suspicious findings should be evaluated appropriately – whether through referral or biopsy.
According to data from the SEER program, only about 26% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed at a localized stage, which makes awareness and early detection critical. (https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/oralcav.html)
The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for both men and women as an important step in cancer prevention. (https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccines/index.html) (https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/oropharyngeal-cancer.html)
This content is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual cases may vary, and viewers should consult their healthcare provider for personalized evaluation and treatment recommendations.