I am a Dentist in Nova Scotia Canada. I am a cancer survivor. Not oral cancer but clear cell sarcoma in my right leg. I have been healthy and cancer free for ten years.
I hope to be able to listen and help out where I can. I refer about 45 people a year for treatment of oral cancers and have recently incoorporated a Velscope into my practice.
Early detection and treatment are the two keys.

Cheers
Dr. Mike

Welcome Dr. Mike!
I'm sure that you and Jerry Wilck, will have a lot to share! (He's my favorite dentist!)

Welcome eh

From another Canuck - welcome. Glad to have you as a resource.

Hi Mike,

I sent you an email to welcome you before I read this post. Congratulations on your 10 year survival. Nice to have you on board.

Jerry

PS...thanks Donna. You are too kind.

Nice to meet you, Dr. Mike- glad you are aboard. Amy in the Ozarks

My journey started with my dentist noticing a spot under my tongue and progressed from there. I've always wondered how things might be different now had the dentist not caught it or sent me to have it checked.

You are definitely on the front lines in a unique way. Have you been able to track how many of those referrals have been positively diagnosed as cancer?

thanks,
Steve

MY journey started with my dentist NOT properly diagnosing an irritated area on my gum near an upper molar, even though I also complained of ear pain. I've wondered "how things might be different now had the dentist" CAUGHT IT then, rather than ignoring it then, and misdiagnosing it again 6 months later and cauterizing it, and misdiagnosing it and cauterizing it again two months after that, when it was a classic presentation. He never did recognize it or even suspect it as cancer. If he had had me return after the first complaint, to be certain that it had healed, and then done a biopsy, it would have prevented 8 months of allowing the cancer to grow uninterrupted, and it would have made my surgery much less destructive. AND, though I am doing quite well and am thankful for that, it does concern me that my chances of metastasis are greater also, because of the length of time the lesion was present.

Dr. Mike, Welcome from western Canada! I'm in Calgary...where are you in Nova Scotia.

Like others here, I wouldn't be around were it not for my dentist noticing something that "didn't look right". I have a relative who's an oral surgeon in Saskatchewan who has done some implant work for me since my diagnosis. I never cared much for dentists; no they're my best friends!
Wayne

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the warm welcome!! Jerry, thanks for the e-mail and there will be some questions I'm sure.

Dragan, I'm in Bedford, Nova Scotia (eh), back at ya Kevin, hehe.

August sorry to hear about your misadventure with your dentist. I hope and pray you are doing well. I have to say it erks me to hear about my colleagues who do not recognize when things are not right. Trauma heals within 10-14 days after the source of the trauma is removed. Infection heals within 10-14 days (occasionally a little longer)after the source of the infection is removed with or without antibiotics. Anything left after 14 days should be referred to and appropriate ENT, Oral Surgeon, Oral Medicine specialist or at the minimum excisionally biopsied. This has been written in almost every Oral Diagnosis Text used by every Dental Student. I make that comment because my father and grandfather are both Dentists and I have used their text books for reference over the years. My grand father's Guide to Oral Diagnosis has been well used for over sixty years by the three of us and the second chapter basically affirms this.

August don't loose faith in Dentists but you may want to discuss your feelings about your plight with him/her and if your are still concerned the maybe it's time to find someone new.
I pray for your health and happiness.

Donnarose, Pandora99, Amy, Steve J, thanks it is my pleasure to be welcomed by you all eh-->( for Kevin once again)

My e-mail: [email protected]
Please feel free to drop me a line.
Thanks again all,
Cheers,

Mike

Bedford, eh? Brings back fond memories of buying lobster from the boats in Bedford basin. Halifax/Dartmouth and Bedford are beautiful...although I don't envy your winters ;^)

Glad to have you here!
Wayne

Hey guys, having traveled rather extensively in Canada, am I allowed to say "EH"?

Wayne, happy to be one of your new best friends. Why do you think that dentists, at least in the US, have one of the highest suicide rates as a profession?

Jerry

Jerry,
Glad to have you as a friend, eh?
As for a "Yank" using the term...fire away! More than happy to hear it!
Have you ever made it out my way? Calgary is less than an hour from Banff National Park, some of the most beautiful country this side of heaven. Calgary's a pretty nice place too...getting a bit too big for my tastes, but it's home.
Wayne

Welcome Dr. Mike

You and Jerry have a power to save and prevent this disease. Your 2 keys are life savers.

I hope nobody beat you up to bad yet. LOL It is just that there are so many "oversights" it is scary. I will send you a thread that will give you some office chatter for your next "corporate office party. Some may think it is fictitious.

We all know that this is unintentional, of course.

Please keep saving lives. I wish I knew you sooner Then I could say "see you later" without hesitance.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN SAVING OTHERS! Sincerely, Petey

Welcome Dr. Mike

You and Jerry have a power to save and prevent this disease. Your 2 keys are life savers.

I hope nobody beat you up to bad yet. LOL It is just that there are so many "oversights" it is scary. I will send you a thread that will give you some office chatter for your next "corporate office party. Some may think it is fictitious.

We all know that this is unintentional, of course.

Please keep saving lives. I wish I knew you sooner Then I could say "see you later" without hesitance.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP IN SAVING OTHERS! Sincerely, Petey

Thanks PeteyB,

I got big shoulders and don't let people beat me up. If you're prepared to give advice you have to be open to new information, differences of opinion and nay sayers. I just don't pass along or discuss issues that I am not versed in or can't give a professional opinion on.
Comments both positive and negative are healthy and help us all grow and learn.
As for oversights yup I've been there and at the same time have been on the other side. There is no perfect system and we are all human. There are a few who only worry about the dollar and social status...the dollars I recieve are attached to people and I owe them value for their dollar. The compassion, expertise and information I am able to provide for that dollar is only good if I recognize my limitations and then relay this to the patient and get them to the person who can help them.

Jerry: Great article!! Glad to see you championed your fight and turned it into something positive to help others. I only hope that I will be able to help you carry the torch. You are certainly aces in my books. Way to go! As for dentist suicide rates...well we're all hated..."...no offence doc. but, I hate dentists!"...ever heard that Jerry? I think many take this too seriously and to heart. Me...I do what I can and am open and honest with my patients. If I know I can't get along with someone I tell them and don't treat them. I then refer them to another office. Seems simple to me.

Cheers all, Live well!!
Mike

Wayne,

I sent you an email.

Mike,

I have managed to handle the "I hate dentists" for 37 years and will continue to do so. I usually turn it around by looking at the person's profession eg a teacher and say "that's OK, I hate teachers". It breaks the ice and works very well.

I am so impressed with your skills of giving advice and your way with words. No one can teach some one to be so compassionate. It's a gift you have to be born with and one that you have increased with life's experiences. You are a welcome addition to this group and your dental knowledge and counseling skills will be greatfully appreciated by many.

Jerry

PS

Glad you liked the article.

Jerry you are way to kind, but thanks I appreciate your praise.
Cheers,
Mike

Dragan you are familiar with Bedford? As for the winters if you're into wintersports etc. it's a great place. Makes you appreciate the warm days more.
Ten years ago when I was told to get my affairs in order my goal was make the next season. When I saw the snow that year I cried like a baby. I'm not embarrassed to say that either it felt so damn good to freeze my buns off playing with my son like a couple of kids in the snow.
Cheers,
Mike

I sure am. I've made numerous trips to Halifax and area on business, and a few for pleasure as well. I have a business in addition to being an "airport guy" and my business partner is in Stratford P.E.I.

Absolutely beautiful area...you just get WAAAY more snow usually than we do, and the humidity knocks me on my you-know-what.

It's funny how those few words put your life on full stop, isn't it? I've said it before; I wouldn't wish this Beast on my worst enemy, but I'm not sorry I went through the experience.

I grew to know my wife and kids in a way I have never known them before, and I grew to understand myself even more.
All told, I took more from the Beast than it took from me.
Wayne

Dr. Mike: I am enjoying, as well as learning, from your posts! Thanks for caring enough to share your expertise with us...

emmylou just trying to help where I can...I had to draw my own map when I fought the good fight ten years ago.
I, as well, am learning the more I read here so it's good all around.
Cheers
Mike