Any dentist, whether an oral surgeon or not, is qualified to do a biopsy. Why an oral surgeon would not do them, shocks me. Obviously, this is not the office that you want to be at.

There is a learning curve in reading what shows up with the VELscope light. Anything suspicious can only be diagnosed with a biopsy. My experience with brush biposies are that if they don't come back negative, they usually say further investigation is needed. This is why we don't do them any more and do scalpel biopsies right away.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Jerry

Thanks, Gary, we're on the same thought wave $$ about skipping the OS if I need to see an ENT anyway;) The OS receptionist called back this afternoon with an earlier appt for tomorrow morning so I'll go ahead and start there. Taking your advice, I'm now thinking that I'll skip the ENT and go to Cedars-Sinai Head and Neck Cancer Center. I requested info on the procedures to take to set up a consultation with one of their "Team Members." I live an hour from Los Angeles so there are lots of CCCs to check out. My husband goes to Cedars for multiple myeloma so I decided to start there.

I'm not sure why my dentist didn't do a brush biopsy...I expected him to after my education here at OCF over the weekend;) I was a little surprised that he had a VELscope but happy to oblige all who wanted to check it out.

Wow, my head's spinning! I think I see how this works now though, I don't have to reply to each person who posts but can make a generalized reply? If so, then thanks all who replied to my original post for your welcomes, experiences, thoughts, and advice. I appreciate your willingness to share your "been there, done that" knowledge and wisdom with me and have taken it all to heart. Thanks to all of you, I feel a calm sense of peace about whatever awaits me tomorrow at the OS office. You're all wonderful role models, my new mentors living lives to aspire to!

The issues raised in the "to brush test or not" posts are prime examples of why this forum is so beneficial...it can provide the very latest info on procedures almost immediately as changes are made in the DX and other fields of OC. My "polypey" growths are located on the surface of my oropharynx/pharyngeal areas: base of tongue and back left side of my mouth... I'm sure it won't be long before I can be as medically specific as the rest of you:) Any health professional wanting to take biopsy specimens of either of my surface growth areas should have no trouble with easy access to both them. I'll keep you posted tomorrow. Thanks for caring!

I was hoping to see a post from you today.

As far as the brush biopsy goes, perhaps your dentist has the same feelings about them as I do. Please re-read my previous post.

Jerry

I have had so many biopsies I can't remember which did what or why. Had them at4 different Hospitals too and and different drs at each and usually more than one involved.

Welcome to OCF. Wishing you well with yor test. Please take a minute to add a signature line for us to help you better. Its located in My Stuff tab under profile.

In So Cal you have some choices - City of Hope CCC, Loma Linda (and they have PBT - only one on the West Coast) it you need it. The gold standard biopsy is either excisional, snip or punch. Don't be freaked -they aren't very painful, they will numb you and give you pain meds for afterwards. If you are freaked ask for anti anxiety meds - they were my friends when I was going through all of that.