• 11/21/2005
  • Plantation, FL
  • press release
  • PRNewswire (www.prnewswire.com)

Recognizing the importance of early detection and intervention, CIGNA Dental has announced that beginning January 1, 2006, it will cover the oral cancer screening procedure known as a brush biopsy for members enrolled in the CIGNA Dental Care (Dental HMO), CIGNA
Dental PPO (DPPO), and CIGNA Traditional (Dental Indemnity) plans.

Checking for oral cancer can be done during a regular dental checkup. If the dentist identifies any suspicious oral spots or sores during a visual assessment, a brush biopsy can be performed to detect potentially dangerous cells. Brush biopsy is a painless procedure. The dentist uses a small brush to take a tissue specimen, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis to
determine the presence of pre-cancerous or cancerous cells.(1)

“The mouth is considered to be an ‘early warning system’ for other medical conditions, as well as a potential contributor. CIGNA Dental enables members to use information found through early detection to prevent further complications or disease,” said Karen Rohan, president of CIGNA Dental.

Oral cancer is the sixth deadliest cancer in America. Despite advances in surgical techniques, radiation treatments and chemotherapy, survival rates remain low when compared to other cancers. While oral cancer most often occurs in those who use tobacco in any form, it has also been found that alcohol use combined with smoking greatly increases risk.

However, more than 25% of oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and have no other risk factors.(1) Avoiding diagnosis or treatment for oral cancer can have life-threatening implications.

The following statistics demonstrate the severity of oral cancer and the importance of increasing access to oral cancer screening:
– Approximately 28,000 new diagnoses of oral cancer occur each
year in the United States(1)
– Over 8,000 deaths from oral cancer annually(2)
– Five-year survival rate of about 50% when diagnosed(2)
– When found early, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent cure rate(2)

This announcement by CIGNA Dental marks yet another benefit enhancement that stresses the importance of early detection and prevention of health issues that go beyond oral health.