Routine Dental Visit Leads to Life-Saving Discovery for Connecticut Woman
A patient’s routine prophylaxis turned into a life-saving appointment when her dental hygienist discovered a lump in her mouth, leading to a diagnosis of B non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In April, a 52-year-old woman from Cromwell, Connecticut, went in for a routine prophylaxis with her dental hygienist of 5 years. During the appointment, the hygienist felt a lump in the patient’s mouth and immediately stopped the procedure to take her for a panoramic X-ray, where a mass was discovered. The patient had previously been in remission from B non-Hodgkin lymphoma after her first diagnosis in October 2020 and was diagnosed with the disease for the second time a month later, according to People Magazine.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the National Cancer Institute, spreads rapidly in the lymph nodes and can affect the spleen, liver, bone marrow, and other organs. On May 23, the patient began a 6-month chemotherapy regimen, during which she has already seen her tumor shrink. Throughout her treatment, the patient has maintained close contact with her dental hygienist, expressing deep gratitude for her care and the pivotal role she played in her diagnosis. Click here to read more.
