April 13, 2011
John C. Lincoln to Host Free Oral Cancer Screening May 14
Free Oral Cancer Screening Event
When: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, May 14
Where: Desert Mission Children's Dental Clinic, 9201 N. Fifth St., Phoenix.
"The screening is quick, painless and free, so I am encouraging everyone to take advantage of this opportunity that could save your life. Do it for your family," said actor and producer Michael Douglas, who is recovering from throat cancer.
Academy Award-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas, who is recovering from a battle with throat cancer, is urging Americans to get screened for cancer during the 14th annual Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week (OHANCAW), being held nationwide May 8 - 14, 2011.
John C. Lincoln Health Network joins with Michael Douglas and the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance to host a free oral cancer screening event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May, 14, at the Desert Mission Dental Clinic.
According to the American Cancer Society, head and neck cancers represent the sixth-most-common form of cancer in the U.S., with more than 50,000 cases diagnosed annually and over 12,000 deaths.
"My experience has taught me the importance of early detection and diagnosis to successful treatment and a positive outcome," Douglas said. "I applaud the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance for raising awareness of oral, head and neck cancer and opening the door to free cancer screenings at local facilities throughout our country during OHANCAW. The screening is quick, painless and free, so I am encouraging everyone to take advantage of this opportunity that could save your life. Do it for your family."
"Many people don't recognize the symptoms of oral cancer, which makes it that much more important to be screened," said James Osborne, DO, ear, nose and throat specialist on staff at John C. Lincoln Hospitals.
"Unfortunately, this type of cancer most often is not discovered until it has spread to another location, most likely the lymph nodes of the neck," said Dr. Osborne. "If we educate people to recognize the signs of oral cancer sooner, and explain the risk factors such as the use of tobacco and excessive alcohol, we can catch this cancer at a more treatable stage."
About Oral, Head and Neck Cancer
Oral, head and neck cancer refers to a variety of cancers that develop in the head and neck region, such as the oral cavity (mouth), the pharynx (throat), paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, the larynx (voice box), thyroid and salivary glands, the skin of the face and neck, and the lymph nodes in the neck.
Common warning signs are:
- Red or white patch in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks.
- Change in voice or hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks.
- Sore throat that does not subside.
- Pain or swelling in the mouth or neck that does not subside.
- Lump in the neck.
Other warning signs that occur during later stages of the disease include:
- Ear pain.
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing.
- Difficulty breathing.
The most effective prevention strategy continues to be the cessation of behaviors such as smoking, use of chewing tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use. Research has linked the increase of oral cancer incidence in young adults, a population traditionally at low risk, to the rise of human papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-causing virus that can be transmitted through oral sex.
For more information about John C. Lincoln's free oral cancer screening event visit our calendar of events. For more information about oral, head and neck cancer awareness week visit headandneck.org.
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