Temple Head & Neck Institute and Fox Chase Cancer Center Collaborate to Offer Free Screenings During Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week® 2017
April 5, 2017
8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Young Pavilion, Desk 1
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, A 19111
April 5, 2017
1:30 – 4:30 pm
Temple University Hospital
Boyer Pavilion, 6th floor
Dept. of Otolaryngology
3509 N Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
April 7, 2017
8:30 -11:30 am
Jeanes Hospital
Friends Hall, Suite 100
7604 Central Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19111
For More Information:
(215) 707-3852
PHILADELPHIA (March 9, 2017) – Just because you can’t feel it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Just ask the more than 100,000 Americans who were diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck (including thyroid) last year. Unfortunately, many Americans do not recognize the symptoms of these life-threatening diseases, which include cancers of the oral cavity, thyroid, larynx and pharynx, and by the time they are diagnosed, for some, it’s too late.
Oral, head and neck cancers claim approximately 14,000 lives per year. However, there is hope; if diagnosed early, these cancers can be more easily treated without significant complications, and the chances of survival greatly increase.
Who should get tested?
Every adult. Tobacco and alcohol users traditionally have been considered the populations at greatest risk for these cancers. However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research indicates this development is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus, a cancer-causing infection that can be transmitted by oral sex. HPV-related oral cancers are more difficult to detect because these cancers usually occur on the back of the tongue or on the tonsils, providing even more reason to get screened regularly.
What are the potential warning signs of oral cancers?
The signs and symptoms of oral cancer often go unnoticed. However, there are a few visible signs associated with these cancers that require immediate attention, including:
- A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size
- Persistent pain in your mouth
- Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue
- Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
- Changes in your voice
- A lump in your neck
If you have any of the above warning signs, do not wait for the free screenings. Seek medical attention immediately.
How can I get screened locally?
Specialists from Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Temple Head & Neck Institute (THNI) will offer free oral cancer screenings in observance of the 20th annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week® (OHANCAW®) taking place April 2-9, 2017. The screening is painless and only takes about 10 minutes. If you’ll be out-of-town on those dates, free screenings will be offered at more than 400 participating institutions worldwide as part of OHANCAW. Visit www.OHANCAW.com for the full list of participating sites and for more information. OHANCAW is sponsored nationally by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.
What is involved in an H&N Cancer Screening?
You will fill out a brief form with questions about your recent and past health.
(This helps us identify your H&N Cancer risk)
Screening examination will include a careful examination of your mouth, face and neck.
How do I get screened?
You can call the THNI to schedule a screening at the location closest to you.
OR
You can simply “walk –in” and register on site on the day of the event!
Who do I contact?
If you want to schedule a screening, or have questions you can call or email:
(215) 707-3852 *ask about H&N Cancer Screening event
[email protected]
*Put H&N Screening event in the subject of your email
About the Temple Head & Neck Institute:
The Temple Head & Neck Institute features a multidisciplinary team of specialists from both the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Fox Chase Cancer Center who offer advanced testing and treatments for benign and malignant conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck – including speech and swallowing disorders, thyroid abnormalities, hearing and balance disorders, allergies and sinus disorders, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and head/neck cancers. By combining these services of Temple’s ENT and cancer specialists, audiologists and speech pathologists into one program, the Institute enhances collaboration and care among the clinical teams and provides truly integrated specialty services – from the simplest to the most complex and from benign to pre-cancerous to cancerous.