PHILADELPHIA (April 3, 2023)—Physicians from Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Temple Head & Neck Institute will offer free screenings for head and neck cancer on Thursday, April 6 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The screenings are open to everyone, take less than 10 minutes, and no appointment is needed. They will take place at Temple University Hospital-Main Campus in Classroom C in the Rock Pavilion Basement.
More than 100,000 Americans were diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck last year, and oral cancers claim about 14,000 lives per year. Sadly, many people do not spot the signs of these life-threatening diseases, which include cancers of the oral cavity, thyroid, larynx, and pharynx. For some, by the time they are found, it’s too late.
But there is hope. If found early, these cancers are often easier to treat and the chances of survival are much better.
Who should get tested?
All adults! People who use tobacco and alcohol have always been thought to be at greatest risk for these cancers. However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research shows this is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-causing infection that can be passed through oral sex. Oral cancers caused by HPV are harder to find because they are most often found on the back of the tongue or on the tonsils. This makes getting screened yearly even more important.
Why should I get screened?
Screening is quick, painless, free, and it’s right around the corner. In just 10 minutes or less, you can do something that could save your life!
What are the warning signs of oral cancers?
People do not always notice the signs of oral cancer. They are:
- A sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal or that gets bigger
- Pain in your mouth that does not go away
- Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth
- Trouble chewing, 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
The screening is free and no appointment is necessary; for further information, call 215-707-4925.