Untitled Document April 21st – 27th, 2008 is National Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week
(Evansville, IN, April 15th, 2008) – According to the American Cancer Society, this year more than 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck – which include cancers of the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx. An additional 7,550 will die from these cancers. Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common form of cancer in the United States.
“When diagnosed very early, head and neck cancers can be more easily treated without significant complications, and the chances of survival greatly increase,” said Jon Frazier, M.D., Medical Director and Radiation Oncologist for Evansville Cancer Center/Vantage Oncology. “However, many Americans do not recognize the symptoms of these cancers, especially for those who are at high risk, such as tobacco and alcohol users.” There has been an increasing incidence of some of these cancers in young adults who do not smoke and some researchers have revealed an association with oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Oral, head and neck cancer (OHNC) 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.
Warning Signs of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer
An early indication of oral and throat cancer is one or more changes in the way the soft tissues of your mouth usually look or feel. Signs and symptoms may include:
- A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or increases in size
- Persistent pain in your mouth
- Lumps or white, red or dark patches inside your mouth
- Thickening of your cheek
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue
- Difficulty moving your jaw, or swelling or pain in your jaw
- Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
- Pain around your teeth, or loosening of your teeth
- Numbness of your tongue or elsewhere in your mouth
- Changes in your voice
- A lump in your neck
- Bad breath
Most oral cancers arise on the lips, tongue or on the floor of the mouth. They also may occur inside your cheeks, on your gums or on the roof of your mouth. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should contact your primary care physician or an ear, nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist).
Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (HANCAW) is a week set aside annually in April to educate the public about these potentially life-threatening, but treatable cancers, and promote prevention, screening and early detection.
If you would like to interview Dr. Jon Frazier, Radiation Oncologist with Evansville Cancer Center or a patient who has survived this disease, please contact Robin Lawrence at 812-474-6000 or cell at 812-483-2612.
Media Contact:
Robin Lawrence, Director of Marketing
Evansville Cancer Center/Vantage Oncology
Office: 812-474-6000, Cell: 812-483-2612
