Free Oral Cancer Screenings

This year in the United States 30,000 people will develop oral cancer and 8,000 will die. It is the 6th leading cancer in the country and the 4th leading cancer for African American men. Men have twice the risk of women and in the past 10 years there has been a substantial increase in oral cancers in Americans under the age of 30. Tobacco use has been associated with about 75% of all oral cancers and alcohol increases the risk factor when combined with smoking. The Human Papilloma Virus, especially type 16 and 18, are sexually transmitted diseases and account for the increase in tongue and/or pharyngeal cancers. The survival rate for oral cancer is one of the poorest, only 52% survive 5 years. It kills one person every 5 hours. Signs and symptoms of oral cancer may include a sore that bleeds and does not heal, pain in the mouth, difficulty swallowing or speaking and voice changes.

This year, as in the past, Hannibal Regional Hospital in cooperation with the James E. Cary Cancer Center will be holding free oral cancer screenings. They will be held on Wednesday, April 24th at the Cancer Center from 5 – 7.

The cancer exam is noninvasive, quick and painless. Do yourself a favor and be there!