Each month there are a variety of cancer-related awareness campaigns that are sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The purpose of these campaigns is to get people talking about cancer, and not just in quiet corners or hushed whispers. The best offense to help fight cancer is learning all about the different types and taking preventative measures to ensure that you decrease your risk. Without these campaigns, people would still be afraid of cancer. Cancer awareness takes the fear out of cancer and can give patients, survivors and their family hope for their future.
During the month of April, National Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (OHANCAW) is the week of April 12 – 18th. The American Cancer Society encourages survivors to tell their stories and inspire others, while several events take place all over the nation. Oral cancer, which is cancer of the mouth and upper throat, kills approximately one person every hour of every day of the year. Only 60% of patients diagnosed will live longer than 5 years. The reason that the survival rate is so low is that this type of cancer is discovered in its latest stages. OHNCAW hopes to change this.
How can you prevent this type of cancer? Make it a point to see your physician this month for an oral cancer screening and take a loved one to do the same. You could save someone’s life. The American Cancer Society even encourages doctors and dentists to perform free screenings. According to the National Cancer Institute, there were around 118,000 new cases of head and neck cancer diagnosed, and over 13,000 deaths related to this type of cancer. Early detection and treatment can greatly improve the outcome of these numbers, and we can’t stress enough the importance of getting screened.
What Are the Symptoms?
If you are experiencing one of the following signs or symptoms, head to your physician to get screened right away.
Constant soreness in mouth
Sore throat or trouble swallowing
Change in voice
Growth or swelling in neck
Persistent pain
Lumps in mouth
Risk Factors
There are a variety of risk factors that are associated with oral, head and neck cancers. There are certain things that contribute to these types of cancers, which can be found below:
Smoking
Chewing Tobacco
Consuming Alcohol
History of cancer
HPV
Get screened before it’s too late, and know the risks. The old saying goes – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take the time to learn about oral, head and neck cancers and familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms. If we take the time to spread what we know to our friends and families, then we have a greater chance of saving lives and making sure that we do our part to keep our fellow man safe from such a debilitating and fatal disease. The more we know about cancer, the better prepared we are for taking the power of fear away from cancer. More treatments and cures are being discovered daily, and by catching these diseases in their early stages we can increase the survival rate.