Oral Cancer Awareness

One of our Talk Back guests was Dr. Ervin Harder of Hannibal Dental Group. We talked about oral cancer awareness. Here's a news release from Hannibal Regional Hospital in connection with upcoming oral cancer screenings coming up.

In recognition of Oral Cancer Awareness Month,  the James E. Cary Cancer Center  will be offering free oral cancer screenings on April 23rd from 5-7 p.m.  The screenings will be provided by E.W. Harder, DMD, FACD.  Free screenings will also be available that same evening at the Hannibal Council of  Alcohol and Drug Abuse from 5:30-7 p.m.  Screenings at this location will be provided by Josh Ricker, DDS and Adrienne Lynn, DDS.

Oral cancer is not a rare disease. Approximately 40,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer every year in the US. It kills one person every hour of every day, and over 100 new individuals will be diagnosed with it each day. The good news is that it can often be found early in its development, through a simple, painless, and quick screening.  Early indicators of oral cancer include red and/or white discolorations of the soft tissues of the mouth, any sore which does not heal within 14 days and hoarseness which lasts for a prolonged period of time.  Advanced indicators can include a sensation that something is stuck in your throat, numbness in the oral region, difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue, difficulty in swallowing, ear pain which occurs on one side only, a sore under a denture, which even after adjustment of the denture, still does not heal and a lump or thickening which develops in the mouth or on the neck.

An oral cancer screening should be conducted every year, so take advantage of this free offer and get screened today.  Call the James E. Cary Cancer Center at 573-406-5800 for more information or visit carycancercenter.org.