Some 550,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with oral, head and neck cancer worldwide in 2019, and University of Alabama at Birmingham physicians in the Department of Otolaryngology are hoping to get ahead of the game by offering a free screening event Friday, April 12.
Cancers of the head and neck are four times more common in men than in women, and early diagnosis can more than double a patient’s chances of survival. High-risk factors include tobacco and alcohol use, exposure to HPV, and persistent neck mass or pain in the mouth or throat.
“Historically, cancers of the head and neck were found in adults over age 50; but we are now seeing these cancers affect a more diverse group of people,” said William Carroll, M.D., the John S. Odess Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology. “Everyone should be screened — especially if they partake in any of the major risk factors.”
The free screening will take place at The Kirklin Clinic on the fifth floor from 1-4 p.m., with no scheduled appointments necessary. For more information, contact Morgan Samples at 205-975-1254 or mpsamples@uabmc.edu.