Free Oral Cancer Screening to be held Saturday
There will be a free oral cancer screening at Hatcher Square Mall Saturday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Oconee Area Dental Study Club and the Baldwin County unit of the American Cancer Society will be sponsoring the first annual free dental health screening for oral cancer. The free screenings will be located in Hatcher Square Mall beside Sherri’s Hallmark.
The public is asked to come and be screened. The hopes of the organizations participating are to detect early signs of oral cancer. They also hope to educate the public on the dangers of contracting oral cancer due to the use of smokeless tobacco products, cigarettes, cigars, pipes and alcohol.
“We want to warn the public of the dangers associated with oral cancer. So many people use smokeless tobacco and feel there is no real risk,” said Teresa Taylor, the Cancer Control Marketing chairman for the Baldwin County unit of the American Cancer Society. ” We will be handing out literature that contains illustrations of what smokeless tobacco can really do.”
The American Cancer Society has provided a list of symptoms that may be related to oral cancer. They include a sore in the mouth that does not heal, a persistent lump or thickening of the cheek, white or red patches on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth, difficulty chewing or swallowing, numbness, pain around the teeth or throat, weight loss and things of this nature.
“Anyone experiencing problems of this sort should come and participate in the screening,” said Taylor. “If a problem is detected, the person will be referred to a specialist.”
Along with the Baldwin County unit of the American Cancer Society and the Oconee Area Dental Study Club, several Georgia College & State University faculty and students will be participating. Students from mass communication, health and nursing will be staffing the event.
“We are hoping for a good turn out,” said Taylor. “The screening is free to everyone. So be sure to get yourself checked. It is better to be safe than sorry.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 14 2003. Filed under Other.
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