FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2009
County offers oral cancer screenings
Events planned to raise awareness
and reduce oral cancer mortality
FREEHOLD – The Monmouth Cancer Coalition has arranged for 39 locations throughout the county to provide free oral cancer screenings to adults from April 23 through April 30. A list of dates, times, and locations can be found on the coalition’s website at www.monmouthcancercoalition.org
The Monmouth County Department of Health is one of the partners in the Monmouth Cancer Coalition’s efforts to provide free exams to adults who do not receive regular dental exams.
The initiative includes free oral cancer screenings at locations throughout the county and public education focusing on risk factors associated with oral cancer. At designated sites, an oral health professional will provide a free oral cancer screening test for anyone who registers. This simple test can detect lesions or other signs of oral cancer. All adults are eligible to receive the test. In addition, educational materials will be circulated via senior centers, health fairs and other events.
“Oral cancer is preventable,” said Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, who is the liaison to the county’s Department of Health. “The key is being aware of the symptoms and avoiding risk factors that are known to contribute to oral cancer. These free screenings are fast and painless. They give adults the opportunity to learn more about oral cancer and the importance of general oral health.”
“Among the symptoms of oral cancer are numbness in your tongue or a sore, irritation, lump, or thick patch in your mouth, lip or throat.” said Michael A. Meddis, MPH, health officer for the Monmouth County Department of Health and chairman of the Monmouth Cancer Coalition’s Work Group on Oral Cancer. “Adults are encouraged to be screened regularly by an oral heath professional and to find out more about oral cancer.”
“New Jersey has a significantly higher risk of oral cancer than other states, and Monmouth County is higher than the average of New Jersey counties,” Meddis said. “We believe regular health screenings can make a big difference and that education about oral cancer is the key to saving lives.”
As many as 28,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer annually and nearly 7,000 die from oral cancer.
The oral cancer initiative is taking place under the direction of Meddis and Dr. Kavon Haghighi, a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer in New Jersey Workgroup on Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer. Dr. David Lederman, chairman of the Workgroup on Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer, and a Monmouth County resident, is also actively involved.
The Monmouth Cancer Coalition’s mission is to increase awareness, education and access to cancer screening and care through developing and sustaining collaborative relationships within the community for the purpose of reducing cancer morbidity and mortality in Monmouth County.
The Monmouth Cancer Coalition is a volunteer organization with representatives from health and human services, education, business, faith-based organizations and the general public in Monmouth County. It is funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Cancer Control & Prevention with the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey acting as grant recipient.
For more information, contact the Monmouth County Health Department at (732) 431-7456, or www.visitmonmouth.com. For more information about the Oral Cancer Screening Initiative and the Monmouth Cancer Coalition, please visit www.monmouthcancercoalition.org or call 732-418-3210.
# # #