MARRERO, LA – West Jefferson ENT will host a free head and neck cancer screening Saturday, Aug. 26. The screening is open to the public, but registration is required. Screening location and time will be provided during registration. Call (504) 349-1789 to reserve your spot.
Head and neck cancers are diagnosed in more than 70,000 Americans each year. Men are nearly three times more likely than women to develop the disease. Head and neck cancers include cancers of the mouth, such as lip and tongue, the pharynx (throat) and the larynx (voice box).
Almost 75 percent of Americans say they haven’t been screened by a medical professional for oral, head and neck cancer. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, with the rise in oral cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV), screening for early detection of the disease is more important than ever.
Risk factors for head and neck cancer include:
• Heavy use of tobacco and alcohol
• Exposure to the sun, radiation, inhalation of asbestos, wood, or nickel dust
• Poor oral hygiene
• The human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease
• Sexual behaviors and smoking marijuana
