Head and neck cancer are types of tumors that develop in or around the throat, nose, sinuses, mouth or larynx (voice box). It is more common in men than women.
Head and neck cancers are on the rise
The American Association for Cancer Research reports this year more than 71,000 Americans will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer, which makes up about 4% of all cancers in the United States.
“This is a devastating disease but knowing the signs and symptoms to report can lead to earlier diagnosis, better outcomes and overall survival,” said Beverly Garber, organizer of the free screening days and a UC Davis Health otolaryngology nurse practitioner. “Knowing how to detect and prevent this cancer is critically important. We hope to raise awareness by holding these free screening days.”
Participants will have a dental/oral health screening and a clothed physical exam of the head, face, ears, mouth and neck. UC Davis medical students, under the supervision of medical staff, will perform the exams and ask participants questions about risk factors, symptoms and medical history.
UC Davis medical student Soroush Ershadifar and Department of Otolaryngology fellow Anthony Sanchez examine a patient at last year’s free head and neck cancer screening day.
Insured and uninsured people can participate in the clinics. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged.
“We are excited about working with the University of the Pacific dental school on this important collaboration,” Garber said. “Dentists have become critical at spotting suspicious lesions in the mouth and referring their patients to UC Davis Otolaryngology and UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center oncologists for follow up.”
The Department of Otolaryngology and the student-run Shifa Clinic will offer a community-based free head and neck cancer screening day on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location of the clinic is 413 V Street in Sacramento, just south of downtown.
Shifa is one of the largest student-run clinics affiliated with the UC Davis School of Medicine that provides free primary care to the community in Sacramento.
People are also encouraged to register online for the Shifa screening.
Both screening events are affiliated with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, a national non-profit organization that raises awareness for early detection and prevention of head and neck cancers.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated center serving the Central Valley and inland Northern California, a region of more than 6 million people. Its specialists provide compassionate, comprehensive care for more than 100,000 adults and children every year and access to more than 200 active clinical trials at any given time. Its innovative research program engages more than 240 scientists at UC Davis who work collaboratively to advance discovery of new tools to diagnose and treat cancer. Patients have access to leading-edge care, including immunotherapy and other targeted treatments. Its Office of Community Outreach and Engagement addresses disparities in cancer outcomes across diverse populations, and the cancer center provides comprehensive education and workforce development programs for the next generation of clinicians and scientists. For more information, visit cancer.ucdavis.edu.
