The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center plans to offer free head and neck cancer screenings next week in recognition of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, sponsored by the Yul Brynner Foundation.
Anyone can come to the screening from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 24 at the UPMC Eye and Ear Institute's third floor clinic, 203 Lothrop St. in Oakland. Appointments are recommended and can be made by calling 412-647-2100.
"When diagnosed early, oral and other head and neck cancers are more likely to be easily and successfully treated, which greatly increases the chances of survival," Dr. Stephen Lai, head and neck cancer surgeon in UPMC's Department of Otolaryngology and assistant professor at the Pitt's School of Medicine, said in a news release. "Since symptoms of these cancers often go unrecognized, screenings are extremely important, especially for those at high risk."
Risk factors for head and neck cancers include regular use of tobacco and alcohol. Young adults have become increasingly at risk, a phenomenon some researchers associate with oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
UPMC is one of 150 sites nationwide to offer the yearly screenings.
