People routinely hear about the importance of cancer screenings such as mammograms, colonoscopies and pap smears, but not as much for cancers of the head and neck.
April is head and neck cancer awareness month, and the Wellstar Georgia Cancer Center will hold screenings on April 25 on the center’s first floor for the several types of cancers falling under that umbrella.
“These are on the less common end. We don’t have national guidelines on what they (regular screenings) look like or if they should even take place,” said Dr Daniel Sharbel, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, head and neck and surgeon at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
The free exam will check for signs of cancers such as throat, salivary, skin, lymph node, thyroid, mouth and tongue.
Sharbel said mouth and throat cancers are more common in Georgia and South Carolina traditionally because of smoking and the use of other tobacco products.
However, another cause has been on the rise.
“The human papillomavirus, related to tonsil and base of tongue, has started to eclipse smoking and drinking. It’s more common in middle aged men,” he said.
Some of the symptoms of these cancers are vague, and in many cases, they aren’t discovered until there’s a neck mass in later stages of the disease.
Dr. Sallie Long, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, head and neck and surgeon at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, said people should be aware of any changes in their mouth, throat or neck such as “new throat pain, new difficulty in swallowing, new changes in your voice, hoarseness, anything new that persists, unexplained weight loss.”
The screenings will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are recommended by calling 706 721-6744, but they will take walk-ins, Sharbel said.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Hi, do you by chance have an address to where the free head/neck screenings will take place so this info can be shared? Great article. Thank you.
Georgia Cancer Center.
They prefer people make an appointment.