72 tested for oral, head, neck cancer in Derby

Griffin Hospital offers free screenings 

DERBY - The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby recently screened 72 individuals for oral, head, and neck cancer in recognition of the 16th annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®.

This is the second year Griffin has offered these free screenings to the community. 

Participating physicians included Ken Yanagisawa, MD, Ronald H. Hirokawa, MD, Joyce Chung, MD, Joseph Cardinale, M.D., Jay Dworkin., DMD, Brian Fusillo, DMD, Mitchell Quintner, D.D.S, and members of Huntington Family Dental Group in Shelton, Sensitive Care Dentistry in Milford, and Dental Associates of Connecticut in Shelton.

Of the 72 individuals screened, 14 lives were potentially saved by the screening physicians referring the persons for additional screening and, in three cases, giving an immediate referral for an abnormal growth.

Oral, head and neck cancer can arise in the the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box). 

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 41,000 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and throat are expected in 2013.

Oral cancer screenings are recommended for every adult, especially for tobacco and alcohol users who are traditionally at the greatest risk. However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research indicates this development is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus.

Symptoms associated with oral cancer include:

• A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size

• Persistent pain in your mouth

• Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth

• Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue

• Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat

• Changes in your voice

• A lump in your neck

If you have any of these warning signs, contact your physician or call the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital at 203-732-

1280 right away.

This information is taken from a press release from Griffin Hospital.