March 21, 2005

Med School Offers Free Head and Neck Cancer Screenings

People who smoke or chew tobacco, consume alcohol regularly or have a family history of head and neck cancer are invited to a free head and neck cancer screening being sponsored by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine as part of National Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. The special screenings will be 9 to 12 a.m. Saturday, April 9, and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the SIU otolaryngology clinic (room 5B) on the fifth floor of St. John’s Pavilion, 301 N. 8 th Street, Springfield.

"Over 70,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with cancer of the head and neck region," said Dr. K. Thomas Robbins, professor and chair of SIU’s otolaryngology head and neck surgery division and interim director of the SIU Cancer Institute at the School of Medicine. "More than 85 percent of these cancers are related to tobacco use. This screening is part of an effort to educate people to get regular checkups and to eliminate high-risk habits like smoking."

SIU head and neck surgeon Dr. James Malone will join Robbins and other staff from the SIU otolaryngology head and neck surgery division to perform the screenings. They will take a brief patient history, ask about potential risk factors, and look for cancer that affects the ears, nose, mouth, throat, voice box, neck and thyroid gland.

People who use tobacco or alcohol and/or have the following warning signs are encouraged to get screened: persistent earache or sore throat, difficulty or pain with swallowing, hoarseness lasting more than two weeks, an ulcer in the mouth or throat that does not heal, or a lump in the neck or thyroid gland.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society, the St. John’s Cancer Institute, the Laryngectomee Club and two area smoking cessation groups will be present to educate the participants and answer questions.

Individuals are asked to register in advance by calling Pam in SIU's Department of Surgery 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 217-545-6150. Parking is available in the Mason Street parking ramp or east of the Pavilion.

-30-