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NEWS FROM UT MEDICAL GROUP INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –April 14, 2010
Are You At Risk For Head And Neck Cancer?
Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week April 12-18
While the smoking rate continues to go down in the U.S., the number of people using other forms of tobacco is going up. That means more and more Americans are at risk for other types of cancer, including head and neck. According to the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, more than 7,500 Americans died from oral, head and neck cancer in 2008.
About 85 percent of head and neck cancers are caused by smoking and other forms of tobacco, such as snuff and chewing tobacco. Alcohol use is also a risk factor. In fact, people who drink alcohol and use tobacco greatly increase their risk of developing head and neck cancer. Research has also shown that the human papilllomavirus (HPV) is associated with some head and neck cancers. The HPV virus, which can be transmitted by oral sex, can be found among people of all ages.
Warning signs
Early symptoms of head and neck cancer often go unnoticed, says UT Medical Group otolaryngologist Dr. Sandeep Samant. But when they are detected early, the cancer is often very treatable. If left unchecked, the results can be devastating. You can lose your ability to talk, swallow and eat. Many patients are left with severe facial disfigurement from the surgeries required to remove head and neck cancer tumors.
Get screened by your health care provider and watch for these early warning signs:
- Red or white patches in the mouth that last more than two weeks
- Change in voice or hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks
- Sore throat that does not subside
- Pain or swelling in the mouth or neck that does not subside
- Lump in the neck
- Ear pain
- Difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
To learn more, visit UT Medical Group’s head and neck cancer page, the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, the National Cancer Institute, or the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
UT Medical Group is the private group practice affiliated with the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine faculty. A not-for-profit, non-tax-supported group practice, UTMG is dedicated to quality patient care, medical education, and medical research. For more information, visit www.utmedicalgroup.com.
For more information about UT Medical Group News and Events contact:
Joy Sutherland
Manager, Public Relations & Publications
UT Medical Group, Inc.
1407 Union Ave., Suite 660 • Memphis, TN 38104
901-866-8383 (phone), 901-302-2383 (fax), 901-524-6581 (pager*)
Visit us online at www.utmedicalgroup.com
*If you are a reporter and need information during non-business hours, please call this number and follow paging instructions.
| Information and links found on the UT Medical Group, Inc. web site are neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency call your healthcare provider immediately. |