Gordon Hospital to offer free Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Screening
(Calhoun, Ga.) — According to the American Cancer Society, more than 50,000 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in 2018. Gordon Hospital will offer free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings on Wednesday, April 18 from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Gordon Ear, Nose & Throat, located at 110 Hospital Drive in Calhoun, to give people the opportunity to be checked for these types of cancers by health professionals.
“Oral, head, and neck cancers are very common in our area,” said Lanell Jacobs, director of oncology services at Gordon Hospital. “This exam is quick and only last a few minutes.
Gordon Ear, Nose & Throat urges people who have a history of these symptoms to be screened:
Family or personal history of smoking; Sore throat that persists for more than six weeks; Hoarseness lasting longer than three weeks; Any mouth sore or swelling lasting longer than a week; Lump in the neck lasting longer than a week; Presence of blood in saliva or sputum; Persistent ear pain.
Oral cavity cancers can occur in the lips, cheeks, teeth, gums, the front two-thirds of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and hard palate. Oropharynx cancers can occur in the base of the tongue, soft palate, tonsils, and the side and back wall of the throat. The average age of those diagnosed with these cancers is 62, but they can occur in younger people. Tobacco and alcohol are among the biggest risk factors for oral, head, and neck cancers. Others include a poor diet, pre-cancerous growths, and exposure to ultraviolet light.Limited space is available, so please call 706.879.5850 to register for this free screening.
Founded in 1935, Gordon Hospital is proud to be a member of Adventist Health System. With 45 hospital campuses and more than 8,300 licensed beds in nine states, Adventist Health System is a faith-based healthcare organization headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Each Adventist Health System facility operates independently in delivering care and services to best meet the needs of the local communities they serve. While each entity is unique, all remain united in one mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ.