CCA sponsors 1st oral cancer awareness event

The Commonwealth Cancer Association, in partnership with Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Division of Public Health Service, CHCC Dental Clinic, Dental Care, New Wave Dental, Smile Marianas, and Toothworks, are offering free oral cancer screening for all ages.

“The dental community needs to be the first line of defense against oral cancer,” said Dr. Pierson of the Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic. “Just performing ‘opportunistic’ three-minute oral cancer screenings of the existing patient population that visits a dental office every day could have a profound impact on our ability to discover [oral cancer] at earlier, even precancerous, stages. This could help us dramatically reduce the mortality and morbidity of this disease.”

Unfortunately, for many individuals who are newly diagnosed with oral cancer, their cancer is often found when the disease is already in its late stages. The good news is it does not have to be this way, that is why the CCA, Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, the Division of Public Health and all of the dental clinics in the CNMI are teaming up to do free oral cancer screening for early detection of oral cancer.

Dental clinics in the CNMI will begin the free oral cancer screenings on Friday, Aug. 15, and everyday forward for all ages. Dental clinics in the CNMI who have signed up to conduct the screenings include the Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic at 234-6323, Division of Public Health Service-CHCC Dental Clinic at 236-8369, Dental Care Clinic at 233-1100, New Wave Clinic at 233-3300, Smile Marianas Clinic at 235-2378, and Toothworks Clinic at 234-3810. Individuals wishing for more information about the free screenings and the clinics offering the service may call the Commonwealth Cancer Association at 682-0050 or via email at ccamarianas@gmail.com for more information.

The CCA hopes through public awareness campaign about oral cancer that our community will learn about the risk factors and early warning signs/symptoms of oral cancer and be better prepared to see a dentist or doctor for further evaluation.

The Commonwealth Cancer Association will be kicking off this campaign with the 1st Annual Oral Cancer Awareness proclamation signing on Friday, Aug. 15, at 11am at the governor’s conference room. The association will also be aligning with the public and private elementary and secondary schools, as well as the postsecondary schools to aid in disseminating the word about the importance of oral health and oral cancer screening.

The Commonwealth Cancer Association, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public service charity that provides information, direct financial patient support, survivorship, patient navigation, and advocacy related to this disease and other cancers.

You can contact the CCA at telephone 682-0050, by email at ccamarianas@gmail.com or log on to www.ccamarianas .org website for more information about the CCA and its programs. (CCA)