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81 take advantage of free oral cancer screening
Since the first Oral Cancer Awareness Proclamation signing on Aug. 15 this year, 81 persons have taken advantage of the free oral cancer screening in dental clinics across the CNMI.
“The free screening of 81 persons speaks of the outstanding partnership and commitment of our dental clinics, to provide free screening and we are pleased with the response and action from the community,” said Commonwealth Cancer Association president Lauri B. Ogumoro.
CCA challenges at least 81 more members of the community to take advantage of this free oral cancer screening before Christmas 2014. Think of the free oral cancer screening as a Christmas present to yourself!
“The dental community needs to be the first line of defense against oral cancer,” said Dr. Kenneth Pierson. “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 the disease at earlier, even precancerous, stages. This could help us dramatically reduce the mortality and morbidity of this disease.”
The CCA board of directors extends its profound gratitude to Dr. Pierson and staff at Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, Dr. Gentry and staff at the Commonwealth health Center Clinic, Dr. Krum at Dental Care, Dr. Markoff at ToothWorks, and Dr. Haluby, Dr. Ventura and staff at New Wave Dental. The board also recognizes and extends heartfelt appreciation to Mami ikeda, Carla A. Sablan and Lanelle O. Camacho for their courage and commitment.
Please continue to call the following: Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic at 234-6323, Division of Public Health Service and the CHCC Dental Clinic at 234-8950, Dental Care Clinic at 233-1100, New Wave Clinic at 233-3300, Smile Marianas Clinic at 235-2378, and ToothWorks Clinic at 234-3810.
The CCA hopes through this collaboration to see this disease brought to the attention of as many individuals as possible, and have the disease get the local community’s attention necessary to meaningfully raise public awareness. A public that understands the risk factors and early signs and symptoms of the disease are better prepared to recognize and self-discover things that should take them to the doctor for further evaluation at the early stages.
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)
