Fox Chase Cancer Center and Temple Head & Neck Institute to Offer Free Cancer Screenings at Temple University Hospital

Jeffrey Liu, MD, FACS, surgeon in the Division of Head and Neck Surgery and an associate professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology.
Physicians from Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Temple Head & Neck Institute will offer free screenings for head and neck cancer on Thursday, April 6 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA (April 3, 2023)—Physicians from Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Temple Head & Neck Institute will offer free screenings for head and neck cancer on Thursday, April 6 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The screenings are open to everyone, take less than 10 minutes, and no appointment is needed. They will take place at Temple University Hospital-Main Campus in Classroom C in the Rock Pavilion Basement.

More than 100,000 Americans were diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck last year, and oral cancers claim about 14,000 lives per year. Sadly, many people do not spot the signs of these life-threatening diseases, which include cancers of the oral cavity, thyroid, larynx, and pharynx. For some, by the time they are found, it’s too late.

But there is hope. If found early, these cancers are often easier to treat and the chances of survival are much better.

Who should get tested?

All adults! People who use tobacco and alcohol have always been thought to be at greatest risk for these cancers. However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research shows this is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-causing infection that can be passed through oral sex. Oral cancers caused by HPV are harder to find because they are most often found on the back of the tongue or on the tonsils. This makes getting screened yearly even more important.

Why should I get screened?

Screening is quick, painless, free, and it’s right around the corner. In just 10 minutes or less, you can do something that could save your life!

What are the warning signs of oral cancers?

People do not always notice the signs of oral cancer. They are:

  • A sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal or that gets bigger
  • Pain in your mouth that does not go away
  • Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth
  • Trouble chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue
  • Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
  • Changes in your voice
  • A lump in your neck

The screening is free and no appointment is necessary; for further information, call 215-707-4925.

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

For more information, call 888-369-2427

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