Oral Cancer Survivor Stories
The diagnosis of oral cancer, never comes at a good time. However, the fight for oral cancer is not a lost cause, but there are many survivors with inspiring stories to share. The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation is looking for those stories. Often times cancer survivor stories are the fuel that many recently diagnosed cancer patients need in order to encourage him or her in their fight, giving them the hope they need to be able to one day share their survivor story with others.
According to the American Dental Association, approximately 35,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States. If you have a cancer survivor story that you would like to share with us, please email the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation at info@fightoralcancer.org.
We look forward to hearing your oral cancer survivor stories and sharing them with others as together we fight oral cancer.
Conducting Free Oral Cancer Screenings at the Health & Fitness Expo
On August 8th and 9th the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation had the opportunity to participate in WFAA’s Health and Fitness Expo held at the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX. Represented as a non-profit organization we were given the opportunity to speak on “The Five Things You Should Know about Oral Cancer” as well as educate and provide free cancer screenings at our booth.
The FOCF booth had two dentists on site at all times who were able to perform a visual
examination of a total of 120 people during the day and a half they were at the expo.
Results
Day 1 – Fifty people were examined and three possible cancer cases were discovered.
Day 2 – Seventy people were examined and four suspicious lesions were discovered.
Each suspicious case was referred to their dentist for a second opinion and a possible biopsy.
Events like the WFAA Health and Fitness Expo are an important part of The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation’s mission of bringing awareness to the issues surrounding oral cancer.
–
Network Events, Inc. (NEI) and WFAA-TV are partnering to produce and promote The Dallas Health & Fitness Expo, to be held August 8 and 9, 2009, at the Dallas Convention Center. NEI, the premier producer of consumer Wellness Expos in top markets across the country, has produced the largest and best-attended Health & Fitness Expo in Dallas for the last 8 years.
The Fight Against Oral Cancer
Recently, founder, Arma Shahidi-Fitzgerald, was awarded the title of “Mrs. International”. This title has brought with it greater exposure to the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation. We as the Foundation are looking forward to continuing to strategically raise awareness and funding for research that will aid in finding new ways for early detection of oral cancer.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation,
Over 34,000 people will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 34,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in 5 years. This is a number which has not significantly improved in decades. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).
One of the most significant concerns regarding oral cancer is that most often it is not detected in the early stages. Thus, by the time it is detected, it has already spread to other parts of the body. This is one of the key reasons why the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation is so passionate about raising awareness.
Clearly, there is still work to be done. Thank you each for being a part of spreading the message and making a difference as together, we fight oral cancer.
***
Walk for Cancer – Lima, Ohio
On October 1, 2009, the Northwestern Ohio Dental Hygienists’ Association is sponsoring and organizing a walk to aid in the fight against oral cancer.
Recently, the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation had the privilege of being contacted by the Association regarding the oral cancer walk. They are donating all proceeds from the walk for cancer to the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation.
For those near Lima, Ohio that wish to participate, the information for the walk is below:
Where: Lima, Ohio at the Ferguson and Metzger Reservoirs
When: October 24, 2009
Time: 9:30am.
Cost: $15 for adults; children are free – All participants will receive a t-shirt for participating in the walk.
Registration Deadline: October 1, 2009 but registrations are accepted after October 1 including the day of the walk (t-shirts will not be provided to late registrations).
In response, the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation will be sending support wrist bands, informational pamphlets, and ribbons for those that are walking. Arma will also be sending some signed Mrs. International items as well.
For more information, to participate in the walk or to donate, please contact:
Diane Triplett
dianetriplett@hotmail.com
