KXAS NBC 5 News Covers Oral Cancer and HPV
Recently, KXAS-TV NBC Channel 5 did a segment on oral cancer and its strong link to HPV. Take a look at the below video for more information on this link and what professionals are saying.
Tin Star Fundraiser – Friday Breakfast and Dinner
The TinStar Fundraiser is this Friday! Click on the brochure icon below to view the full-sized flyer.
Proceeds will go to fund The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation. All you have to do… is eat.
National Walk for Oral Cancer – Volunteers Needed!
We are preparing for our National Walk for Oral Cancer that will take place in May. Details on the Dallas location will be sent out shortly. If you have a heart to help in the fight against oral cancer and would like to be a part of this event, please let me know as we are currently building our volunteer team and could use as many hands as possible.
This will be the inaugural walk, thus, we are open to volunteers that wish to take on various projects. Money that we raise will go toward:
- Educational pamphlet to be distributed at schools, hospitals, health fairs and public libraries locally and nationwide.
- Provide dental care and dental hygiene educational programs for children.
- Hold free oral cancer screenings locally and nationwide.
- Sponsor speakers to raise awareness and promote screening.
- Fund oral cancer research.
Hosting Local Walk Nationally or Internationally
We encourage individuals and organizations that are not from Dallas to host a walk in your hometown. If you are interested in hosting one in your area, please let us know and we’ll work with you to give you the details you’ll need in order to host your own walk.
Eat a Taco. Save a Life.
TinStar is doing it again! They are giving the proceeds from the money they make to help The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation! We are so honored by their generosity! It’s simple… You buy your normal meal for the normal price, and TinStar will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation.
We’ll also be raffling two $50 gift certifates!
The fundraiser for FOCF is happening at one location for one day and two meal times. The information is below:
Date: Friday, January 22,2010
Time: Breakfast and Lunch
Location: Bank of America Plaza-Downtown Dallas – 901 Main Street, C-119, Dallas, TX 75202 – (214) 741-5050
We look forward to meeting you as together we fight oral cancer!
Arma and The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation Featured in The Plano Profile
Recently, Arma Shahidi Fitzgerald, the founder of The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation was featured in The Plano Profile. Crowned Mrs. International in 2009, her focus has been clear, and it is The Fight Against Oral Cancer. To learn more about the origination of The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation, view this 2-page article entitled: Mrs. International 2009 Title Winner Lends Her Crown to Fight Oral Cancer.
Oral Cancer Symptoms
Awareness for oral cancer is of such great importance because the high fatality rate among oral cancer patients could have been lessened with earlier detection. Today we are going to talk about oral cancer symptoms and the types spots that those screening for oral cancer symptoms are looking for. MD Anderson Cancer Center offers an excellent resource for information on oral cancer.
There are three types of suspicious spots: Leukoplakia, Erythroplakia and Erythroleukoplakia. Below is information from MD Anderson on the types of areas that raise concern when oral cancer screenings are being conducted and oral cancer symptoms to look for:
Suspicious Areas:
Leukoplakia is a white area or spot in the oral cavity. About 25% of leukoplakias are cancerous or precancerous.
Erythroplakia is a red, raised area or spot that bleeds if scraped. About 70% of erythroplakias are cancerous or precancerous.
Erythroleukoplakia is a spot with both red and white areas.
- Sore in the mouth or throat that doesn’t heal
- Loose teeth
- Lump or thickening in the neck, face, jaw, cheek, tongue or gums
- Difficulty swallowing or the sensation that something is caught in the throat
- Earache or sore throat that does not go away
- Dentures that cause discomfort or do not fit well
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue or jaw
- Persistent bad breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Change in voice
A person who is experiencing these oral cancer symptoms does not necessarily have oral cancer. However, as early detection is critical to increased survival rate, it is important to have an oral cancer scan conducted by your dentist in order to ensure health. Many dentists are beginning to make oral cancer screening a routine part of patient appointments. Check with your dentist to learn if it is a part of your appointment and request a screening if not.
Event at Highland Spring Center to Raise Oral Cancer Awareness
One of our joys as the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation is to bring awareness to the severity of the existence and spread of oral cancer. One of the ways that we bring about awareness is through speaking engagements and participating in health fairs and free oral cancer screenings.
In November we had the opportunity of speaking at the Highland Spring Center’s health fair. Highland Spring is an active living facility.
The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation had an informational booth and Arma had a chance to present a 15 minute presentation, speaking about her oral cancer. It was truly a joy to be a part of the health fair and raising awareness with the kind people at the facility. We look forward to many more opportunities in 2010.
Oral Cancer Kills One Person, Every Hour, Every Day
The below excerpt on Oral Cancer comes from a Press Release from Identafi 3000 titled: AAOMS 91st Annual Meeting in Toronto Oct. 15-17 – Offers Opportunity for Identafi 3000 Ultra Demo
Oral cancer kills one person, every hour, every day, Trzeciak observed.
“Oral cancer is typically detected by a doctor, not a dentist, by which time it is usually a late-stage diagnosis,” he said. “In fact, 40 percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer will be dead in five years and 78 percent diagnosed with Stage IV, late-stage cancer will be dead in five years. Early detection of oral cancer would improve the survival rate to 80 to 90 percent.” He noted that fewer than 15 percent of those who visit a dentist get screened regularly; rarely is the best available technology used.
“When you look at the five-year mortality rate for oral cancer, it’s scary,” Trzeciak said. “Oral cancer is more deadly than the more familiar cancers: breast, cervical, and prostate, and also more deadly than liver, kidney, thyroid, or colon cancers.”
