The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation (FOCF) has launched website to increase public awareness of oral cancer.

According to The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation (FOCF), oral cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, with the latest medical research linking it to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Other risk factors include alcohol and tobacco use, male gender, 40-plus years of age and sun exposure. Many studies report a 30-fold increased risk among individuals who smoke or drink heavily.

With 35,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year, only 59 percent are expected to survive longer than 5 years.

Included in the staggering amount of people affected by oral cancer are well-known celebrities such as Rod Stewart, Aaron Spelling, Diane Von Furstenburg and Peter Tork, drummer for the 1960s hit band, The Monkees.

Despite the deadly nature of this disease, the American public remains generally unaware of the risk factors and the critical importance of early detection.

“Today, one person, every hour of every day dies from oral cancer,” says Arma Shahidi-Fitzgerald, FOCF founder and president. Fitzgerald explains that awareness, research and funding are the keys to increasing survival rates.

Fitzgerald, who was crowned Mrs. International 2009 earlier this month, was inspired to launch the foundation after losing a dear friend to the disease.

“She was diagnosed too late to be treated,” Fitzgerald explains. “What made this loss more painful was that early detection could have saved her life.”

As a result, Fitzgerald is centering her life’s work on oral cancer prevention and education. Fitzgerald believes the new web site is a “step on a lifelong journey.”

Fitzgerald has also begun speaking at public events and is working on relationship-building with the American Cancer Society and other cancer awareness and support organizations.

In addition to learning more about the foundation and disease, the Web site also allows viewers to donate to the foundation, offers suggestions on how to get involved with the cause and includes an interactive blog with the latest news on 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.

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