CompleteCare Offers Free Oral Cancer Screenings April 14 -30

COURT HOUSE — The CompleteCare Health Network is celebrating oral health by promoting oral cancer awareness throughout the final week of April. In an effort to educate the community about the dangers of oral cancer, the health network will provide free oral cancer screenings to patients who visit any of their dental practices throughout the last week of April.
Oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and pharynx (throat), can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, close to 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. Of those 36,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only a little more than half will be alive in five years. With 8,000 deaths a year, (roughly one per hour, 24 hours a day) the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers that we often hear about such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, and skin cancer.
The death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high because it is often discovered late in its development and only after it has already spread to another location like the lymph nodes of the neck. Once the cancer has spread, prognosis is significantly worse than when it is caught early.
Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because in the early stages it may not be noticed by the patient, as it can grow without any pain or symptoms. Patients who survive a first encounter with the disease, have up to a 20 times higher risk of developing a second cancer. This heightened risk factor can last for 5 to 10 years after the first occurrence.
“At CompleteCare we’re focused on prevention,” said Dr. Kimberly Benberry, Dental Director at CompleteCare. “Because of that we’re providing these free screenings to patients in hopes of catching the disease early and getting patients into treatment immediately.”
CompleteCare offers complete dental care to people of all ages at four state-of-the-art oral care centers in Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland and Court House. The oral cancer screenings are being offered free to patients during their dental exams scheduled throughout the week of April 24th. In order to take advantage of this special offer call 856-451-4700 to schedule your appointment today.
CompleteCare Dental accepts all forms of insurance including NJ Family Care. Patients without dental insurance can also be seen for a reduced fee. Call CompleteCare for full details.
For more information visit www. completecarenj.org or call 856-451-4700 to make an