While some think it a rare cancer, mouth cancer will be diagnosed in about 115 new individuals each day in the U.S. alone, and a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90 % survival rate. Unfortunately at this time, the majority are found as late stage cancers, and this accounts for the very high death rate of about 43% at five years from diagnosis (for all stages combined at time of diagnosis), and high treatment related morbidity in survivors.
To encourage national awareness, the foundation encourages dental practices across the country to offer free oral cancer screenings in their communities during April, Oral Cancer Awareness Month. View a list of these nationwide events at:
Read an interview with oral cancer survivor Brian Hill, executive director of the Oral Cancer Foundation at:
