Global Health Nexus, Summer 2001

Oral Cancer Screenings Added To NYU School of Medicine Program

For the past seven years, NYU School of Medicine physicians have been providing free cancer screenings
during the month of February through an effort known as NYU Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsored by NYU’s Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of only 37 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, the program had been offering annual screenings for breast, skin, prostate, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer. This year, thanks to NYU Dental Faculty Practice volunteers, oral cancer screenings were added to the offerings.

According to Dr. David Sirois, associate professor and chair of the Department of Oral Medicine, who coordinated the screenings, “In the United States every hour three individuals are diagnosed with oral cancer and one individual dies from oral cancer. Early detection of cancerous or precancerous lesions significantly improves treatment outcome and survival. We were pleased, in our first year of Cancer Awareness Month participation, to provide oral cancer education and screening services to approximately 75 people.”