In recognition of April as Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, Prisma Health will provide free head and neck cancer screenings Friday, April 17, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at. Prisma Health Baptist Hospital, 1501 Sumter St., Beaman Auditorium on the ground floor. Appointments are not required but appreciated for staffing. Walk-ins are welcome and convenient onsite parking is available in the adjoining garage. Visit free head and neck cancer screenings to register.
Sponsored by Prisma Health in conjunction with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, this nationwide initiative raises awareness, educates the community on the importance of early detection
and screens as many community members as possible to help save lives. The screening includes providing a brief medical history followed by oral and neck exams.
Screening will be provided by:
- Mariangela Rivera, MD, Head and neck cancer surgeon
- James Frederick Littles, Jr., MD, Radiation oncologist
- Cindy Barnett Nichols, DMD, Dentist
Screenings, which are painless and last approximately 10 minutes, check for cancers in these areas:
- Mouth
- Throat
- Voice box
- Sinuses
- Nasal cavity
- Salivary glands
Rivera said, “The types of cancer we will be looking for are readily accessible by screening. It is free, quick and painless. It’s non-invasive and it can catch cancer early.”
She emphasizes the importance of early detection in achieving the best possible outcome. She added, “Once these tumors grow past a certain size, there’s a higher chance of more intensive surgery and complications. . Early detection leads to a higher probability of successful, less invasive treatment.”
According to the National Cancer Institute’s most recent comprehensive estimate, approximately 72,680 people in the United States were expected to be diagnosed with major head and neck cancers—including cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx—in 2025, and about 16,680 were expected to die from these diseases.
In addition to regular screenings, it is helpful to be aware of the signs and symptoms. The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance identify some possible indicators such as:
- A red or white spot in your mouth that doesn’t heal or increases in size.
- Sore throat or swollen tonsil.
- Changes in your voice.
- A lump in your neck.
- Earache.
- Difficulty or painful swallowing.
- Unintentional weight loss.
Register by visiting free head and neck cancer screenings.
