RICHMOND, Va. — In celebration of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, VCU Dental Care is hosting free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings on Saturday, April 23.
The event will take place at the Lyons Dental Building in downtown Richmond at 520 N. 12th St. Screening will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The first 100 patients will receive a free dental gift bag courtesy of VCU Dental Care.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 48,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year.
VCU Dental Care said the screening is very important because early detection can save lives. Historically the death rate associated with oral cancer is particularly high because the cancer is routinely discovered late in its development.
While smoking and tobacco use are major risk factors for oral cancer, young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals comprise the disease’s fastest growing segment of patients due to its connection to the HPV virus.