Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Physicians at Griffin Hospital in Derby conduct free cancer screenings

Pictured from left, Dr. Ronald Hirokawa, Dr. Joseph Cardinale, Dr. Eaton Chen, and Dr. Joyce Chung, who were part of a team of seven doctors and dentists that conducted free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings at the Center for Cancer care at Griffin Hospital. Also participating were Dr. Ken Yanagisawa, Dr. Mark Aferzon, and Dr. Jay Dworkin. / Contributed photo

DERBY - The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital recently gave free oral, head, and neck cancer screenings to 51 individuals in recognition of the 18th annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®.

This is the fourth year Griffin has offered these free screenings to the community. Participating physicians included Dr. Mark Aferzon, Dr. Joseph Cardinale, Dr. Eaton Chen, Dr. Joyce Chung, Dr. Jay Dworkin, Dr. Ronald Hirokawa, and Dr. Ken Yanagisawa.

As a result of the screenings, six individuals were referred for further evaluation, two individuals were referred to a dermatologist for skin lesions and one participant was referred to an endocrinologist for an enlarged thyroid.
Oral, head, and neck cancer can arise in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx (voice box). 
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 121,790 new cases of head and neck cancers will be diagnosed in 2015, resulting in more than 14,000 deaths.
Oral cancer screenings are recommended for every adult, especially for tobacco and alcohol users who are traditionally at the greatest risk. 

However, oral cancer cases are on the rise in younger adults who do not smoke, and recent research indicates this development is due partly to the increase of the human papillomavirus (HPV) virus.

Symptoms associated with oral cancer include:
A sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size
Persistent pain in your mouth
Lumps or white or red patches inside your mouth
Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue
Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat
Changes in your voice
A lump in your neck
If you have any of these warning signs, contact your physician or call the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital at 203-732-1280 right away.

About the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital
Opened in October, 2008, Griffin Hospital's Center for Cancer Care provides care that's comprehensive, comforting, and close to home. 
The Center provides access to Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and a range of affiliated physicians under the same roof in a Planetree-inspired healing environment. Support services include a Patient Care Navigator, dietary/nutritional consultations, genetic counseling, social work services, pastoral care, education and support groups, and a variety of non-traditional therapies offered through the Integrative Medicine Center. 

For more information, visit griffincancercenter.org or call 203-732-1260.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

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