Michael Cooper, NBA Champion and Tongue Cancer Survivor Urges Public to Attend Free Local Screenings During Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week® (OHANCAW)

More than 300 sites throughout the country will offer free oral, head and neck cancer screenings during the 20^th annual Oral, Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Week^® (OHANCAW^®), being held nationwide April 8-15.

OHANCAW is sponsored by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA).  Information about the free screenings and local sites can be found at www.headandneck.org. 

In 2017, the National Cancer Institute, estimated that there were 120,000 new cases of head and neck cancer diagnosed and almost 15,000 individuals lost their battle. These numbers include oral cancer, throat cancers caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV, voice box cancer, melanoma of the face and thyroid cancers. If all skin cancers are included, that number rises to over one million. The fastest rising types of these cancers are cancers of the throat due to HPV, which account for over 13,000 cases per year in the U.S., an incidence that represents over a 200% increase over the past three decades. Currently, head and neck cancers account for approximately three percent of all diagnosed cancers in the country.

Mr. Cooper, currently a sports announcer, motivational speaker and consultant on basketball operations, has spent his life in and around basketball. A former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Cooper won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during their Showtime era. He has also coached in the NBA, WNBA, and the NBA Development League. Cooper is the only person to win a championship, as either a coach or a player, in the NBA, WNBA, and the NBA D-League.  

"When I was first diagnosed in the summer of 2014, I had never heard of tongue cancer and I was stunned when I was told that the sore on my tongue was early stage cancer and I needed surgery immediately," says Cooper. "Like with all cancers, early detection is key, and I urge everyone to get screened for oral, head and neck cancers by taking advantage of the free screenings offered during OHANCAW® at hundreds of local facilities throughout the country listed on the www.headandneck.org website. The good news is that new medical advances, such as recent development in immunotherapy, are improving the chances for full recovery but early detection is still critical. The ball is in your court…get yourself screened!"  

It is now well known that the human papillomavirus (HPV) has emerged as a leading cause of oropharyngeal (tonsil and base of tongue) cancer, particularly in non-smokers and younger age groups. Over half of tonsil and base of tongue cancers are linked to HPV. Other mouth and throat cancers have been linked to smoking and alcohol use. However, tongue cancers and other mouth cancers can arise in anyone whether they are smokers or nonsmokers.   

People with oropharyngeal cancer caused by HPV have a better prognosis than those who are negative for the virus, and promising new research shows that people with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer have better outcomes with current treatment options giving them higher survival rates," said Holly Boykin, Executive Director, Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. "These findings underscore the importance of asking your dentist and physician to hold a free screening and catching the disease early when it has a very high cure rate."

About Oral, Head and Neck Cancer (OHNC)
OHNC is a common form of cancer affecting any part of the oral cavity, pharynx, throat, thyroid and larynx (voice box). Regular check-ups can detect the early stages of head and neck cancer or conditions that may lead to it. For those cancers caught at a later stage, treatment is available and may require various combinations of surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.  More information regarding the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with oral, head and neck cancer can be found at www.headandneck.org.

About OHANCAW^®
Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week^®, coordinated by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, is a week dedicated to promoting education, prevention, screening and early detection of mouth and throat cancers. OHANCAW is highlighted by free screenings held at participating medical centers across the country.
The 20th annual Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week^® will be held April 8-15, 2018. Bristol-Myers Squibb has provided funding for free screenings as part of the company's support of OHANCAW. For more information, please visit the OHANCAW website at www.ohancaw.com.

About the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
The Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA) is hoping to save lives, reduce incidence and increase survival through these efforts. Its mission is to advance prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitation of oral, head and neck cancer through public awareness, research, advocacy and survivorship. Through united and collaborative efforts, HNCA provides support to head and neck cancer patients throughout the year, supports ongoing research in head and neck oncology and educates children and adults in the disease process, treatment and prevention of oral, head and neck cancer.  

Media Contact:
Holly Boykin
Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA)
(339) 987-0005

SOURCE Head and Neck Cancer Alliance

Related Links

http://www.headandneck.org