Press Release

April 4, 2006
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
Phone: (973) 972-3000
dinesdk@umdnj.edu

Free Oral Cancer Screening Offered at UMDNJ in Newark & Somerdale
-Essex County Cancer Health Fair will be held
at UMDNJ in Newark on April 20-

NEWARK - Dental health professionals will provide free oral cancer examinations for adults at two sites of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey on Thursday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School, 50 12th Ave., Newark, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at University Dental Center at Somerdale Square, 13 Somerdale Square, Somerdale.

Men and women attending the screening will receive a comprehensive, painless oral cancer examination and a biopsy, if needed. The examination takes approximately five minutes and appointments are not necessary.

Oral cancer is generally painless in the early stage and may not be noticeable. Early lesions may appear as subtle alterations in the color of the lining in the mouth. Oral cancer, like other cancers, is treatable and the cure rate is high when detected early.

Dental hygienists from the UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions will assist the dentists. Men are twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with oral cancer. Major risk factors for oral cancer include tobacco, including chewing tobacco, and alcohol use. While the five-year survival rate for white men is 50 percent, the rate for black men is only 31 percent.

“Unfortunately, one American dies every hour from oral cancer. The positive news is that early detection plays a significant role in a patient’s success rate in fighting the disease,” said Dr. Cecile Feldman, dean of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School. “Research from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows survival rates are as high as 80 percent when detected early compared with 17 percent or less when the disease is detected in the later stages.”

In addition to the free oral cancer screening, a cancer health fair will be held on the Newark campus. The Essex County Cancer Coalition will host the Essex County Cancer Health Fair to educate, introduce local cancer resources, and raise awareness related to the prevention and early detection and screening of various types of cancers including breast, colorectal, oral, cervical, and prostate. Representatives from the Essex Cancer, Education and Early Detection Program will provide referrals for upcoming breast, color rectal, cervical and prostate screenings.

Organizations participating in the cancer health fair include: The Sisters Network, Inc. (Newark Chapter); The Essex Cancer, Education and Early Detection Program’s (CEED) two local sites: The UMDNJ-University Hospital Save Women and Men Project and St. Michael’s “In The Pink” Project; The Prostate Net; Essex Communities Against Tobacco Coalition; CancerCare; Newark Cancer Initiative; American Cancer Society; New Jersey Cancer Clinical Trials Connect; and the Essex County Cancer Coalition.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is the nation’s largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and a school of public health on five campuses. Annually, there are more than two million patient visits at UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.

WHAT: Essex County Cancer Health Fair and Oral Cancer Screening
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School (Oral Health Pavilion)
50 Twelfth Avenue, D-Level, Newark, New Jersey
973-972-4635

WHAT: Free Oral Cancer Screening
WHEN: Thursday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School/University Dental Center
13 Somerdale Square, Somerdale, New Jersey
856-566-6969

UMDNJ is the nation’s largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and a school of public health on five campuses. Annually, there are more than two million patient visits at UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.