Families and friends came out to support the students in their efforts to raise awareness of oral cancer One of the primary purposes of the walk is to increase public awareness, especially in younger age groups, of the increased risk in developing oral cancer due to exposure to the human papilloma virus. The Foothill walk was especially significant since it was primarily student driven and organized under the umbrella of the campus Organization Board of Directors and Leaders at the college. The event brought students, their families, friends and local supporters, including the college president, Judy Miner, out to walk the athletic track, and raised over $9,000 for the Oral Cancer Foundation. Plans are already underway for another walk in 2015! Kudos to the Foothill students, and their dedication to oral health promotion and disease prevention. For more information on oral cancer research and support activities, visit www.oralcancerfoundation.org.
Early morning walkers include (left to right) Student Chapter Advisor Cathy Draper, Walk Coordinator Rachel Galli, FC President Judy Miner, Students Angela Bolaza and Jennifer Nauman, faculty members Catherine Kornegay and Joyce Bettencourt
While April has passed, every day is one where we should be educating patients and communities about oral cancer. Oral and pharyngeal cancer kills almost one person every hour of every day of the year.(5) Of the people newly diagnosed with these cancers, only about 60% will live longer than 5 years. Lifelong challenges with severe facial disfigurement or difficulties eating and speaking are common side effects of treatment, and the mortality rate associated with oral and pharyngeal cancers remains particularly high due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.Perform regular oral cancer exams on all patients!!
Walk organizers gather under the balloon arch before starting the day
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** Editor’s Note: Thanks to Cathy Draper, RDH, MS, for her assistance with this article.
