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Free Oral Cancer Screenings at Colorado Oral Surgery in Parker and Denver
In honor of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, Colorado Oral Surgery will offer free oral cancer screenings in Denver and Parker.
The screenings are part of a joint partnership with the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of oral, head and neck cancer. The free screenings will be available:
• 4/17 from 1 to 2 pm – 17167 Cedar Gulch Parkway, Suite 100, Parker, Colo., 80134
• 4/17 from 1 to 2 pm – 2373 Central Park Blvd., Suite 301, Denver, Colo., 80238
• 4/17 from 1 to 2 pm – 400 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 450, Denver, Colo., 80246
To participate, arrive at the specified clinic during the time and date provided and ask for a free cancer screening.
April is widely recognized as Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness of the condition, risk factors, statistics and screenings. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 60,480 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal (middle throat) cancer – with 13,150 deaths attributed to it – in 2026.
“The good news is that oral cancer has a survival rate of 80-90% when diagnosed early, according to the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation,” said Michael A. Hale, DDS, of Colorado Oral Surgery. “That’s why screenings like this are important. For most patients, we recommend annual oral cancer screenings by a qualified healthcare professional, as well as monthly self-exams.”
For self-examinations, the doctors recommend using a bright light and mirror to look for “anything out of the ordinary.”
“Look for white or red patches, sores that won’t heal, and unexplained lumps, swelling or bleeding,” said Travis J. Hamilton, DMD, MD, of Colorado Oral Surgery.
Some common symptoms identified by the CDC include sores or pain in the mouth or throat that will not go away; swelling or unusual bleeding; or difficulty performing daily functions like breathing, speaking and chewing or swallowing food.
“If your mouth looks, feels or functions differently, get it checked out as soon as possible,” added Colorado Oral Surgery’s Matthew K. Alleman, DMD, FACS. “Many oral cancer patients don’t feel pain in the initial stages, so it’s important to get these things checked out, even if you aren’t in pain.”
