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ORAL HEAD AND NECK CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – APRIL 2023

If you’ve been looking around on our website you’ve probably seen the acronym “OHANCA” (we pronounce it “oh-han-cah”) which stands for Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness – which is a huge part of our mission. Head and neck cancers comprise 4% of all cancers in the US and if it is caught early has an 80% survival rate.   While we work to increase awareness year-round, April is Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month and we have several ways you can participate!

photo of a nurse with the words "registration now open"

SIGN UP TO HOST A SCREENING
Every year we ask health care professionals to join us in raising awareness about head and neck cancers by hosting a free screening event in their local area. We work closely with local hospitals, clinics, and medical centers to provide free head and neck cancer screenings.  Specifically, we host a week in April where we focus on getting hundreds of sites to sign up for the screenings. This year Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (OHANCAW) is April 16-23 (but if you can’t do those dates, any day is a good day to host a screening).

We do our best to make it easy for your organization to participate. We provide the promotional and education materials free of charge (you organize the staff and volunteers). By signing up to host a screening at your medical or dental office, center, or institution, you will have access to the following materials:

  • A screening kit that includes HIPAA compliant screening forms
  • Promotional materials (posters, local media kit, social media posts)
  • T-shirts for your team (3 included – white in size M, L, XL) – you can order more if you would like).

These materials will arrive at your institution well in advance of your screening event, so you will have help along the way as you navigate through this important and worthwhile lifesaving program.

We have a section on our website dedicated to helping sites host a screening, it includes a brochure with step-by-step instructions and best practices, a “fill in the blanks” press release, and even social media kits to help promote your event.  Start on our “Host a Screening” page, and then take a look at our “Media Relations” page.  If you have questions about hosting a head and neck cancer screening, please email our Director of Programs, Eileen Sexton.

GET A CHECK FOR HEAD AND NECK

If you’re unable to host a screening site, we encourage you to check our map of screening locations.  If there is one being held in your area stop by the site, get a check for head and neck cancer, and also see what is involved (in case you’d like to host your own screening location next year). Please note, the screening locations will be updated weekly and more will be added the closer we get to OHANCA Month in April.

INAGUARAL NATIONAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

We’re excited to hold our first national fundraising event in conjunction with OHNCA month.  Help us raise funds and awareness by signing up for our Move-A-Thon. You can participate either as an individual or as part of a team (start your own, or join the HNCA team, Team Impact). 

After you’ve signed up, you just need to MOVE with us!  The best part is you don’t need to be an athlete to join us.  Each participant will decide what kind of moving they want to do – whether it’s running a marathon, walking your dog, or dancing with your friends, we just want you to move with us!  We encourage you to ask your friends and family to support your cause by either giving a lump-sum donation or a donation based on the activity you’re doing – for example $1 per mile walked.

We also have some special surprises planned (to be announced soon) so be sure to keep an eye on our social media and website so you don’t miss out on the fun!  We invite you to register to move with us – register here.


THAT’S A WRAP FOR CANCER

This year we are thrilled to be part of “That’s a Wrap for Cancer”.  A  Mercedes GLC 300 W series car will be wrapped in a custom vinyl covering which will be filled with names of cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and healthcare workers.  It’s a way of honoring loved ones or someone that has made a difference in the life of a cancer patient (this is open to any type of cancer).  Every donation of $68 (representing 68,000 diagnosed with Head and Neck Cancer each year) receives placement of the special name on the wrap of the vehicle.  The wrapped car will be driven around Orlando for the month of April to honor your special person and bring awareness to head and neck cancer. If you have a loved one or person you would like to honor, you can add their name to the car wrap here.

GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HEAD AND NECK CANCER ALLIANCE
If you’d like to learn more about Head and Neck Cancer Alliance and our programs, please contact us.