Free Head & Neck Cancer Screenings Being Offered At Feist-Weiller Cancer Center

Head and neck cancers are incredibly common. And doctors are seeing more and more cases associated with the human-papillomavirus, or HPV, with more than 7,000 of those diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Experts predict those cases will become more common than cervical cancer within the next decade. That's one of the reasons LSU Health Shreveport's Feist-Weiller Cancer Center is offering free head and neck cancer screenings.

"In our community, and actually across the United States, head and neck cancer is a problem," says Feist-Weiller's Dr. Timothy Lian. "And a lot of people aren't really aware of it. Maybe they start having problems, and by that time, they might be in the latter stages of cancer."

Dr. Lian says the screening is non-invasive, and relatively quick. He says doctors will check for symptoms in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands and voice box. They'll also look for signs of skin cancer. A majority of symptoms that affect a person's ability to breathe, swallow and speak could be treated after screening, and improve chances of survival.

The doctor says the screenings will be done from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. next Friday, April 19th. You can just show up, but it's recommended you make an advance appointment. To schedule a screening, or for more information, call 675-6262.