April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month

Matt Brooks: [00:00:00] Good morning, I’m Matt Brooks on X101 Always Classic again for another cancer prevention segment with the CSP program of Cuyoga Cortland and Tompkins Counties and back in the studio with me, it’s Courtney Maxon, Senior Public Health Educator from the Cortland County Health Department. Now, I know today is uh, April Fool’s Day, but we’re not actually talking about any, uh, jokes today we atucally got some serious stuff to talk about.

Courtney Maxson: Yes, we do.

Matt Brooks: Yeah, so there’s two types of awareness months for the April. First up, head and neck cancer awareness. Can you tell me about that ?

Courtney Maxson: So, yes, so head and neck cancer tends to be, um, more caused by, um, drinking alcohol and smoking. Um, and also, uh. Uh, human papillomavirus can also, uh, be a culprit there.

So we have some of our, um, you know, obvious ones that we go to for all cancers, uh, with tobacco, um, smoking and alcohol. But this one, um, is [00:01:00] also, can be caused by a virus. So, uh, going to your primary care provider, if you think there’s something going on with like head, neck, tongue, mouth, that kind of, uh, thing.

Also, um, an, an ear, nose and throat specialist may be the way to go. So if you’re having any issues, talk to your primary care.

Matt Brooks: Yeah as long as you’re doing your regular checkups and such, it’s something that if something feels off or. Even they notice maybe if they’re under the examination, can be caught relatively early.

And luckily with the viral, I mean, not a lot of people are getting HPV uh, anymore.

Courtney Maxson: I mean, you know, there’s the vaccine now, um, in our younger generation. So most people that have received that vaccine will have a good protection from that as well.

Matt Brooks: Yeah. So, I mean, definitely something to keep an eye out for, but as long as you’re going to the doctor, it should be caught early.

Courtney Maxson: Yes and, and dentists too.

Matt Brooks: Yeah and the, uh, the other form of, uh, cancer that we’re gonna be talking about today, uh, [00:02:00] well, it’s a, it’s a bit of a larger issue, Testicular Cancer Awarness Month. Can you tell me about that ? Cause uh, we were talking before we got on air. This is actually a cancer that affects younger men.

Courtney Maxson: Yes. Typically younger men under 55 are diagnosed with, uh, testicular cancer, um typically it’s in your teens and early to mid thirties. So, um, there’s not always any signs or symptoms. So having those regular, physical, regular checkups at the doctor is important. But if you’re noticing any, um. Any changes in your body, any enlargements, anything like that, definitely go to the doctor right away.

Matt Brooks: And the one good thing to say about this is when it’s caught early, the, the mortality rate on this one’s quite low.

Courtney Maxson: Very low. Yes. So it can be treated, uh, rather, rather successfully.

Matt Brooks: Yep. So as long as you go to the doctor, healthy living, I mean, don’t smoke, mitigate alcohol use, [00:03:00] go to the doctor, these are all type forms of cancers that we’re

Looking at this month that, uh, can be either a treated, um, with quite success or can be caught quite early, as long as you, you take regular care of yourself. Now, Courtney, we are running a bit outta time. Again, if people have any questions, whether it’s about these forms of cancer, maybe uh, they need a breast cancer screening.

How do they get ahold of you to answer these questions, especially if they don’t have insurance ?

Courtney Maxson: Yeah, gimme a call at, uh, (607)-758-5523. Um, I’m available, uh, Monday through Friday.

Matt Brooks: Oh, perfect. Well, happy April, uh, and can’t wait for another segment with the end a month.

Courtney Maxson: Excellent. Thanks so much.

Matt Brooks: Is X101 Always Classic, I’m Matt Brooks.