The Russian American Dental Association’s Oral Cancer Awareness Program

New York, NY, April 19, 2011 --(PR.com)-- April 18th, The Russian American Dental Association (RADA), a national 501c (3) nonprofit organization for dental professionals, is holding its annual oral cancer awareness program, which will inform the public about and promote prevention of the disease. Free screenings and a fundraiser are going to be held throughout April and May in and near New York City.

RADA held three other oral cancer awareness events in 2008, 2009, and 2010, but 2011 is set to be their biggest year yet. To expand the scope, RADA is offering free Human Papillomavirus tests and outreach events geared towards teenagers to encourage safe sex practice. Studies in the United States indicate that HPV is one of the leading causes of head and neck cancers. In addition, the CDC found that 20 million people in the U.S. have HPV, and 6 million people are infected every year. RADA is doing its part to decrease these numbers.

“Our goal at RADA is to spread knowledge about these diseases and hopefully prevent individuals and families from experiencing the pain and suffering associated with them,” said Dr. Rada Sumareva, president of the association. “We find different ways to make sure people of all ages know how to observe good oral health.”

Dentist offices in Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Queens are providing the oral cancer and HPV examinations. Three screenings are going to take place on Tuesday, April 26th at Sheepshead Bay Oral Surgery from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (1918 Avenue U in Sheepshead Bay, 718-743-5400), at Austin ENT and Plastic Surgery from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. (108-12 72nd Avenue, 3rd Floor in Forest Hills, 718-544-9300), and at the Center for Professional Development from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (634 Anderson Avenue in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, 201-313-3273). Forest Hills Oral Surgery (68-63 108 Street, Suite D, 718-575-1010) will hold exams on Thursday, April 28th from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Participants who show suspects of oral cancer will be eligible to receive a biopsy paid for by RADA. To register for the checkups, individuals should call the offices.

On Wednesday, April 27th, students from YM Piano Studios will perform at Young Musicians for a Smoke Free Planet at Jazz at Lincoln Irene Diamond Center from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children.

The annual RADA-Medicus GALA at the Consulate General for Poland on May 10th will host a lecture by Gwen Brown called, “Current Trends in Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Oral Cancer and Physician-Dentist Referral Network Development.” The Hermitage Trio is going to play the music of Rachmaninoff.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation’s statistics, one person dies every hour of every day from oral cancer. Based on collected data, the foundation concluded that for people under the age of 50, HPV16 “may even be replacing tobacco as the primary causative agent in the initiation of the disease process.” But, if the disease is found in its early stages, an individual has an 80% to 90% chance of survival.

Fundraising from RADA’s oral cancer awareness program will be used to further its research and philanthropic initiatives locally and abroad. The free oral cancer and HPV screenings and fundraiser are going to endorse healthy living to everyone in attendance.

The Russian Dental Association (www.RussianDentists.org) offers research and education in the dental fields, helps dental professionals with their career objectives, organizes medical professional conferences, and sponsors charity events. The group is dedicated to humanitarian and community work.

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