Published: February 26, 2015

Take part in Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week®

Recent studies show that screening for, and early detection of, oral, head, and neck cancer is more important than ever for two reasons: oropharyngeal cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is on the rise, especially among younger adults; and HPV-positive cancer carries a better chance of survival than HPV-negative cancer if it’s caught and treated early.

Recent studies show that screening for, and early detection of, oral, head, and neck cancer is more important than ever for two reasons: oropharyngeal cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is on the rise, especially among younger adults; and HPV-positive cancer carries a better chance of survival than HPV-negative cancer if it’s caught and treated early. In 2015, more than 120,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with head and neck cancers. Early detection gives them a much better survival rate.

The 18th Annual Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week^® (OHANCAW^®), led by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance and supported by the AAO-HNS/F, is scheduled for April 12–18, 2015. OHANCAW is a weeklong series of events promoting awareness of this potentially life-threatening disease, the pinnacle being a day of free oral cancer screenings at medical offices throughout the country. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, HPV-positive oral cancers will likely constitute a majority of all head and neck cancers in the United States in the next 20 years. Now more than ever, screening for, and early detection of, this disease is critical.

We are urging health professionals to help save lives affected by this potentially deadly, but treatable disease. You can make a difference by conducting a free screening at your medical practice, clinic, hospital, or university. For more details, promotional materials including posters, T-shirts, and media kits, and registration information, please visit www.OHANCAW.com or www.entnet.org/OHANCAW.

More from March 2015 - Vol. 34 No. 02

choosingwisely

Choosing wisely

The AAO-HNSF’s newest Choosing Wisely® recommendations on the next page are supported by key action statements from AAO-HNSF clinical practice guidelines

factsheets

2015 CMS QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVESFact sheets are quick-reference tools

This year, physicians will be subject to new requirements for many Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality reporting initiatives. To help you understand the reporting requirements, the Academy’s Health Policy team has once again created one-page fact sheets for each of the CMS initiatives.

goldenyears

Vocal health into the golden years

With advancing age, our voices may sound “old” and weak. This may affect quality of life in many ways. For example, it may be difficult for others, especially those with hearing loss, to hear us, and result in withdrawal. There is sometimes a tendency to think that the undesirable voice qualities associated with older age must be accepted and are an inevitable consequence of aging.

water

SMART TALK FOR PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTSThe do’s and don’ts to a healthy voice

Voice problems are usually associated with hoarseness, which is defined as a disorder characterized by altered vocal quality, pitch, loudness, or vocal effort that impairs communication or reduces voice-related quality of life.1

tincanboys

VoiceSocial media is no competition for the human voice

Social media is no competition for the human voice By J. Ongkasuwan, MD, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, for the AAO-HNS Voice Committee The theme for World Voice Day 2015 is “Voice: The Original Social Media.” So what is social media? The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines social media as “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content.”

biopsy

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Rotation at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe

I spent January 26–February 23, 2014, on a surgical rotation at Parirenyatwa Hospital (“Pare”), the main teaching hospital of the University of Zimbabwe in Harare. There are only seven consultant otolaryngology attendings in the entire nation of Zimbabwe, which has a population of 14 million people.

Society of University Otolaryngologists meeting a successExpanded from the print edition

The annual meeting of the Society of University Otolaryngologists (SUO) took place in Chicago, IL, November 7-9, 2014. The meeting was combined with the Association of Academic Departments of Otolaryngology and the Otolaryngology Program Directors Organization.

Thank you to our 2014 ENT PAC Leadership Club Investors*

Read the full 2014 investor list including categories for the General Member, Practice Investors, and AAO-HNS staff, online. Program year: January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

AMA HOUSE OF DELEGATESIssues affecting otolaryngology

The American Medical Association (AMA) conducted its 2014 Interim House of Delegates (HOD) meeting November 8-11 in Dallas, TX.

Recently reviewed Clinical Indicators posted to website

The AAO-HNS/F reviews all Clinical Indicators, Position Statements, and Clinical Practice Guidelines on a regular basis. As part of this scheduled cycle, six Clinical Indicators, including “Ethmoidectomy,” “Mandibular Fracture,” “LeFort Fracture,” “Nasal endoscopy,” “Laryngoscopy/Nasopharyngoscopy,” and “Endoscopic Sinus Indicators,” were recently reviewed.

Spencer C. Payne, MD, BOG Member-at-Large and associate professor at the University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA

BOARD OF GOVERNORSOnce you’ve found your voice, use it!

With the Leadership Forum this month and World Voice Day in April, I cannot think of a better opportunity to provide this exhortation. However, what sounds so simple also can be an incredibly daunting task for the young and elder physician alike. At first, I was afraid to get involved because I was not sure if my voice was strong enough or even desired.

Membership in AAO-HNS/F is an investment in your success

Did you know? When you joined the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, you immediately gained access to a network of esteemed colleagues, high-quality education and conferences, and valuable resources. But did you know that Members often recover several times their annual dues by taking advantage of exclusive Members-only benefits?

denneny

The Academy is a voice

I was Chair of the BOG in 1999 when the AAO-HNS was a driving force in the creation of “World Voice Day.” April 16 will mark the 17th celebration with its theme this year “Voice: The Original Social Media.” This event has been instrumental in the recognition and advancement of voice science.

Gayle E. Woodson, MD, AAO-HNS/F President

For all who care for the voice

I have a vivid recollection of a patient I encountered early in my residency. I “worked him up” the day before his scheduled laryngectomy for supraglottic cancer. As I watched him read his informed consent form, he seemed calm and resigned to the dire necessity of the surgery. But that evening, as I pulled out of the parking garage on my way home, I saw him sitting on the front steps of the hospital, talking into a cassette tape recorder. He wanted to save a sample of his voice, which he would otherwise never hear again.