Romagna hospitals offer free head and neck cancer screenings

The Ausl della Romagna is participating in the fourteenth edition of the Make Sense Campaign, a European initiative focused on the prevention and early diagnosis of head and neck cancers. From September 21 to 26, free medical examinations will be available by appointment at the Otorhinolaryngology units in hospitals located in Ravenna, Cesena, Forlì, and Rimini.

Head and neck cancers are the seventh most common cancer in Europe, with approximately 9,000 cases diagnosed annually in Italy. The campaign emphasizes the importance of early detection, noting that survival rates can exceed 80-90% when the disease is identified in its initial stages. The initiative promotes the '1x3' rule: if a single symptom persists for three weeks or more, medical consultation is essential. Symptoms to monitor include persistent sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, tongue pain, non-healing ulcers, or red and white spots in the mouth.