Today is the first day of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of a disease that over 45,000 Americans will be diagnosed with this year.
To support this awareness, Vigilant Biosciences, a leading innovator and developer of solutions that aid in the early detection and intervention of cancer, conducted a National Oral Cancer Awareness Consumer Survey, which revealed that people are very interested in simple, effective screening tools for oral cancer. 
According to the new survey data compiled from 1,050 participants:
· The majority (68%) knew little or nothing at all about oral cancer.
· Only 16% of those surveyed were aware that 40% of people diagnosed with oral cancer die within 5 years, with most believing the 5-year survival rate to be higher.
· Only 36% revealed they were screened for oral cancer at their last dental checkup.
· More than 81% indicated that they would like to be screened for oral cancer at every checkup.
· 85% would like the option to be screened for oral cancer with a simple rinse and spit test that would assess early risk factors specifically associated with oral cancer. Vigilant recently released an innovative salivary diagnostic test, the OncAlert Oral Cancer Risk Assessment System.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, over 45,000 individuals are diagnosed with head and neck cancers each year in the U.S. Within 5 years, 40% of those will die. Historically, the death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.
Early diagnosis of oral cancer is key and can result in a cure rate of up to 90%!
Read more about the National Oral Cancer Awareness Consumer Survey results.