In honor of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, South Central Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery will offer free oral cancer screenings at the Bloomington clinic on April 15 from 8 am to 11 am. The screenings are part of a joint partnership with the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of oral, head and neck cancer. To participate, arrive at the clinic during the designated times and ask for a free cancer screening. Clinic location: 2911 East Covenanter Drive, Bloomington, Ind., 47401.

April is widely recognized as Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness of the condition, risk factors, statistics and screenings. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 60,480 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal (middle throat) cancer – with 13,150 deaths attributed to it – in 2026.

“Oral cancer has a survival rate of 80-90% when diagnosed early, according to the Head & Neck Cancer Foundation. That’s why screenings are important,” said Timothy Pliske, DDS, of South Central Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.