I'm an ENT physician. After spending the past 10 years learning how to care for the human body and more specifically the head and neck region, I wanted to make a big statement to promote public awareness of oral cancer. I recently graduated (June 2012) from a Head and Neck surgical fellowship in Indianapolis, Indiana. I spent the last year trying to remedy the devastating effects of oral and head and neck cancer. With a break between my medical training and joining a practice in Grants Pass, Oregon, I knew this was my chance. Together, with my fearless brother-in-law Kyle, we will embark on a trek from D.C. to California or Oregon with nothing more than the panniers on our bike and our road hogs. I hear you can get 70 mpg in one of those things!
My goal for our trek is to promote awareness of oral cancer. Oral cancer is such a curable disease when caught in the early stages. It is tragic for me to find people in denial about "this sore in my mouth". In medical school, I was completing a general surgery rotation in California. I remember talking with a patient about the ill effects of smoking. He loved his habit so much that he replied "well, we all have to die of something eventually". My reply back of "yes, but it's how you die and the quality of life you will have", fell on deaf ears. If only people who smoke and/or drink heavily could see what I see everyday and experience not only the pain but the malformations, the loss in ability to eat or taste and experience radiation used to thwart this devastating disease, I'm positive it would scare them into remission from their addictions. Hopefully this ride will bring awareness and encourage everyone to see their dentist, oromaxillofacial doctor, or friendly neighborhood Otolaryngologist (ENT) if suspicions arise.
My goal for our trek is to promote awareness of oral cancer. Oral cancer is such a curable disease when caught in the early stages. It is tragic for me to find people in denial about "this sore in my mouth". In medical school, I was completing a general surgery rotation in California. I remember talking with a patient about the ill effects of smoking. He loved his habit so much that he replied "well, we all have to die of something eventually". My reply back of "yes, but it's how you die and the quality of life you will have", fell on deaf ears. If only people who smoke and/or drink heavily could see what I see everyday and experience not only the pain but the malformations, the loss in ability to eat or taste and experience radiation used to thwart this devastating disease, I'm positive it would scare them into remission from their addictions. Hopefully this ride will bring awareness and encourage everyone to see their dentist, oromaxillofacial doctor, or friendly neighborhood Otolaryngologist (ENT) if suspicions arise.
