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Senior Groups inthe CommunityOakdaleCommunity CenterContact: 724.693.8540FindlaySenior CitizensContact: 724.695.0500North FayetteSenior CitizensContact: 724.693.3118or 412.788.4888St. ColumbkilleSenior CitizensContact: 724.695.7325SUMMER SENIOR ACTIVITIESAROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODNorth Fayette Senior Citizens have two programsavailable to them this summer. On July 14, they will begoing on “Just Ducky Tours.”The Seniors will attend the Pirates vs. Cincinnatibaseball game on Wednesday, August 4 at 12:30 p.m. atPNC Park.For information about these events, call (412) 788-4888.The next movie of the month will be held in the NorthFayette Community Room for seniors on July 14. Showtimeis 10 a.m.LUNCH AROUND TOWNThe next North Fayette Senior CitizenLuncheon will be held on Thursday, April 22 atthe North Fayette Community Center starting at11 a.m. Cost for the luncheon is $2 for NorthFayette Township residents and $3 for nonresidents.Lunch at the Oakdale Community Center onSeminary Avenue is available weekdays forseniors age 60+. Call Paul at (724) 693-8540for information.FIT N’ FUN . . .Hankey Farms Pool, Adult and SeniorCitizens Swims and Lap Swimming are heldMondays through Thursdays, 7-8 p.m.Senior Citizen Splash and Water Exerciseclass is held Mondays through Fridays at11 a.m.Oral Cancer is on the RiseMost people are surprised to learn that each year one American diesevery hour from oral cancer, making this type of cancer deadlier thancervical, brain, ovary or skin cancer. In fact, recent statistics published bythe American Cancer Society estimates that while the incidence and deathrates for cancers overall have decreased, new cases of oral cancer anddeaths associated with oral cancer are increasing. However, oral canceris one of the most curable diseases when it’s caught early. Whenpremalignant lesions or early stage oral cancer is found, treatment issimpler, less invasive and more than 82% successful. *Early Detection of Oral Cancer Saves LivesViziLite Plus (trademark) is a proven screening technology that assistsin the early detection of oral abnormalities, including premalignantlesions and oral cancer. Early detection tools such as Pap smears, PSAtests and mammograms have greatly reduced death rates for cervical,prostate and breast cancers. ViziLite Plus improves the dentist’s abilityto identify, evaluate and monitor abnormal areas that are difficult to seeunder conventional lighting. By incorporating this simple, quick andpainless exam into their practices, dentists are our first line of defense infighting this deadly disease.”Many people die from oral cancer because it is not detected at anearly stage.”, says Dr. Robert Luther, Jr. of Oakdale.“The ViziLite Plus exam can potentially help save lives. And, it showspatients that their overall health is important to us and that dentists do somuch more than just check for cavities.”Oral Cancer Risk FactorsAge is the primary risk factor for all types of cancer, and 90% of oralcancer occurs in adults over age 40. However, all adults age 18 and olderare considered to be at risk. Alarmingly, over 25% of oral cancers occur inpeople who don’t smoke and have no other lifestyle risk factors.” **+Another reason for concern about oral cancer is the human papilloma virus(HPV). HPV is an extremely common sexually transmitted infection andespecially prevalent in young adults 14-24 years old. Few people evenknow they have it. HPV has long been known to cause cervical cancer andnow studies suggest it also plays a role in as many as 22% of oral cancercases.”****ACS Cancer Facts and Figures 2006**2006 SEER dataBY DR. ROBERT LUTHER***Herrero R et al., for the IARC Multicenter Oral Cancer Study Group.Human papillomavirus and oral cancer: the International Agency forResearch on Cancer multicenter study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2003; 95(23):1772-83.+Lifestyle risk factors are defined as tobacco use, chronic alcohol use of atleast two ounces of alcohol three times per week, and HIV/HPVDr. Robert Luther is located in North Fayette Township. For more information, contact him at (412) 788-6300 orvisit his Web site, www.pittsburghlaserdentist.com.Learning Curves is provided as a service to advertisers of Allegheny West Magazine to share educational and/or informational knowledge with the readership. To inquire about LearningCurves, call (724) 695-3968.64 Allegheny West Magazine June 2010