Disparities in Survival Patterns for Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer in Florida: Can We Do Anything about It?

This is the third and final article in our series about oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) in Florida1, 2 for Today’s FDA. This article adds to the literature by examining and reporting on survival rates of OPC by geographic regions in Florida and identifies a group with poor survival. We also highlight the results of a targeted media campaign that was designed to increase OPC examinations among the group with the poorest OPC survival. Based on the outcome of our media campaign, we also propose important changes in the way we disseminate and structure oral health information to “atrisk” groups.