April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Head and neck cancer is more common among men than women and often among people over age 50. Symptoms of head and neck cancers may include a lump or a sore in the neck area that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. Alcohol and tobacco use are the top two risk factors; additionally, infection with cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for some types of head and neck cancers. These cancers are preventable with certain lifestyle modifications. To greatly reduce the chances of developing head and neck cancer, individuals should consider:
Eliminating tobacco use
Reducing alcohol consumption
Practicing safer oral sex
Among HealthStreet cancer survivors, 10 (0.9%) of our members reported throat cancer, 6 (0.5%) reported oral cancer, and 20 (1.8%) reported thyroid cancer.
Community Health Worker Updates
HealthStreet continues to serve you with our dedicated Community Health Workers (CHWs). This week our team will be in various locations.
Other events CHWs will be attending:
–Thursday, April 22nd (3 pm-5 pm) Health & Wealth Pop Up Expo
–Monday, April 26th (10 am-1 pm) Grace Marketplace
Every week, CHWs are all over the city providing FREE health resources, like Deterra™ Deactivation Bags and NARCAN® Nasal Spray, help you know which research studies you may be eligible for, and sign you up to become a HealthStreet member.
If you missed our Community Health Workers while they were on outreach, stop by HealthStreet at 2401 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608. Our facility hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM. We offer a clothing closet and toiletry pantry, and we can provide you with health-related resources and referrals.
Events Calendar
Every month, HealthStreet hosts a variety of services, Community Health Worker outreach efforts, classes, support groups, and events! Check out our April calendar.
On Thursday, April 22nd from 12 to 1 PM EST, LifeQuest will have a focused discussion on organ donations. Join the conversation here.
On Friday, April 23rd from 12 to 1 PM EST, UF HealthStreet, UF Health, UF IFAS and UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute will be discussing current COVID-19 testing and treatments. Join the conversation here.
On Wednesday, April 28th from 12 to 1 PM EST, speakers from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis University and community members will have a conversation on preventing falls in the home among older adults. Join the conversation here.
Interested in participating in research?
Here are a few studies that you can participate in now:
+The Emergency Room Use among Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Study is exploring reasons deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the local area using the UF Health Gainesville emergency room. Eligible participants must be 18-44 years of age, Black/African American, deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have hearing loss, and have used UF Health’s ER in Gainesville within the past 3 years.
+The VITAL Study is testing the effectiveness of the WW program (previously Weight Watchers) on improving blood sugar control in those with Type 2 Diabetes. Eligible participants must be 18-70 years of age, diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, have a BMI of 27-50, have access to an iOS smartphone device with internet, and be willing to attend weekly WW Virtual Workshops and Digital Program.
+The Sentence Comprehension after Concussion Study is examining how sentence comprehension and cognition are affected after having a concussion. Eligible participants must be 18-35 years of age who have had a head injury or concussion within the past year.
If you are interested in hearing about these or other studies, contact our Study Navigator, Sara, at 352-294-4873.
Do you or someone you know have cancer? We’d love to talk about opportunities to participate in research. Please share this link to become a member and learn about cancer screenings.
Visit UF Health COVID-19 Vaccination page to find a vaccination location near you. 
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