Head and Neck Cancer Prevention: the University joins the Make Sense Campaign 2025

The Make Sense Campaign 2025, now in its 13th edition, runs from 15 to 20 September. Citizens across Europe are invited to attend participating centres for free check-ups aimed at identifying diseases that, while ranking between fifth and seventh in incidence among malignant tumours, are still too often underestimated and diagnosed late.

The University is contributing to the campaign through the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences - DIBINEM, which is offering prevention days and public engagement activities. The initiative is the result of collaboration between the units of Pathological Anatomy, Maxillofacial Surgery, and Oral Pathology, coordinated by Professors Maria Pia Foschini, Achille Tarsitano, and Davide Bartolomeo Gissi. For years they have combined research and patient care for people at risk of, or already affected by, oral cancer. The initiative is further supported by Professor Gian Andrea Pelliccioni, Coordinator of the Degree Programme in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics, and the teaching staff of the Dental Clinic. Their shared goal is to strengthen awareness of cancers of the oral cavity, the most frequently affected site within the head and neck region.

Screening appointments are available free of charge at the Dental Clinic of the Department of Odontostomatological Sciences (Via San Vitale 59, Bologna). Appointments can be booked for 15–19 September, between 9:00 and 12:30 or 14:00 and 17:00 , by calling 051 2088123 (First Visit and Oral Pathology Unit). The Clinic also offers consultations for those seeking information on how to recognise suspicious symptoms, what to do if they persist, and which lifestyle habits help reduce risk.

Head and neck cancers can develop in more than 30 different areas of this region of the body. The most common sites are the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, nasal cavities, and salivary glands. According to the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), about 9,750 new cases were diagnosed in Italy in 2022:  around 7,050 in men and 2,700 in women. Roughly half of these affect the front part of the mouth (tongue, cheeks, gums, and hard palate). These cancers usually appear after the age of 40, with the main risk factors being smoking, alcohol use, and HPV infection. More recently, however, a worrying trend has emerged: a growing number of cases are being diagnosed in young people with no traditional risk factors.

Early detection makes all the difference. When identified at an early stage (I and II), less than 2–4 cm in size and without lymph node involvement, the 5-year survival rate is 80–90%. In advanced stages (III and IV), survival falls to 40–50%, and treatment may require extensive surgery with serious functional and aesthetic consequences, particularly given the sensitive area involved: the face. The challenge is that these tumours often present with vague symptoms such as persistent ulcers, white or red patches in the mouth, sore throat, or hoarseness, which can easily be mistaken for minor or seasonal ailments. As a result, only 30–40% of cases are still diagnosed early.