SpeakStrong: Youth Against Oral Cancer (YAOC) is a project dedicated to empowering youth and spreading awareness for individuals fighting against oral cancer. We aim to raise awareness, promote prevention, and support those affected by this life-threatening disease. At SpeakStrong, we believe that knowledge saves lives. Through education, outreach, and youth-driven advocacy, we strive to make early detection and prevention a priority in every community.

Like many cancers, oral cancer can be fatal once it has reached a certain stage. An estimate of close to 60,000 individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with this disease in 2025. Oral cancer makes up almost 3 percent of all new cancer cases in America. Out of the 60,000 people who are estimated to be diagnosed with the disease, 21 percent of individuals are expected to die in 2025. 

Sources: 

“Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx - Cancer Stat Facts.” SEER, seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/oralcav.html.