• 8/4/2004
  • Capital News 9

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Some dentists gave visitors to the Saratoga Race Course a reason to smile on Wednesday.

They offered track-goers screenings for oral cancer, free of charge. Oral cancer can be fatal, but it’s curable if doctors catch it in time.

The problem is, the disease usually causes the patient no initial pain. So a trained eye is needed to spot the telltale signs.

According to these doctors, the race course is the perfect place to raise awareness.

Dr. Robert Trager of Queens said, “A number of the people in the public, such as who come to Saratoga and other outdoors events, are more susceptible to this type of problem. Why? Because they’re out in the sun. Their lifestyle unfortunately of possibly drinking, especially smoking and even drugs can lend itself to oral cancers.”

This is the second year the screenings have been held at the track.