Chefs Prepare Special Dishes for People with Head, Neck Cancers April 15

Chefs from across the area will prepare delicious dishes to entice the appetites of people with oral, head and neck cancers during the Spring Fling Tasting Expo from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 15, at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center.

The event is designed to address the nutritional needs of people with head and neck cancers who struggle with issues of dry mouth, difficulty swallowing and loss of taste, which are common side effects of their life-saving care. It’s also being held to mark Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week and surgeon Paul van der Sloot, M.D., of Otolaryngology, will serve as master of ceremonies.

“The joy of eating is often hampered by treatment for head and neck cancers and this is a nice opportunity for people to try some new dishes,” said Sandra Sabatka, L.M.S.W., who leads the Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Connection support group. The event is sponsored, in part, by the national Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer, Inc.

Chefs from the following restaurants and caterers will share dishes: Gatherings Catering Company, V.I.P. Caterers/The Johnson House Restaurant, D & R Depot Restaurant & Catering Services, West Winds Café, Wilshire Restaurant & Catering and Jines Restaurant. 

To attend the free event, call Darlene Harmor, R.N., M.S., N.P., at (585) 273-3978. 

The Wilmot Cancer Center is the region’s leader in multidisciplinary cancer care and research for cures.