MADISON (SPECTRUM NEWS) --Friday morning at UW Health in Madison, doctors are holding a free head and neck cancer

It's the first of its kind in the country, and over the last decade has likely helped save seven lives by detecting cancer early.  

Besides being free, the best part about the ten minute exam is it's painless.

‘It’s not like it’s a colonoscopy where you have to be emitted to the hospital and undergo a thorugh workup or a mammogram where you have to a procedure done, this is a quick easy screening,' Radiation Oncologist Dr. Matt Witek said.

He says screeners use tongue depressors, as well as their hands and eyes to check for abnormalities.  They encourage anyone to participate, but especially men and smokers in their mid 60's.

‘We found that most of the patients that do come in our women…and unfortunately this cancer affects men, so it would be great if all the women who see this would encourage your husbands, brothers, fathers to come to this screenings because it may become more successful at finding more cancers in these patient populations,' Dr. Witek said.

He also says smoking cessation experts will be on hand to help participants kick the habit, should they need assistance.​

The event runs from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at UW Health's main hospital inside the ENT Clinic.  You can learn more here.