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Mouth Cancer Action Month November 2012.

2012 November 9
by Alex Team

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month.

In the UK mouth cancer is diagnosed in more than 6,000 people annually and kills around 2,000 people each year – one death every five hours.

Running for the duration of November, mouth Cancer Action Month features the tagline ‘If in doubt, get checked out’ and urges members of the public to visit their dentist for an oral screening.

Professional check-ups and regular self-examinations are the best route to early detection of mouth cancer. Early diagnosis saves lives, improving survival chances from just half to more than 90%.

Early warning signs include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual changes in the mouth.

Mouth Cancer Action Month also aims to raise awareness of a disease which has remained under reported for too long. Prevention is key and lifestyle choices can help minimalise risks.

Three-quarters of cases are linked to tobacco and alcohol so it is important that smokers are encouraged to quit and alcohol is consumed in moderation.

The human papilloma virus (HPV), transmitted by oral sex, and poor diets are also linked to mouth cancer. Worryingly the disease is now also affecting a younger group of people and many more who display none of the traditional risk factors.

Earl diagnosis can really make the difference so make sure you visit a dentist regularly and check your mouth as often as possible, it could just save your life.

Patients of the practice will know that we always screen for mouth cancer at examination appointments and any opportunity that we have when you visit the practice.

It is vitally important that people with few or no teeth at all visit the dentist as it is not just your teeth that we look at, the soft tissues of the mouth need to be examined too.

If you would like to discuss mouth cancer, how you can self-examine or you would like to book an appointment please call our friendly team on 01283 216347 or complete one of our contact forms.

We are currently accepting new patients at the practice so if you have a friend or family member who has not had an examination for a while why not pass on our details?

For more information on mouth cancer visit the website http://www.mouthcancer.org/

 

 

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