Mouth Cancer Awareness Month

Mouth Cancer Awareness Month happens in November every year and aims to raise awareness of mouth cancer by educating the public of the risk factors, signs and symptoms and the importance of early detection.

Over the last three days, Derriford Hospital has had a stand set up in the main concourse and has been manned from 10am-3pm every day.

Vera Mitchell, volunteer at Derriford Hospital said: “This year, the stand has been extremely successful and attracted a lot of attention. We have been giving people information about mouth cancer, which is a relatively rare form of cancer.

“As with all cancers, early diagnosis and early treatment gives the patient the best possible outcome, so it is extremely important that we reach as many people as possible. Our message to the public has been to not be afraid, but be aware and ensure that appropriate action is taken.

“If we can make even one person aware of the dangers and the signs to look out for, we could have saved a life.”

In the UK, more than 6,700 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year. Over the last decade, the disease has grown by a third and remains one of the very few cancers which are predicted to increase in the years to come.

Mouth cancer can affect anybody and although there are risk factors that are heavily linked to the disease, it is extremely important that everybody knows what to look out for.

This includes:

• An ulcer in the mouth which does not heal
• A swelling or lump in the mouth or neck which might not hurt
• A swelling or ulcer on the lips which does not heal
• A red or white patch in the mouth
• Unexplained numbness in the mouth
• Persistent sore throat
• Unexplained difficulty swallowing.

If you have any of these symptoms for more than three weeks then please visit your dentist to get it checked, as prompt action may save your life.