Charities come together to show support for cancer sufferers

03 November 2016
Volume 31 · Issue 6

The Oral Health Foundation has teamed up with The Swallows Head & Neck Cancer Support Group to provide support and information for carers and survivors at The North of England Head & Neck Cancer Conference.

The two charities are coming together for the conference on Friday, November 11, at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool.

During the event, Chet Trivedy, trustee of the Oral Health Foundation, will be offering oral health checks with a visual mouth cancer examination to help raise awareness and knowledge of the signs, symptoms and causes of mouth cancer.

Speaking on the event, Chet said: “Many of the people at the event will have had first hand experience of living with the effects of head and neck cancer and understand the major impact that it can have on people even when they beat this terrible disease.

“Mouth cancer can affect the most basic elements of people’s lives by contributing to major problems with breathing, swallowing, eating and drinking. The ability of people to speak can also be dramatically affected and even lost.

“It goes far beyond physical problems too, as these issues can contribute to depression, difficulties with communication, low self esteem, social isolation and even severely impact on relationships.

“This event will be taking place in the middle of Mouth Cancer Action Month, an annual campaign organised by the Oral Health Foundation to raise awareness of the signs, symptoms and causes of mouth cancer.

“Mouth cancer is one of the few types of the disease which is increasing in incidence and mortality rates and having the ability to reach out to the public at events like this to spread messages of awareness is vital in addressing the continuing effects of mouth cancer.

“We are delighted to be attending the event and supporting The Swallows support group as they continue their excellent work.”

Chairman of The Swallows support group, Chris Curtis, spoke about the aims of the event: “At the event we will be showing our support for cancer survivors and challenging them to try and achieve more in spreading awareness of head and neck cancers.

“This is important as, when it comes to mouth cancer, an early diagnosis can dramatically increase the chances of a positive outcome. Being able to identify the signs and symptoms of the disease and quickly could mean the difference between surviving or not.

“We want people to understand that anybody can get mouth cancer, although traditionally linked with smoking and drinking to excess one of the key reasons that cases are increasing is the human papillomavirus (HPV). This is something which most people will have at some stage of their lives so it is important that everybody knows the risks.

“This event also offers an excellent selection of world renowned speakerswho will be aiming to inspire attendees to spread awareness of survivorship.

“With incidences of mouth cancer rising by a third in the last decade alone our work is becoming even more important, by coming together with the Oral Health Foundation during Mouth Cancer Action Month we hope to reach more people than ever before.”

If you are interested in attending The North of England Head & Neck Cancer Conference, please visitwww.eventbrite.co.uk/e/head-and-neck-cancer-surviving-and-overcoming-challenges-patient-and-carers-conference-tickets-27095653830