Could a simple text message help you beat mouth cancer?

The study, which involved healthcare authorities sending a text message to patients encouraging them to check for the symptoms of mouth cancer, significantly improved how often patients self-examined themselves for the early warning signs of the disease. 

Researchers also found the patients who discovered something unusual then went to a doctor or dentist where, in most cases, their findings were confirmed and diagnosed.

In the United Kingdom, there are now more than 7,800 mouth cancers diagnosed a year, with cases increasing by more than a third in the last decade alone.

Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, feels text messages could play an important role in improving awareness and early diagnosis of mouth cancer.

Nigel says, "So far, this has only been trialled on existing mouth cancer patients to keep them alert to any reoccurrences. I have no doubts that text messages can have a much wider application to alert those most at risk to check themselves regularly for the early signs of mouth cancer.