Organised by the British Dental Health Foundation, Mouth Cancer Action Month will try and reduce the amount of lives lost from the disease and make a difference by positively promoting the values of early detection and prevention.
The campaign will aim to get more mouth cancers diagnosed at an early stage by increasing education of the risk factors and signs and symptoms while encouraging everybody to discuss them with their dental professional.
Mouth cancer is one of the UK’s fastest increasing cancers, with cases up by almost 40 per cent in the last decade alone. Being on the frontline in the fight against mouth cancer, your support and participation remains instrumental in helping us combat a disease which kills more people every year than testicular and cervical cancer combined.
Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter OBE, highlighted how the dental profession is integral to this year’s campaign: “Chances are that we know somebody who has been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life, and we recognise the hurt and pain it can cause, physically and emotionally.
“Mouth cancer can have a devastating effect on a person’s life. It can impact how they breathe, eat and drink, even their speech. Often this can lead to other problems such as nutritional deficiency, and depression. Difficulties in communication, low self-esteem, social isolation and the impact on relationships and career can cause as much distress as the cancer itself.
Oral Examination Events: Offering free visual oral health examination events for patients or local groups are a great way to support your local community.
It is also a good way to promote awareness of the illness and help develop the goodwill of your practice.
Signs and Symptoms: Early detection is crucial with mouth cancer, it’s vitally important everyone knows the signs and symptoms and that these are checked at every check-up.
Look out for; ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth, unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth, head and neck area
“Unfortunately, survival rates for those with mouth cancer have not improved in the last 20 years. By being ‘Mouthaware’ and by spotting mouth cancer early enough, we will give patients the best possible chance to be successfully treated and have a good quality of life.
“The good news is that we, and you, at the forefront of the profession are in the perfect position to do something about it, help raise awareness amongst your patients and in your local community and help beat this cancer for good.”
Last year, more than 1,500 of you supported Mouth cancer Action Month by informing patients and local people about this rapidly increasing disease, the benefits of good oral health for our overall health and spreading the message that when mouth cancer is picked up earlier, treatment is more likely to be successful.
“We remain enormously thankful and humbled by the continued support shown for an increasingly important cause,” added Nigel.
The British Dental Health Foundation, alongside campaign sponsors Denplan and supporters Dentists’ Provident, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) and the Mouth Cancer Foundation, want to spread awareness of the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer to everyone in the UK and urge them ‘if in doubt get checked out!’.
Henry Clover, deputy chief dental officer at Denplan said: “Mouth Cancer Action Month is the perfect platform to improve the nation’s education around the disease’s risks, raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms and promote the importance of regular dental visits in the need for early detection which will really help make a vital difference.
“Denplan has supported Mouth Cancer Action Month for many years and we’re delighted to get behind the campaign as main sponsor once again, as well as continuing our successful ‘Blue Lip Selfie’ supporting campaign.
“Alongside our member dentists, we’re calling on the dental profession to help ensure the public are aware of the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer and that every patient is checked for signs of the disease at every check-up. Together we can catch the disease early enough to make a difference.”
To support Mouth Cancer Action Month please visit www.mouthcancer.org/register and receive your free registration pack.