Raise awareness
The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland (CFNI) have joined forces to develop a new patient information leaflet and posters to raise awareness on mouth cancer and its early detection and prevention. Smoking, regular alcohol in-take, the human papilloma virus (HPV) and over exposure to sunshine or sunbeds are the main risk factors for developing mouth cancer. It is more common in men than women and is rare in people under the age of 40.
These new patient resources were launched by the Mayor of Derry, Brenda Stevenson, at an event at the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre, Central Drive, Derry/Londonderry. The patient information leaflets and posters are available for download at: http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/2626.htm . Alternatively contact Donncha O’Carolan, Regional Lead for Dental Public Health (HSCB) by e-mail: donncha.o’carolan@hscni.net
The event was aimed at raising awareness of mouth cancer and included the provision of free oral cancer screening examinations delivered by a team of specialist oral surgeons at the dental suite located at the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre. In addition to the oral health checks Cancer Focus NI brought two of their ‘Keeping Well’ vans to the city. Local residents participated in the free oral health checks, general health checks and the one-to-one cancer awareness sessions on offer throughout the day.
Other services provided on the day included information from the ‘Drink Think’ initiative who advise on responsible thinking around sensible drinking; smoking cessation advice from local pharmacist Killian Johnston of Sweeny’s Pharmacy and the Safe Well Being Eating Exercise (SWEET) initiative provided useful suggestions on a healthy diet.
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