Public: 'If In Doubt Get Checked Out'
Early detection saves lives.
The five year survival rate of mouth cancer patients is just 50%.
BUT early diagnosis gives patients a 90% survival.
Regular visit to your dentist will ensure you are professionally screened for signs of mouth cancer. Talk to your dentists about the process and mouth cancer risk factors.
Self-examination is a simple, potentially life-saving process.
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
Remember the campaign tagline – "If In Doubt, Get Checked Out."
If your mouth is a concern make an appointment with your dentist or GP immediately and make sure they know your worries.
KNOW THE RISKS – PREVENTION IS KEY
Lifestyle choices can prevent this significant threat.
SMOKING, CHEWING TOBACCO, ARECA NUT, PAAN and GUTHKA are main risks.
- ALCOHOL can be deadly. Drinking and smoking to excess raises risk by up to 30 times as alcohol aids absorption of tobacco into the mouth.
- POOR DIET has been linked to mouth cancer. Make sure you get your five-a-day fruit and vegetables. Evidence shows that extra portions of fruit and vegetables reduce the risk still further, as can fish and eggs.
- HPV: the human papilloma virus (HPV), transmitted via oral sex, is a growing threat as a mouth cancer cause. Experts suggest it may rival tobacco and alcohol as a major cancer cause within 10 years.
Sadly risk knows no boundaries in relation to mouth cancer.
A growing number are developing the disease without displaying any traditional risk factors – underlining the need for check-ups and self-examination.
Men were once five times more likely to develop mouth cancer – now they are just twice as likely.
The age group affected is falling as younger people than ever are diagnosed.