Beverley based dental practice, Perfect 32, is stepping up its annual campaign to raise local awareness of shocking national statistics that reveal the escalating problem of mouth cancer.
Alongside its annual free screening day, which will take place at the NHS and private practice in Ladygate on November 10, a team from Perfect 32 will also be visiting Bishop Burton College on November 16. The aim is to raise awareness of the disease with younger people – more of whom are developing the condition due to smoking, drinking and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can be transmitted by oral sex.
The agricultural college is hosting a Lifestyle event and it is here that the team from Perfect 32 will explain that tobacco use, drinking alcohol and HPV are the main risk factors and account for around three in four cases of mouth cancer.
Principal dentist, Dr Gary Rowland, said: “Figures from Cancer Research UK show that people who drink and use tobacco to excess are up to 30 times more likely to develop the condition and non-smokers who are exposed to second hand smoke at home or work are two-thirds more likely to develop the disease.
“Better awareness and prompt detection saves lives. Early diagnosis can improve survival chances from 50 per cent to 90 per cent. Regular examinations with your dentist ensure you are professionally screened for the signs of mouth cancer and we would urge as many people as possible to book a free screening with us. Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome.”
Although mouth cancer is more likely to affect people over 40 years of age, an increasing number of young people are developing the condition. There are 7,800 new cases of mouth cancer diagnosed in the UK every year and one person dies from the disease every three hours. Remember to look out for:
• Ulcers that do not heal within three weeks
• Red and white patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth, throat or neck
• A persistent sore throat or hoarseness
• Unexplained tooth mobility
For your FREE mouth cancer screening on November 10, please call Perfect 32 on 01482 863 667 to book an appointment.
During November two high profile campaigns to raise the awareness of mouth cancer run in the UK. The British Dental Health Foundation runs Mouth Cancer Action Month throughout November and the Mouth Cancer Foundation runs Mouth Cancer Awareness Week from 13 to 19 November.
For more information visit the Mouth Cancer Foundation at www.rdoc.org.uk/dentistmcaw or the British Dental Health Foundation at www.mouthcancer.org