Be MouthAware: 45 secs could save your life

Posted on 11/11/22

Mouth Cancer Action month takes place throughout November and is organised by the Oral Health Foundation. Last year, 8722 people in UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer. The number of new cases has doubled in the last 20 years, making it one of the UK's fastest increasing cancers. Survival rates of mouth cancer have barely improved in the last 20 years and the oral health charity is concerned that too many mouth cancers are being diagnosed at a late stage, significantly reducing the chance of successful treatment. Mouth cancer can have a devastating effect on a person's life, impacting on their breathing, eating and speech. By developing a greater understanding of the warning signs and symptoms, the lifestyle factors which increase our risk, and recognising where to go if we notice anything unusual inside our mouth, we can detect mouth cancer early. This will not only improve our chances of beating it but will also reduce the amount of invasive surgery needed to treat it. To find out how to spot the early signs and how to recognise changes in your mouth visit www.mouthcancer.org