mouth cancer campaign

Taking place throughout November 2011, the British Dental Health Foundation--in association with Denplan--will call on dentists, doctors, and pharmacists to educate members of the general public about a disease that kills more people in the U.K. than testicular and cervical cancer combined.

Latest figures show that approximately 6,000 new cases a year are diagnosed in the U.K., and one person dies every five hours from the disease. As a result, action should be taken to raise awareness. Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr. Nigel Carter, highlighted the importance of early detection in the battle against the disease.

Dr. Carter said: “If the profession can inform and urge patients that regularly attending checkups increases the chances of mouth cancer being detected at an early stage, together we can help to raise awareness of this killer disease.

“Incidences of mouth cancer have increased by more than 45% in the last 10 years, and nine in 10 people survive mouth cancers caught early yet the five year survival rate remains as low as 50%. Encouraging patients to perform self-diagnosis such as looking for ulcers which do not heal within three weeks and red or white patches or unusual changes in the mouth, can also help towards early detection.”

Poor oral health contributes to workplace absenteeism

As part of Mouth Cancer Action, which uses the tagline If In Doubt, Get Checked Out, the foundation has announced that Clyde Football Club will sponsor the campaign through the 2011-12 season.

The Scottish professional football club, which has Whitemoss Dental Practice owner Dr. David MacPherson as a director, will wear the foundation’s Blue Ribbon Badge logo on their shirts to promote the year-round campaign. The badges featured on the team's tops are available as part of the Blue Ribbon Appeal Kit. The kit is suitable for dental practices, hospitals, and pharmacies.

Dr. Carter added: “This kind of support from within the profession has the potential to save lives. With further support during the campaign, together we can highlight the dangers posed by mouth cancer.”

For more information, go to www.mouthcancer.org.

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