Driffield Practice Offering Free Oral Cancer Screening
A dental practice in Driffield is supporting Mouth Cancer Action Month by offering free oral cancer screening sessions.
The Orange Tree Dental Practice is offering free screening checks for everyone, including those who are not registered at the surgery, throughout November. Dr Robert Quarmby said that dentists are in the ideal position to spot the signs of oral cancer and said that it was important to get behind the campaign to raise awareness of oral cancer and help to promote early diagnosis.
Dr Quarmby added that the checks are simple and quick and dentists at the practice will be on hand to ask questions about oral cancer, as well as performing examinations to look out for tell-tale signs, such as red or white patches in the mouth, ulcers that are taking a long time to heal and abnormal swellings in the mouth or throat.
Mouth cancer has a low media profile and research carried out by the British Dental Health Foundation, the organisers of Mouth Cancer Action Month, showed that the vast majority of people are unaware of the causes and symptoms of mouth cancer, despite the fact that the number of cases in the UK has doubled over the last decade.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the BDHF said that it was important to increase the number of cases diagnosed at an early stage. This year alone, 6,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease and early detection and treatment could help to increase the life expectancy of at least 5,400 of them.
To book a free screening session, simply call The Orange Tree practice and appointments are available throughout November.
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