NHS runs oral cancer event in Rochdale
The Oral Health Promotion Team from NHS Heywood, Rochdale and Middleton hosted an event to raise awareness of oral cancer last week as part of the national Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign.
The event was held at the Salvation Army Hostel in Rochdale; during the day, members of the Oral Health Promotion team talked to local people about oral cancer and encouraged them to attend regular dental appointments to try and reduce the risk of developing the disease and encourage early diagnosis. The team also managed to register 35 people with a local NHS dentist.
According to Janet Dickinson, an Oral Health Promotion Officer, many of the people who visit the Salvation Army hostel suffer from poor oral health because they are homeless and find it difficult to access health services; as a result, the team hosted the open event to allow everyone to attend.
Oral cancer is becoming increasingly common and there has been a 40 percent increase in the number of cases in the last ten years alone. Despite the worrying figures, many people are not aware of the signs and symptoms they should be looking out for and as a result, they are often diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. The British Dental Health Foundation’s Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign, which ran all through November, was designed to raise the profile of oral cancer and educate people about the symptoms they need to look out for and reinforce the importance of regular check-ups.
Dental experts have urged patients to attend check-ups every six to twelve months and keep an eye out for symptoms of oral cancer, including red and white patches in the mouth, sores which take a long time to heal and abnormal swellings or lumps in the mouth. Experts are also eager for people to learn about the causes and risk factors for oral cancer, which include smoking, drinking regularly and eating a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables.
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