Did you know that November is Mouth Cancer Action Month?

A dental practice in Belfast is helping raise awareness of mouth cancer this month.Lisburn Road Dental and Implant Clinic is opening its doors for a free oral cancer check on Wednesday 19th November 2-4pm. All are invited to come along and receive a professional check-up in a bid to help save lives in Northern Ireland.

More than 6,700 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year in the UK and it kills more than 1,900 people each year, that’s one death every four hours, and shockingly the disease has grown by a third in the last decade.

Many cases of mouth or oropharyngeal cancer are discovered at stage 4 where treatment is limited and the future for sufferers is bleak. However, if it is caught early the chances of surviving mouth cancer are nine out of ten, that’s why early detection is so very important.

Dr Greg Finnegan, the principal dentist at Lisburn Road Dental and Implant Clinic is an avid supporter of the charity campaign Mouth Cancer Action Month and advocates the importance of the ‘If in doubt, get checked out’ slogan.

“Mouth cancer is a very serious illness and carries devastating consequences if left untreated. It is vital that people are aware of the risks of mouth cancer and are checked regularly for the signs. I’m urging people to not ignore an ulcer that they have had for a few weeks that won’t go away, get checked out if you notice any red or white patches inside your mouth and please contact a health professional immediately if any lumps or bumps appear in or around your mouth and head.”

Often dentists are the first to spot the signs of mouth cancer when they are conducting routine dental examinations. During an oral cancer screening a dentist will examine the inside of your mouth to check for red or white patches or mouth sores and using gloved hands will also feels the tissues in your mouth to check for lumps or other abnormalities.

“The cancer screening process is quick and painless, so take five minutes out of your day to look for the signs and if you see any of the above symptoms please seek medical help. It is important that patients are aware that lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, heavy alcohol use can increase the risk of oral cancer. ”

Professional check-ups and regular self-examinations are the best route to early detection of mouth cancer, so if in doubt get checked out.

Dr Greg Finnegan will be giving free oral cancer screenings at the state of the art Lisburn Road Dental and Implant Clinic on Wednesday 19th November 2-4pm.

-Ends-