November not only marks prostate cancer awareness month but also Mouth Cancer Action Month. Due to which the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) organized an awareness campaign about mouth cancer.

The campaign was named as “If In Doubt, Get Checked Out”, in which people were asked to get their mouth tested in order to know the early signs of mouth cancer. Number of people is unaware of the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. Therefore, it is very necessary that they should be acquainted with it, so they do not have to suffer afterwards.

If detected on time than, the survival chances get elevated from 50% to 90%, said Dr. Rebecca Craven, who is Consultant of Dental Public Health for NHS HMR. With increase in the number of cases, it has been advised that people should refrain from smoking and chewing tobacco. In last 10 years, mouth cancer has increased by 24%.

Craven said, “It is very important that people attend appointments at their dentist regularly to have a full check up and receive a professional screening for signs of mouth cancer, especially if you smoke or use a tobacco product”.

If one does not get time to go to doctor quite often then he could also have quick self test at home as well, said Craven. Just keep a tab on mouth ulcers and if the pain and redness persists even after three weeks then it needs to be examined by dentist and if there are yellow and red patches with swelling in the mouth, do not delay in going to dentist.

In September as well, such kind of activity was organized and at that time in order to raise funds 10-km walk was also held but Craven said its importance gets increased all the more in November as full month sis dedicated to it.