GRAB the opportunity to receive a free mouth cancer screening at Warrington Hospital for one day only this November.
As a show of support for ‘Mouth Cancer Action Month’, the helpful team of experts from Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals (WHH) will hold a drop-in service on Wednesday, November 23, to allow anyone to have their mouth checked for any signs of the oral cancer.
Screenings will run in the Maxillofacial and Orthodontics department, based in the Appleton wing with free parking available to all attendee’s and no appointment needed.
Mouth cancer is more common in those over 40, particularly men, but it’s now affecting more younger people and women than ever.
Recent statistics show that more than 8000 people were diagnosed with the disease last year and only 17% of the UK population are aware of what signs and symptoms to look out for with mouth cancer.
Hospital Practitioner, Stephen Porter, who will carry out screenings on the day has explained the importance of taking up the opportunity, with cases of mouth cancer diagnosis’ having increased by a third in the last decade.
“We would encourage patients to not be frightened or worried about seeking advice and are happy to see anybody who may have any concerns.”
Stephen, who also works as lead clinician at Lovely Lane Dental Centre in Warrington, emphasised that the screening is not a dental check but will be a short examination of the soft tissue in the head, mouth and neck.
“Symptoms to look out for are ulcers that do not heal within a couple of weeks, or unusual lumps or swellings or any red or white patches that do not look normal,” He added.
This will be the first time since before COVID that this service has been available by WHH, and previous years have seen more than 100 people attend the screenings.
Back in 2018, 107 people passed through the doors to receive a free check and 12 people were called back for further examination.
Some of the potential risk factors for mouth cancer include smoking, excess alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet and sunlight.
And WHH urge people to make regular visits to their dentist as they will carry out mouth cancer screenings as part of a regular check-up.
Here are some of the symptoms to look out for:
• A feeling that something is caught in your throat
• A numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
• A chronic sore throat or hoarseness that persist more than six weeks
• An ulcer or white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within 3 weeks
• A lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than 3 weeks
• A difficult in swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw or tongue
• An unexplained loosening of teeth with no dental cause
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