Free screenings at Warrington Hospital for Mouth Cancer Awareness Day

This is in a bid to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the condition as well as the symptoms that people should look out for.

As November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, we headed down to the Lovely Lane site to speak with the team as well as a patient who was diagnosed with the condition six years ago.

Head and neck cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer in the UK, with mouth cancer on the rise.

The team at Warrington Hospital has noticed this, particularly with more positive diagnoses.

They say this rise could be down to a number of reasons – including awareness days which mean people are more aware of the signs or symptoms and the fact that dentists now perform checks at appointments.

Mouth cancer is more common in particularly those aged over 40, particularly men.

However, it is now affecting more younger people and women than ever before.

Stephen Porter, hospital practitioner for maxillofacial surgery at the trust, spoke about the importance of the opening day and the free screenings offered.

Mr Porter, who is also lead clinical at Lovely Lane Dental Centre, said: “We do this annually here in the department and we have been doing it for more than 10 years.

“Basically, one of the big things from my perspective as a dentist is that in my practice, we check patients for mouth cancer signs every time we perform an examination.

“But in this current climate, and particularly since Covid, not all patients can get into dentists and access to NHS dentists is generally very low.

“So the day allows patients to drop in and we can look in their mouth.

“If they have any general concerns, we can dismiss them.

“We are examining for any potential unusual signings.

“On previous opening days, we have found patients with suspicious lesions.

“This could be something that could potentially go undiagnosed for a quite a long time if they don’t get seen.

“Anyone can come in.”

Warrington and Halton Hospital Teaching Hospitals (WHH) dedicated maxillofacial team will be offering free mouth cancer screenings on Wednesday, November 22, from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm.

No appointment is necessary. Visitors will need to attend the maxillofacial and orthodontics department located in the Appleton Wing of Warrington Hospital.

There will be free parking for those attending, you will just need to give your car registration in when booking in at the reception.

It is not a dental check, but a check of the soft tissue in your head, mouth, and neck.

“Don’t be scared to come in for a check,” Mr Porter added.

“The sooner you come in, the sooner you will be dealt with.

“An early diagnosis is important.”

While at the hospital, we spoke with Penketh resident Derek Hornby.

Derek was diagnosed with mouth cancer back in 2017 after initially finding a pea-shaped lump in his neck.

Aged 57 at the time, Derek underwent a number of checks but specialists though the lump was nothing to worry about.

But it became swollen and Derek was told it may be an infection so he was given antibiotics. The swelling did go down, but the lump was still there weeks later.

So Derek continued pushing and was later told he had stage two mouth cancer.

After undergoing surgery to remove his lymph nodes, Derek had to undergo both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He spoke of the gruelling treatment progress and the mental toll it took on him.

“Every day felt like a century,” he said.

“It was tough going, it is virtually killing you to keep you alive.”

But Derek is encouraging those with symptoms to go and get checked out.

“At the end of the day, I know seeing the dentist can be tough but it is the best thing to do,” the 64-year-old added.

“It won’t go on it’s own.”

After Derek’s treatment finished, he believes the lifestyle choices he made are what helped get him through the dark and ‘savage’ period.

Just three weeks after his treatment finished, he was already walking distances of up to five miles. He also had healthy juice shakes.

Derek, who has been described as a ‘success story’, said: “I am here and I am 64 now.

“It was a fantastic service from start to finish.

“Everything was put into place, including counselling with MacMillan.

“All the team has been fantastic and I cannot thank them enough.”

Offering advice to those who have received a positive mouth cancer diagnosis and adding to what Derek said about lifestyle choices, MacMillan head and neck cancer nurse specialist for WHH Tracey Roberts said: “It is about remaining positive as well and taking all of the support given to you.

“Don’t be shy about accepting support and help and using the resources that are out there as well.

“Take support from family and friends. A lot of people don’t like to lean on others, but sometimes, something like this is just a little bit too much to take.”

The mouth cancer symptoms to look out for are:

•             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 three weeks

•             a lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than three weeks

•             difficulty swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw or tongue

•             an unexplained loosening of teeth with no dental cause

We can all help to play our part in combating this disease by recognising the signs and symptoms of the condition. Risk factors for mouth cancer include smoking, excess alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, sunlight (over exposure can lead to cancer in the lips) and another is HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) which is transmitted by oral sex.

It is also important to have regular visits to a dentist, who will be able to screen for mouth cancer as part of their examinations.