People in Glasgow and surrounding areas are being invited to take a few minutes to learn more about the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer as part of Blue Wednesday.
Teams from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be at five hospital and community locations on Wednesday 18 November, offering advice on what to look out for and how people can check their own mouth, head and neck.
The events, running from 10am until 12.30pm, are part of Mouth Cancer Action Month and aim to encourage more people to know what is normal for them, recognise possible warning signs and seek advice if they notice a change.
Staff will be at:
- Royal Alexandra Hospital
- New Stobhill Hospital
- Drumchapel Health Centre
- Kirkintilloch Health & Care Centre
- Parkhead Hub
Blue Wednesday is a national awareness day within Mouth Cancer Action Month, encouraging people to check their mouths regularly. The Oral Health Foundation, which organises the campaign, says a simple self-check can take as little as 45 seconds.
Possible warning signs include a mouth ulcer which has not healed after three weeks, red or white patches, a lump or swelling in the mouth, lip or neck, or persistent pain or difficulty swallowing or speaking.
People are encouraged to check their lips, gums, tongue, inside the cheeks and the roof and floor of the mouth, as well as being aware of any unusual lumps or swellings around the head and neck. The national Blue Wednesday campaign stresses that knowing what is normal for you can make it easier to spot a change.
Most changes in the mouth will not be cancer, but anything unusual or persistent should not be ignored. Anyone concerned about a change should contact their dentist for advice or call NHS 24 on 111.
Mouth Cancer Action Month takes place throughout November and aims to raise awareness of mouth cancer, its risk factors and symptoms, with a strong focus on prevention and earlier detection.
Michael McGrady, Chief of Dentistry and Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHSGGC, said: “Most changes in the mouth will not be cancer, but the important thing is to know what is normal for you and not to ignore something that doesn’t look or feel right or isn’t going away.
“Blue Wednesday is a good opportunity to take a few minutes to think about your own mouth health and learn what to look out for. Our teams will be out across Greater Glasgow and Clyde to offer simple advice and answer questions, so please come along and speak to us if you’re nearby.”
The activity forms part of NHSGGC’s wider Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign Remove the Doubt, Get Checked Out, encouraging people to know the signs and get any unusual or persistent changes checked.
For more information on mouth cancer go to NHS Inform or visit the Oral Health Foundation’s Mouth Cancer Action Month website.
