As part of the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS) Make Sense Campaign (September 18-22), Illume wishes to remind clients and members of the wider community about the importance of regular screening for cancer.
The EHNS campaign aims to raise awareness about symptoms of head and neck cancer which is the seventh most common type of cancer in Europe and encourage earlier diagnosis and referral.
Head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces inside the head and neck such as inside the mouth and throat.
Tim Rumney, practice owner and clinical director at Illume, says: “Despite its severity and increasing prevalence within society, there is little awareness of head and neck cancer.
“According to the EHNS, currently 60% of people with head and neck cancer present with locally advanced disease at diagnosis and 60% of people diagnosed at an advanced stage die from the disease within five years. However, for those patients diagnosed in the early stages of the disease there is an 80-90% survival rate.
“As part of our Healthy Mouth Review, we screen for mouth cancer with the most common symptom being a mouth ulcer that does not heal after three weeks.
“If mouth cancer is spotted early, the chances of being cured are good. However, many people visit their dentist when it is too late, and some do not attend regularly. I cannot stress enough how important these appointments are.
“Illume has provided an effective mouth cancer screening and referral service for many years and has numerous clients continuing to see us regularly following successful early referral for treatment,” he added.
Clients can reduce their risk of mouth cancer by following these tips:
• Don't smoke or chew tobacco, gutkha/paan or betel.
• Limit alcohol consumption and follow national guidelines (that's 2–3 units a day for women and 3–4 units a day for men).
• Eat a healthier low meat, low fat diet rich in fruit and vegetables and vitamins A,C & E — this helps provide protection from mouth and other cancers.
• Adopt safe sex practices — increasingly mouth cancers are associated with HPV which can be transmitted through sexual activity.
So if your Healthy Mouth Review is due and not already booked or you’d like to make an appointment for a New Client Consultation, please call us on 01242 522230 or email us.