Teams from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be available at five hospital and community locations between 10am and 12:30pm to provide advice on what to look out for and how individuals can perform self-checks of their mouth, head, and neck. These events are part of Mouth Cancer Action Month, aiming to increase public awareness and encourage prompt seeking of advice for any changes.
The locations for the awareness drive include the Royal Alexandra Hospital, New Stobhill Hospital, Drumchapel Health Centre, Kirkintilloch Health & Care Centre, and Parkhead Hub. Blue Wednesday is a national awareness day focused on encouraging regular mouth checks, with the Oral Health Foundation suggesting a self-check can take as little as 45 seconds.
Potential warning signs of mouth cancer include mouth ulcers that do not heal within three weeks, red or white patches, lumps or swelling in the mouth, lip, or neck, or persistent pain affecting swallowing or speaking. Individuals are advised to check their lips, gums, tongue, inside cheeks, and the roof and floor of the mouth, and to be aware of any unusual lumps or swellings.
“"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."
While most mouth changes are not cancerous, any unusual or persistent changes should be investigated. Concerns can be discussed with a dentist or by calling NHS 24 on 111. Mouth Cancer Action Month, running throughout November, focuses on raising awareness of risk factors, symptoms, prevention, and earlier detection.
