Mouth Cancer Awareness Month

This month Hartley dental are taking part in a hugely worthwhile cause, Mouth Cancer Action Month 2014. MCAM is dedicated to raising awareness of the risks of mouth cancer, educating people about the disease and on how to best detect early signs.Mouth cancer doesn’t receive as much press as other forms of the disease but it is actually becoming a rapidly increasing problem.In the UK, more than 6,700 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year and on average it takes the lives of 2000 people every year. This, sadly is more than testicular and cervical cancer combined.But by knowing the warning signs and ensuring early detection the risk is significantly reduced. You can also lower the risk by making alterations to your lifestyle, as although it can affect anyone, around 91% of diagnosis are linked to lifestyle.The most common causes are:

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Human papilloma virus
• Poor Diet

By reducing your exposure to these things you can significantly reduce the risk of developing mouth cancer. Combine that with regular screenings and an awareness of warning signs and you will be doing your bit to help the fight against this terrible disease.At Hartley we provide a cancer screening at every appointment and can advise you on ways in which you can reduce the risk of developing the disease. Earlier this year we sadly detected signs of oral cancer in one of our patients. But thanks to early detection they received immediate treatment and are now recovering nicely.If you’d like to learn more about the mouth cancer screenings we provide at Hartley or if you’d like to make an appointment please get in touch or call us on 01752 547924.