Campaign set to highlight the risks of mouth cancer

The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) is using Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (taking place from 15 to 21 November) to encourage people to be aware of the early signs of mouth cancer and to seek medical help if they have any concerns.

The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘if in doubt – get checked out’.

In Northern Ireland approximately 175 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year, with over one-third dying from the disease.

Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, UCF, said, ‘We’re aiming to raise public awareness of risk factors and early warning signs of mouth cancer. It’s alarming that about 70% of mouth cancers are detected at a late stage due to poor knowledge of warning signs. This often results in lower chances of survival, however early detection transforms survival chances to more than 90%.’

In recent years the Ulster Cancer Foundation has trained 300 local dentists on the issue of mouth cancer and the importance of smoking cessation as a means of preventing this disease.       

UCF Stop Smoking clinics are available at the following venues:

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Shankill Health Centre, Tuesday, 2.00 – 6.00pm
Grove Health and Wellbeing Centre, Tuesday, 5.00 – 7.30pm
Clifton Street Surgery, Wednesday, 2.00 – 5.30pm
Carlisle Health and Wellbeing Centre, Thursday 7-9pm
Ligoniel Health Centre, Friday, 1.00 – 5.00pm
Ulster Cancer Foundation, Wednesday, 7.00 – 9.00pm

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Lisburn Health Centre, Monday, 2.00 – 4.00pm
Woodbrooke Medical Centre, Stewartstown Road, Thursday, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Holywood Arches, Tuesday, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Regency Health Centre, Newtownards, Thursday, 1.30 – 4.30pm
Donaghadee Health Centre, Thursday, 2.00 – 5.00pm
Bloomfield Surgery, Friday, 1.00 – 4.00pm