Mouth Cancer Action Month
Our campaign aims to raise awareness of the symptoms and highlight the increased risks linked to shisha smoking and chewing paan/betel nut - especially within South Asian, Middle Eastern and Black communities where cases of Mouth Cancer are higher.
Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection, heavy alcohol use and having an unhealthy diet and being overweight/obese.
Mouth cancer claims one life every three hours in the UK. Over 10,000 people are diagnosed each year, but early detection can save lives. If caught early, 85 out of 100 people survive.
It’s important to check your mouth regularly and be aware of the signs of mouth cancer. If you notice any of the following symptoms lasting three weeks or more, speak to your GP:
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Numbness or pain in the face, neck or mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- Rough or sore patches in the mouth
- Ongoing earache
- Unexplained weight loss
You can do a self-check in under two minutes. Watch the video and make it part of your routine.
Find out more
