MEDIA ALERT – MOUTH CANCER FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR SPEAKING AT DENTISTRY SHOW
WEDNESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY 2014
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE:
· ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON & MOUTH CANCER FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR – MR MAHESH KUMAR
To set up an interview and for more information please call Media Ambitions on + 44 (0) 208 940 2222 or email .
“Mouth Cancer can be deadly and early detection is essential. The Mouth Cancer Foundation has devised a ‘Two minutes to save a life’ screening protocol, which is a 10-point checklist that every dentist should be able to include in their routine examinations, whether they’re based at an NHS, private or mixed practice.”
Mahesh Kumar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Mouth Cancer Foundation Ambassador
One of the UK’s leading Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Mouth Cancer Foundation Ambassador, Mahesh Kumar, is planning a life-saving presentation to delegates at the Dentistry Show at 13:00 on Saturday 1st March 2014.
Mr Kumar will talk about mouth cancer which continues to be one of the top ten commonly diagnosed cancers affecting nearly 8000 people in the UK every year. It has a worst ratio of deaths to cases compared with skin, cervical, breast and prostate cancer and can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips and adjacent areas like throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites in the head and neck area.
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is committed to spreading messages about early signs and symptoms of all head and neck cancers and their early detection. Through its Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme, it is successfully raising awareness amongst both patients and dental practitioners by calling every dental practice in the UK to be carrying out a thorough head and neck examination as part of regular check-ups. The scheme is a ‘Two minutes to save a life’ screening protocol that every dentist should be able to include in their routine examinations in order to increase early detection rates and save lives.
Full membership includes access to a dedicated section of the charity website and FREE 1 hour CPD element as well as a wealth of professional development and training modules suitable for all members of the practice team to ensure regular screening benefits practice patients.
The Founder of the Mouth Cancer Foundation, Dr Vinod Joshi says “Carrying out a thorough head and neck cancer examination at routine appointments will save lives. The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme helps dentists and everyone working in a dental practice to know what they are looking for and how to check and refer patients. This will allow head and neck cancers to be caught earlier. Head and neck cancers are particularly vicious and debilitating when detected late. Patients who survive are a huge drain on medical resources for the rest of their lives, in terms of post operative and the psychological care required. With earlier detection, lives are saved and costs on the NHS will reduce dramatically. For more information about the scheme and the charity come and visit us on our stand – F37.”
The Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme is open to any dental practice whose clinicians are registered with the GDC. For more information or to join please contact the Mouth Cancer Foundation via or call +44 (0) 1924 950 950 for more information.
-ENDS-
For general press enquiries, please contact:
Elizabeth Ayto Laverack or Izabela Nair
Media Ambitions - +44 208 940 2222
www.mediaambitions.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Mouth Cancer Foundation – www.mouthcancerfoundation.org
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity no. 1109298.
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a charity solely dedicated to supporting people affected by head and neck cancer. Support can play a pivotal role in meeting the psychosocial needs of patients. The Mouth Cancer Foundation’s online and telephone support service has given head and neck cancer patients and families the opportunity to articulate the consequences of their cancer journey and communicate their shared experiences. It is vital that the charity continues to provide free accessible information resources and ensure Mouth Cancer Foundation support is provided to those that need them.
About Mouth Cancer
Ø Around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with mouth cancer over the next decade.
Ø In the UK, 7,700 people were diagnosed with Mouth Cancer in 2011.
Ø Tobacco use is still considered the main cause of mouth cancer. According to the World Health Organisation, up to half of current smokers will die of a tobacco-related illness – including mouth cancer.
Ø Drinking to excess can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times. Those who smoke and drink are up to 30 times more likely to develop mouth cancer.
Ø Mouth cancer is twice more common in men than in women, though an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with the disease.
Ø Age is another factor, with people over the age of 40 more likely to be diagnosed, though more young people are now being affected than previously.
Ø Poor diet is linked to a third of all cancer cases.
Ø Experts suggest the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), transmitted through oral sex, could overtake tobacco and alcohol as the main risk factor within the coming decade.
Ø Cancers can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips, and adjacent areas like the throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites in the head and neck area.
Symptoms include:
Ø An ulcer or white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within 3 weeks.
Ø A lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than 3 weeks.
Ø A difficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw or tongue.
Ø A numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth.
Ø A feeling that something is caught in the throat.
Ø A chronic sore throat or hoarseness that persists more than 6 weeks.
Ø An unexplained loosening of teeth with no dental cause.
More information about Mouth Cancer is available at the Mouth Cancer Foundation web site www.mouthcancerfoundation.org or by emailing
Mahesh Kumar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Mr Mahesh Kumar is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Since completing his study in dentistry from Kings College in London in 1990, he has undertaken a number of courses and continued to develop his career in medicine to acquire practical skills and essential experience in ear, nose and throat surgery; accident and emergency medicine; and general surgery.
Mr Kumar currently works as a Consultant at the Hillingdon and North West London Hospitals. He is committed to raising awareness of mouth cancer.
Mouth Cancer Foundation © 2014