Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Infomercial highlights how mouth cancer can be spotted
IAN BUNTING
NHS Lanarkshire’s health improvement department has produced an infomercial aimed at young people to highlight the importance of regularly checking your mouth and looking out for the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer.
The infomercial provides useful information on the steps to take to lower the risk of getting mouth cancer.
Signs can include ulcers that don’t heal after a few weeks, red and white patches, and unusual lumps or bumps in the mouth or neck.
As well as looking out for the signs and symptoms, the infomercial also encourages young people to practice some risk-lowering behaviours such as getting to know their mouth through self- examination, not smoking, watching what they drink and practicing safer sex.
Importantly, it also encourages young people to go and see a dentist if they are worried.
Anne Moore, NHS Lanarkshire’s director of dentistry, said: “I welcome this initiative to raise awareness of mouth cancer in the younger generation as, sadly, we are seeing more and more young people being diagnosed with this condition.
“Crucially, it is early detection and diagnosis that are key to better outcomes for patients.
“I would congratulate the young people involved for all their hard work in the production of this infomercial which emphasises the need for self-examination and the adoption of risk- lowering behaviours.”
The new infomercial was launched at an event at Coatbridge community centre, with representatives from organisations including Coatbridge peer education group, Cancer Research UK, Media Co-op, North Lanarkshire Council, Police Scotland, NHS Lanarkshire and the Lanarkshire head and neck cancer support group in attendance.
Heather Meechan, a member of the Coatbridge peer education group, said: “We weren’t aware of mouth cancer and wanted to get involved to raise awareness.
“We’ve learned about the important issue of mouth cancer and the animation gives great advice on how to cut down on the risk.”
Susan Lyttle, senior health promotion officer ( oral health), added: “It was wonderful being part of this partnership project.
“I think the young peer educators have done an amazing job; I’m very impressed with the animation and hope it raises awareness among young people on how to protect themselves and lower their risk of mouth cancer.”
To view the health department’s infomercial, go online at https:// www. youtube.com/watch?v=sXvY0Vh5SQ0&fe ature=youtu.be
For more information on the infomercial’s content and signs and symptoms of mouth cancer, visit bit.ly/mouthCancer