Press Release: Mouth Cancer Action Week - 16-22 November 2008 - Central Brighton Dental Spa Offers Free Screenings

November 2008

The British Dental Health Foundation's Mouth Cancer Action Week takes place between 16 and 22 November 2008, with the mission to educate the public about prevention of a disease that kills one person every five hours in the UK - more people than cervical and testicular cancer combined.

This year's campaign will use the tagline 'If in doubt, get checked out' to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of tumours in the mouth, throat, voice box, salivary glands, nose and sinuses. Easily recognisable symptoms and regular check ups can boost survival rates to 90 per cent with early detection, but survival rates once mouth cancer has spread are as low as 50 per cent.

Christina Chatfield, Practice Director at Dental Health Spa is keen to raise awareness of mouth cancer and works with clients at her practice on techniques for prevention of the disease.  She comments: "It is extremely important to make regular visits to your dental professional who will routinely screen you for complications that could lead to mouth cancers. Early detection and referral is the key to recovery - which is why I will be running free oral health screenings throughout Mouth Cancer Action Week."

Smoking is the number one cause of mouth cancers worldwide.  To tackle this huge contributory factor, Christina has joined forces with Brighton & Hove Primary Care Trust's Smoking Cessation clinics, to which she refers clients and provides meeting rooms free of charge at her Queen's Road premises. Contact Dental Health Spa to book an appointment.

To tie in with the 2008 Action Week's campaign 'If in doubt, get checked out' campaign Dental Health Spa will hold free oral health screenings on Monday 17, Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 November. The team will offer free advice on early detection and prevention of mouth cancer at these sessions, which are open to all - not just existing Dental Health Spa clients. To book, please call the Dental Health Spa on 01273 710831. Christina will also hold a fund raising evening at her Queen's Road practice on Thursday 20 November 2008, where proceeds from a silent auction will be donated to Mouth Cancer Action Week.