NHS Lanarkshire’s health improvement department has produced a new, short 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, developed in partnership with the Coatbridge Peer Education Group and Community Learning and Development, North Lanarkshire, provides useful information on the steps to take to lower the risk of getting mouth cancer. The new resource was funded by The Ben Walton Scholarship and Development Grant hosted by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow.

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 where crucially early detection and diagnosis is 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 held at Coatbridge Community Centre on Wednesday 26 June, with representatives from a number of 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.

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.”

Most people have heard of cancer affecting parts of the body such as the lungs or breast. However, cancer can appear in the mouth, where the disease can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. Research has shown that mouth cancer is becoming more common in young people.

Signs can include:

• ulcers that don’t heal after a few weeks;
• red and white patches; and
• any 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 encourages young people to go and see a dentist if they are worried.

Susan Lyttle, senior health promotion officer (oral health), said: “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 infomercial, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXvY0Vh5SQ0&feature=youtu.be

For more information, visit: bit.ly/mouthCancer

Picture caption: Coatbridge peer educators Eva Findlay, Cathryn O’Neill and Heather Meechan along with youth workers Kimberley Honeyman and Kirsty McKenny, youth work senior Amy Reynolds, North Lanarkshire Council and Susan Lyttle, NHS Lanarkshire’s senior health promotion officer (oral health)