DT News - UK - Mouth Cancer Action Month about to go viral

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 29 October 2014

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RUGBY, UK: In summer, people around the world poured a bucket of ice-cold water over their heads as part of a campaign initiated by the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Association. In response to the alarming increase in the incidence of mouth cancer in the UK, the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has just started its own marketing drive, which is encouraging people all over the country to paint their lips blue, take a selfie and upload their photographs in order to raise awareness of the disease.

Launched by Member of Parliament and dentist Sir Paul Beresford yesterday at the House of Commons, the campaign will run through the whole of November. Anyone wishing to participate can upload his or her photographs to the specially created Facebook page from today.

According to figures from the Cancer Research UK charity, over 6,000 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in 2012, a 50 per cent increase compared with the situation a decade ago.

During the same period, more than 2,000 people in Britain died from the disease.

If detected early, the chances of survival are relatively high. The Blue Lip Selfie Campaign aims to raise awareness of this knowledge among the population, according to Chief Executive of the BDHF, Dr Nigel Carter, OBE.

“The reality is that we are facing more cases and more deaths from mouth cancer than ever before, and we need the help of the profession to curb these statistics. If more people are made aware of the dangers of tobacco use, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet and human papillomavirus, they will have a greater understanding of the risks they take,” he commented.

The Blue Lip Selfie Campaign ties in with the BDHF’s Mouth Cancer Action Month in November, which is sponsored by dental payment plan specialist Denplan and will see other activities to be conducted around the country to promote oral cancer awareness. More information on the campaign can be found at www.mouthcancer.org.

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