Mouth Cancer Action Month 2018 launched
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- Published: Thursday, 25 October 2018 21:40
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The Oral Health Foundation launched this year’s Mouth Cancer Action Month at the House of Commons. More than 75 people from across 40 organisations were in attendance and heard from a range of speakers reemphasising the need for greater nationwide support for mouth cancer awareness.
Dr Ben Atkins, trustee of the Oral Health Foundation introduced Sir Paul Beresford MP, the event’s parliamentary sponsor. Sir Paul spoke about the importance of campaigns such as Mouth Cancer Action Month, before highlighting the landmark decision made by English, Welsh and Scottish governments to introduce gender-neutral HPV vaccinations.
The Oral Health Foundation’s Chief Executive Dr Nigel Carter OBE, spoke about the continued importance of mouth cancer awareness. He said: “It is a great pleasure to be able to bring so many ardent campaigners against mouth cancer in one place, to help drive home the importance of the continued need for action.
“Thankfully, since we started Mouth Cancer Action Month, awareness of this deadly disease has grown from a very low level to a point where most people have at least heard about the disease, but it is not enough yet. During November, thousands of grassroots activities and events will make a positive impact to mouth cancer awareness across the country. We will continue to do this until we put a stop to mouth cancer in the UK.”
Paul Roebuck, who was diagnosed with mouth cancer last year, addressed the room with his powerful, emotional and important story of his fight with mouth cancer. He said: “When you get diagnosed with mouth cancer you ask yourself a series of questions; what about my mortgage, my bills, my car, my kids education, my legacy, my life’s work? What will happen to my kids, my wife, my family and friends will those people stand by me?
“You then think about being unable to speak. Will my grandchildren be able to hear their granddad’s voice? Finally, you think ‘will I survive?’. Will this go further, and will I still be here next year? These are the important things which getting diagnosed with mouth cancer makes you think about. I am now left thinking, will it come back? I have been given a clean bill of health now, but it will always stay with me.”
To find out more about how you can support the Mouth Cancer Action Month, visit www.mouthcancer.org.
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