Have I got ... mouth cancer?

It pays to ask this question. Mouth cancer's relatively high mortality rate of 50% is mostly because it so often goes undiagnosed until well past the stage where it can be treated. This is Mouth Cancer Awareness Week - why not seize the opportunity to check yourself out?

What should I be looking for?

A painless ulcer hanging around for more than three weeks needs to be examined by your doctor or dentist, as it is a symptom found in 80% of cases, according to Cancer Research UK. Also, lingering red or white patches anywhere in the mouth can also be a sign of a developing cancer. For more information, see www.mouthcancerfoundation.org

Can it be treated?

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can help. Surgery is usually necessary. A cancerous growth can develop in any part of the mouth: cheek, tongue, lips and throat - in all but the most benign cases, there is a strong likelihood of facial disfigurement.

Am I going to die?

Discover it early, and you have a very good chance of surviving mouth cancer. But it still kills 1,700 every year, according to the British Dental Health Foundation.

How can I avoid it?

Quit smoking - the disease is rare among non-smokers. Don't chew tobacco. In parts of South Asia, where chewing tobacco is common, it's the leading form of cancer.

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