Stepping out to defeat Mouth Cancer
18/10/2006
Five people who have been treated for mouth cancer will be stepping out soon to join hundreds of others in a giant sponsored walk to mark the end of Mouth Cancer Awareness Week on November 19th.
The sponsored event will take place in London’s Hyde Park, and hundreds of walkers from across the country are already signed up to take part - all determined to raise awareness for this cancer, about which very little is known.
The shocking facts are that every five hours someone will die from Mouth Cancer – which has a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma.
In the UK, there has been a 19% increase in cases from 3,673 in 1995 to 4,405 in 2002 and 13,000 people in the UK are currently living in the shadow of this debilitating disease. And the mortality rate from mouth cancer is just over 50% due to late detection.
Joining the walk is Ralph Goodson, 52 (right), a Management Consultant who was treated for oropharyngeal cancer in 2005. Ralph is extremely keen to raise awareness of the disease - especially among the young and non smokers. He said: “Although treatments for mouth cancer are improving all the time, it can still cause significant difficulties in eating, speaking, independence - things that we otherwise tend to take for granted.”
People will be joining the walk include 31 year old teacher Sharon Boccaccini who underwent a grueling 12 hour operation four years ago which resulted in the removal of her right jaw. She then had to endure having her right fibula grafted into her face with a metal plate, and undergo a graft from her right arm. Sharon was only diagnosed after a routine check up at her dentist and was very lucky that the tell tale signs were clear to her dentist.
Mandeep Gill from Warwickshire also knows wants to help raise awareness for the symptoms of this disease. Her sister died of Mouth Cancer in June 2006.
Stephen Church, also 31, was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Tongue Base in April 2004. After going in for a biopsy that identified it as malignant, he underwent a 13 hour operation at Radcliffe Infirmary and was in hospital for 6 weeks. I am about two years down the road, and making good progress thus far, but others may not be as lucky, and I am very aware of this.”
Dr Vinod Joshi, Founder of the Mouth Cancer Foundation, said: “25% of mouth cancer cases are not associated with any known risk factor, hence the need for vigilance. If you notice a lump in your mouth that wasn't there before or a mouth ulcer which lasts for more than three weeks, you should see a dentist or doctor immediately.”
Everyone is invited to join the free Mouth Cancer Walk. It is not a race and everyone taking part will receive a goodie bag with refreshments for the walk as well as other cool freebies. Participants may walk, jog or run. There will be prizes available for top individual and team fundraisers as well as top individual and team awareness raisers. Costumes are invited if you’re feeling brave!
The sponsored walk is taking place in Hyde Park, London from 09:30am on Sunday 19th November 2006, and it is open to children and adults of all ages and walking abilities.
For more information visit the link below.