NHS mouth cancer

Britain's National Health Service (NHS) has partnered with supermarket Asda to raise awareness of mouth cancer by placing health warnings on toothpaste and mouthwash bottles in over 500 stores starting in July. Millions of products will include information encouraging users to consult their GP or dentist if they notice symptoms such as persistent ulcers, unusual swelling, or patches that do not heal within three weeks. The initiative, which coincides with World Head and Neck Cancer Day, aims to promote early detection, as highlighted by Mahesh Kumar, president of the Mouth Cancer Foundation. Symptoms of mouth cancer include a lump in the mouth or neck lasting more than three weeks, difficulty swallowing, and unexplained tooth loosening. The campaign also promotes the HPV vaccine, which is available to young people to reduce cancer risks. Mouth cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the UK, with over 11,700 new cases diagnosed annually, predominantly affecting individuals over 55.