Mouth Cancer Action Month

Blue Wednesday

In 2022, Blue Wednesday takes place on November 16^th and we are asking you to share one very simple message….

A self check for mouth cancer takes 45 seconds and can save your life.

For Blue Wednesday we want to encourage as many people as possible to check their mouth for the early warning signs of mouth cancer.

Help us get more people regularly checking themselves for mouth cancer because early diagnosis is vital for beating the disease.

Spotting mouth cancer early can significantly change a person’s quality of life.

You can take part in Blue Wednesday by sharing information about how to conduct a self-check at home.

You can do this by through patient newsletters, emails or on social media. The information you should include:

What to look for:

Long lasting mouth ulcers
Red or white patches
Unusual lumps and swelling

Where to check

Roof and floor of the mouth
Inside of the cheeks
Gums
Tonsils
Tongue
Lips
Head and neck

Who to contact if anything out of the ordinary is noticed:

A dentist
A doctor

How you can help spread awareness on social media

We have a range of resources available to download.
#BakeSomethingBlue and share on social media.
Dress up in blue wigs or props and posting a photo with the hashtags #BlueWednesday and #BlueLipSelfie. We have photo booth props which you can print and cut out yourself in our fundraising toolkit.
Include simple mouth cancer awareness messages in your posts.

Social media graphics

Post these social graphics on your social media pages.

Social Post 1: Are you ready for Blue Wednesday?

Social Post 2: Check yourself for mouth cancer on Blue Wednesday

Social Post 3: Blue Wednesday - one quick thing

Example social media posts

We’re raising awareness of mouth cancer because around 7 people a day lose their life to mouth cancer yet not much is
known about the disease.

The Oral Health Foundation have been raising awareness of mouth cancer for 21 years, help us to help them spread
their messages far and wide.

A 45 second check could save your life. Learn the signs of mouth cancer, such as unusual lumps, red or white patches and ulcers, to catch it early.

Here is a great example of a #BlueWenesday activity - NHS Shetland Oral Health Improvement team went on a Blue Walk raising awareness of mouth cancer through Lerwick.

Useful links:

Mouth cancer: Signs and symptoms poster (PDF)
Mouth cancer: Self examination poster (PDF)
Mouth cancer: How to spot mouth cancer poster (PDF)

Make a donation to Mouth Cancer Action

Mouth cancer can have a devastating affect on a person's life. Your donation will help us to raise awareness and drive change.

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Our A-Z of fundraising

Have a look at our A-Z of fundraising for some inspiration
30 day challenges

Take on a new challenge for 30 days and raise money for mouth cancer awareness.
Blue Ribbon Appeal

The Blue Ribbon Appeal continues to play a key role in directly engaging people with the issues surrounding mouth cancer. Wear your blue ribbon with pride and help make a difference today.
Spare change bucket

Have you always got some coppers or other loose change in your pocket, then why not throw whatever is left in your pocket at the end of the day into a pot.
Sponsored pledge

A great one for anybody looking to give up something. Whether it be smoking, sugar, alcohol or coffee get people to support you in your endeavour and raise money while you’re at it.
Runs, walks, cycles and swims

A sponsored swim, run or cycle never fails to capture the imagination of everyone around you which spurs you on to do as well as you can. You can do this as part of a group too to get everyone involved.
Mud runs

Mud runs have become an extremely popular alternative to the traditional marathon. They are a great day out for friends and you will be sure to have lots of good stories to tell by the end of it.
Extreme challenges

If so then why not do something a little out of the ordinary. A sponsored skydive, abseil or anything else that comes to mind is a great way of raising funds.

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Burning mouth syndrome

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How much do you know about the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer? By being Mouthaware you can make a difference in the fight against mouth cancer.
Geographic tongue

Geographic tongue is a common condition which can appear on the top and sides of the tongue, and sometimes on the under-surface.
Bridges and partial dentures

These replacement options for missing teeth are often recommended for oral health purposes as well as cosmetic appearance.
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Chewing sugar-free gum helps protect your teeth and gums in between meals when it may not be possible to brush with a toothbrush.
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