Effect of Mouth Cancer Awareness Week on urgent suspected head and neck cancer referrals.

The purpose of this study was to find out whether Mouth Cancer Awareness Week and associated activities made any difference to the number of urgent or two-week urgent referrals to the oral and maxillofacial department at University Hospital, Aintree, whether they were appropriate, and the number of patients who were found to have cancer. A prospective audit over six months before, during, and after the awareness week showed a rise in the number of referrals over time, with the highest number in February. Of the 120 patients evaluated, cancer was confirmed in 13 (11%).