Thousands of people are being screened for cancer across European centres this week as part of a drive to tackle the disease affecting the head and neck.
It is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week and, following a successful test of the idea last year, many centres are running early diagnosis days.
Last year more than 100 of these events took place and in one centre, some 5,000 people were screened.
The week also includes education days in schools.
Friday will be the day for doctors to learn more about the disease – when the events centre on the European Society of Medical Oncology conference in Madrid, Spain.
Sat Parmar, a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, UK, said: “As well as raising awareness of the symptoms, it is vital that we educate the public on the critical risk factors for the disease, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and a link to specific strains of the human papilloma virus.
"As well as improving patient outcomes by identifying and treating the disease earlier, we must strive to reduce the number of people who develop head and neck cancer by encouraging a healthier lifestyle."
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