A GRANDMOTHER who survived mouth cancer is backing a national campaign to highlight awareness of the disease.

Judith Bowyer was diagnosed with mouth cancer three years ago after finding a small lump inside her cheek which was gradually growing.

Judith (60), of Coronation Gardens, Radcliffe, initially assumed it was an ulcer but after antibiotics failed to get rid of the lump, she visited her dentist, who immediately spotted there could be a potentially serious problem.

A biopsy at hospital revealed that Judith had mouth cancer, forcing her to undergo nine hours of surgery at Blackburn Royal Infirmary which included a large incision being made in her face, having her jaw broken and having veins from her arm removed to create a special flap in her mouth.

She also faced a month of daily radiotherapy treatment to get rid of all the cancerous cells and had to miss seven months atwork.

The grandmother-of-four, who works as a cleaner, now needs check-ups every six months, and will be supporting Cancer Research UK's 'Open up to Mouth Cancer' campaign, to help raise awareness of the disease.

After being told she had mouth cancer, Judith stopped smoking immediately and is now keen to warn others about the disease and its effects.

She said: "I'm really glad that the campaign is highlighting mouth cancer and encouraging people to talk about the disease. I always tell people that I had mouth cancer and lots of people have never heard of it and are surprised to know I've had it.

"I never dreamt that I could have mouth cancer and just thought the lump was an ulcer. My sons were more worried about me than I was about myself because I just wanted to get on with the treatment, get better and return to work.

"The treatment was hard-going, but it was worth it because I'm still alive and here to see my grandchildren grow up. I've got no saliva glands left and can't eat the same kind of food that I used to enjoy, but it's a small price to pay."

Lead Clinician for East Lancashire Head and Neck team, Steve Langton, who treated Judith and has a clinic at Fairfield Hospital in Bury, said: "Head and neck cancers are extremely complex to deal with. We are fortunate to have such a strong team of experts and almost ten years of experience as a unit.

"If anyone suffers from persistent ulcers or lumps in their mouth then they need to book an appointment with a dentist or a doctor within three weeks if the symptoms don't go away.

"There is a very good survival rate for mouth cancer if it's diagnosed early enough. It's vital to spread the message that this particular type of cancer is largely preventable."

The major risk factors for mouth cancer are smoking or chewing tobacco and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

Smoking and drinking are together estimated to cause more than 75 per cent of mouth cancer cases in developed countries.

The most common signs of mouth cancer are sores, ulcers, red or white patches and unexplained pain in the mouth or ear. Less common signs include a lump in the neck, a persistent sore throat or difficulty swallowing.