HNCF appoints Trustee, Vinod Patel

We welcome Vinod Patel, Consultant Oral Surgeon, as our latest trustee to champion dentistry to increase early diagnosis of oral cancers.

Mr Patel is a consultant oral surgeon and a lead for dental services in cancer at Guy’s and St Thomas hospitals. He has worked alongside Professor Mark McGurk, co-founder, and trustee of HNCF, with many patients. He has been involved and supported past HNCF events. This has stimulated his interest to be more involved with the charity and help make a difference. He is keen to use this platform to inform people that during your dental check-up’s dentists can examine, assess and refer you to the relevant departments.

Michelle Vickers, CEO of The Head & Neck Cancer Foundation, adds: “A common issue across the UK is that many people do not know if they have been screened for oral cancers whilst at the dentist. 45% of patients do not know if they were screened during their last check-up. At HNCF we are keen to champion dentistry. Routine dental appointments include oral cancer screenings and allow for any abnormalities to be checked. The early diagnosis of oral cancer increases the survival rates by a staggering 93%! We are thrilled to have Vinod onboard and working with us to help spread the importance of visiting your dentist and getting your mouth checked.”