A DOCTOR is urging people who may have the first symptoms of head or neck cancer to get help quickly.

Richard Wright, an ear, nose and throat consultant at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, said people should see a doctor if, for more than a month, they suffer pain or discomfort in the throat, ulcers on the tongue or any part of the mouth; a lump or white patch in the mouth, problems swallowing, a lump in their neck or hoarseness.

Mr Wright spoke out days before a lunch for head and neck cancer victims.

He said: "We are continuing in our efforts to encourage patients to present at the earliest opportunity to local health professionals when symptoms arise that could represent head and neck cancer.

"For many, this is fortunately a false alarm, but for some, this can make a significant difference as to whether treatment is relatively straightforward with a high chance of cure, or much more difficult and involved to treat, with a less optimistic outlook."

The lunch, organised and paid for by health organisations in Teesside, Durham and North Yorkshire, will be at the Blue Bell Hotel, in Acklam, on Tuesday.