What if a quick two-minute check in front of your mirror could help detect cancer early? Doctors say it can—and they want people to start doing it now.

As India continues to see a rise in head and neck cancers, with oral cancer alone making up nearly 62% of cases, experts are stressing the urgent need for awareness and early action. Leading oncologist Dr. Sewanti Limaye from Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital is encouraging Mumbaikars to adopt a simple habit—take just two minutes to “feel, look, and act.”

This message is part of the “Two-Minute Action for Oral Cancer Protection” campaign launched by Merck Specialities Private Limited under the hashtag #ActAgainstOralCancer, which is gaining attention across Mumbai.

Head and neck cancers are often linked to tobacco and alcohol use, but doctors are also seeing a worrying rise in cases among younger people and even among those who don’t consume tobacco. Factors like poor oral hygiene and HPV infection are increasingly being seen as contributors. Despite being largely preventable, a majority of patients in India still reach hospitals at advanced stages, making treatment more difficult.

Dr. Limaye explains that early signs are often easy to spot but commonly ignored. These include mouth ulcers that don’t heal, unusual patches inside the mouth, lumps in the neck, voice changes, or difficulty in swallowing. When detected early, treatment is much more effective and outcomes are significantly better.

Her advice is simple: take a moment each month to check your mouth carefully and pay attention to any unusual changes. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t delay seeking medical help.

The message is clear—early detection isn’t complicated. Sometimes, it just takes two minutes and a little awareness to make a life-saving difference.