Chennai, June 01: Marking the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, VS Hospitals organised “Mirror Flex”, a unique awareness campaign at Forum Vijaya Mall to promote tobacco-free living, oral cancer screening, and lung health awareness.
Held under the theme “Flex Your Smile, Fix Your Health”, the campaign encouraged members of the public to assess their oral health through simple self-check instructions using a mirror, while also participating in an engaging selfie experience at a specially designed booth featuring an interactive digital mirror that captured selfies of individuals or families only when they smiled. The campaign thus aimed to serve as a meaningful reminder to protect one’s smile, family, and future by avoiding tobacco and prioritising regular health check-ups.
The Hospital also distributed specially designed awareness mirrors to participants at the selfie booth. The tabletop mirrors featured oral health messages and a QR code linking to a webpage with information on oral cancer, including its prevention, symptoms, and the importance of early detection. The mirrors are intended to serve as a monthly self-screening reminder, encouraging people especially tobacco users to regularly check for early signs or symptoms of oral cancer at home and seek medical attention if any abnormalities are noticed.
The campaign also featured a lung health awareness activity where visitors learned to observe breathing capacity through a simple balloon inflation demonstration. Paramedics, nurses, and staff from VS Hospitals educated the public on oral self-check techniques, early warning signs of oral cancer, including white or red patches inside the mouth, non-healing ulcers, persistent mouth pain, and difficulty swallowing, as well as the harmful effects of tobacco on lung health and simple breathing exercises that can be practised at home.
In his comments, Dr. Vijay, Consultant Medical Oncologist, said, “Oral cancer continues to be one of the most common tobacco-related cancers in India, with many patients seeking medical attention only in advanced stages despite visible early warning signs. Through initiatives like the Mirror Flex campaign, we want to move beyond fear-based messaging and create a more emotional and socially relatable conversation centred around smiles, family, and responsibility. A smile reflects confidence, happiness, and health. Protecting that smile also means protecting loved ones by making healthier choices and staying away from tobacco. Our aim was to make preventive healthcare simple, accessible, and engaging for families and young adults.”