Mouth Cancer Awareness Week
Lauren Tough explains why we should all ‘Open Up To Mouth Cancer Awareness Week 13th-19th Novemeber’
The British Dental Health Foundation has urged Pharmacists to promote mouth cancer awareness, with this month dedicated to the cause. Recent research has shown that 1 in 6 people with the condition will visit their local Pharmacy first, rather than going to the doctor or dentist. Mouth cancer is commonly viewed as a rare form of the disease, but cases have risen by nearly 46% between 1997 and 2008. In 2006 there were more cases of mouth cancer diagnosed than cervical cancer and testicular cancer combined. The huge increase has lead to the Foundation estimating 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with mouth cancer in the next decade. Worryingly, without early detection it is estimated 1 in 2 people won’t survive the disease.
Not surprisingly, the biggest risks for mouth cancer, found in around 90% of cases, are tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Persons who both smoke and drink carry a particularly high risk, making them 30 times more likely to contract the disease than those who do not. Cancer research also states that chewing tobacco or betel nut carries a high risk. Scientists have found a link between bad diet and mouth cancer, estimating it is the cause of 10-15% of cases. Although the disease commonly affects people over 50, more recent cases have involved younger people.
Dentists are trained to check for signs of mouth cancer, which is one of the reasons regular check ups are so important. Symptoms of the disease are not always associated with pain, but if they last longer than three weeks you should seek advice from your doctor or dentist. The most common signs are:
Ulcers or sores in the mouth or on the tongue,
A red or white patch in the mouth,
An unexplained pain in the mouth or ear
Some other signs can include an unexplained lump in the neck, a sore or painful throat and a croaky voice or difficulty swallowing. The dental health foundation’s message to everyone is ‘If in doubt, get checked out’. An early diagnosis can save lives
