The number of people in the UK being diagnosed with mouth cancer has doubled within a generation but too few people know how to spot it early, according to the Oral Health Foundation.
New research by the charity as part of November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month, shows that most people are unaware of what the early warning signs of the disease are and where it can appear.
Non-healing mouth ulcers, lumps, swellings, and red or white patches in the mouth are the most common signs, yet as little as half (51 per cent) of UK adults would not be able to recognise them as symptoms of mouth cancer.
Poor awareness of the signs means more than half (53 per cent) of all mouth cancers are diagnosed in stage IV – where the cancer is at its most advanced – leaving the chances of beating the disease up to as much as a coin toss.
Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, says spotting mouth cancer early is essential for successful treatment and highlights the need for everyone to get into a routine of checking their mouth for signs of cancer at home.
Nigel says, “Spotting mouth cancer early can transform the chances of survival from 50 per cent to 90 per cent. Sadly, poor awareness of mouth cancer is often the reason why so many cases are caught too late.
"To reduce the number of lives lost to mouth cancer, it is essential that more people know how and where mouth cancer can appear.
“It is really important for everybody to be mouthaware by being able to recognise and act on any unusual changes to the mouth. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, don’t delay, visit a dentist or doctor straight away.”
One-in-three mouth cancers appear on the tongue (33 per cent) while almost one-in-four (23 per cent) are found on the tonsil.
Mouth cancer can also occur on the lips, gums, inside of the cheeks, roof and floor of the mouth and the throat.
Figures collected by the Oral Health Foundation show that 8,864 people in the UK were diagnosed with the disease last year. This has increased by 34 per cent compared to 10 years ago and has more than doubled (103 per cent) within the last generation.
Karen, 49, was ‘shocked beyond belief’ to be told that a seemingly harmless mouth ulcer on her tongue was actually mouth cancer.
Before her diagnosis, the wife and mother-of-two from Rochford, Essex, Karen described herself as a healthy person. She did not smoke or drink excessively, enjoyed running and eating healthy food.
Karen is determined to use her experience to help raise awareness of the disease and highlights the importance of knowing the early warning signs.
Karen says, “A lot of people think that mouth cancer only happens to smokers, but my story shows that isn’t always the case.
“Always be alert to unusual changes in your mouth and if you are worried, get it checked out. Don’t be frightened. It’s important that you don’t suffer in silence and to remember that the sooner it’s looked at, the sooner it can be sorted.
“Chances are it’ll be fine but in the rare case it is not, it could be a life saver.”
New research from the Oral Health Foundation and Denplan, part of Simplyhealth, shows that almost two-in-three (62 per cent) have never checked their mouth for signs of cancer.
UK adults are around three times more likely to conduct routine self-checks for testicular and breast cancer than for mouth cancer.
Further findings show more than four-in-five (83 per cent) are either not confident about what they are looking for, or do not know what to look for at all.
Catherine Rutland, clinical director at Denplan, part of Simplyhealth adds, “A self-check for mouth cancer takes a minute and could save your life. By introducing simple checks as part of your oral hygiene routine, it will enable you to monitor any changes.
“If you notice anything out of the ordinary, visit your dentist, if mouth cancer is caught early, the chances to beat it are good.”
For more information visit www.mouthcancer.org.