The incidence of oral cancer in the UK has risen by a third in the last decade to over 7,000 per annum – or 20 diagnoses a day – and numbers are expected to continue increasing. However, if the disease is detected and treated early, survival rates over five years can almost double.
The FGDP(UK) says general dental practitioners are uniquely placed to check for signs of oral cancer during the routine examination, and to make referrals where they suspect a patient may have cancer or a pre-cancerous lesion. It cautions however that reassuring, supporting and encouraging patients to attend referral appointment is not straightforward when patients may be alarmed, and recommends putting simple measures in place in practices.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that people with suspected cancer who are referred to a cancer service are given written information encouraging them to attend, and the Faculty suggests that oral health professionals and dental practices can help speed up diagnosis for suspected cancer by making suitable pre-prepared written information, such as the NHS’s patient information for urgent referrals leaflet, available for patients.
As part of Mouth Cancer Action Month, FGDP(UK) is also supporting the campaign for the NHS childhood immunisation programme to extend provision of the Human Papilloma Virus vaccination to include boys as well as girls. HPV is responsible for 5 per cent of all cancers, and almost half of the 2,000 men diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer every year in the UK die from the condition within five years, yet the HPV Action campaign group says immunising boys would cost the taxpayer only £22m a year.
Mick Horton, dean of the Faculty, said: “Mouth Cancer Action Month is a vital opportunity to highlight the profession’s role in helping improve diagnosis, and ultimately, survival rates for oral cancers. There are many useful resources available to help the profession communicate effectively with our patients, and we should consider making them easily available within our practices.”