Oral cancers include cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth (gums and palate), tonsils and the middle part of the throat (oropharynx) **.
The figures – released during Mouth Cancer Action Month – reveal the cancer is on the rise for men and women, young and old, climbing from eight to 13 cases per 100,000 people over the last two decades.
For men under 50, the rate has jumped by 67 per cent in the last 20 years*** – going up from around 340 cases to around 640 cases each year.
For men aged 50 and over, rates have increased by 59 per cent, climbing from around 2,100 cases to around 4,400 cases annually.
Oral cancer is more common in men, but there have been similar increases women****.
In women under 50, oral cancer rates have risen by 71 per cent in the last 20 years, with annual cases climbing from around 160 to around 300.
Rates for women over 50 have also gone up by 71 per cent, with cases increasing from around 1,100 to around 2,200.
Around nine in 10 cases are linked to lifestyle and other risk factors. Smoking is the biggest avoidable risk factor, linked to an estimated 65 per cent of cases. Other risk factors include alcohol, diets low in fruit and vegetables and infections with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Cancer Research UK – working with the British Dental Association – has developed an oral cancer toolkit***** to help GPs, dentists, nurses and hygienists spot the disease and refer suspected cases sooner. The toolkit covers the signs to look out for and how to respond, as well as possible risk factors for oral cancer. The toolkit also features a detailed image library, a referral guide, case studies, examination videos and a CPD accredited quiz.
With smoking being the biggest preventable cause of oral cancer, Cancer Research UK is also calling on the public and local councillors to help protect vital Stop Smoking Services. These specialist services are the most successful way for people to quit smoking.
Professor Peter Brennan, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from Portsmouth who helped develop the toolkit, said: “These figures are a real concern. Not only is oral cancer becoming more common, but earlier data has shown that mortality rates from the disease are also on the rise. The greatest chance of cure is to treat the disease at an early stage – before it has spread. Once this happens, the disease becomes more difficult to treat and survival reduces by up to 50 per cent over five years.
“Almost half of oral cancer patients receive major surgery as part of their treatment. Anything that can be done to diagnose the disease at an earlier stage is likely to benefit the patient and improve chances of cure as well as reducing the likelihood of more major surgery. This toolkit should greatly help GPs, dentists and nurses to spot the warning signs and symptoms of oral cancer and precancerous conditions, and refer patients on for prompt specialist treatment.”
Since the Oral Cancer Toolkit launched in November 2016, more than 18,000 health professionals have visited the toolkit and a full evaluation is being conducted to understand the impact on referral behaviour.
Andrea Fearon, 47 from Newbury, was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma by her dentist following a routine check up.
Andrea said: “I had thought that most people with mouth cancer are heavy smokers over the age of 50, so I completely shocked when I was diagnosed with the disease. I’m proof that this type of cancer isn’t limited to a particular age or sex. I thought seeing the dentist was about looking after your teeth – but it can save your life. It’s thanks to my dentist that the mouth cancer was caught early – that’s why I feel so lucky to be alive.”
Russ Ladwa, chair of the Health and Science Committee at the BDA, said: “Oral cancer is on the rise, yet half of adults are not seeing a dentist. Early detection is key, and a check up can mean the difference between a 90 per cent and 50 per cent survival rate.
“When survival rates for many cancers are improving it’s high time ministers delivered a strategy and effective messages so the public really understand the risks.”
To access the GP Oral Cancer Toolkit visit www.m3medical.com/oct or the dental version visit www.doctors.net.uk/oct