Oral cancer
19/03/2013 by Dental DesignDid you know that more than 6,000 people will be diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK this year? The statistics are heartbreaking, as without early detection, half of these people will die.
What is oral cancer? Most people have heard of cancer affecting different parts of the body, however mouth cancer is just as serious and can affect all parts of the mouth including: lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. Mouth cancer can appear as a painless mouth ulcer which does not clear within 3 weeks or can occur as a white or red patch in the mouth, unusual swellings or lumps in the mouth are also symptoms.
What puts you at risk of developing mouth cancer? Mouth cancer is most common in men over 40 years old, however the statistics are changing, with more younger people and women developing the disease too. Mouth cancer can be a result of numerous lifestyle choices, including smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol, poor diet and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
If detected early by your dentist, mouth cancer is curable, so it is important to regularly visit the dentist who will check your soft tissue as part of your general check up. If the dentist does find anything unusual or abnormal they will refer you to a consultant at the local hospital to carry out a thorough examination of the cells in your mouth.
The main message with oral cancer is “if in doubt get checked out” as the majority of cases which cannot be cured are due to the patient not coming forward with their symptoms and visiting the dentist soon enough.
If you are unsure and would like more information about oral cancer screening, please book an appointment.
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