National campaign launched to save 30,000 lives

Mouth Cancer Month logo

The UK’s largest mouth cancer campaign kicks off this week to help raise awareness of a disease that could claim 30,000 lives over the next decade.

Organised by the British Dental Health Foundation, Mouth Cancer Action Month, supported by Denplan and Simplyhealth, takes place from 1-30 November and aims to encourage the public to find out more about a disease that has almost doubled within a generation.

Experts forecast around 60,000 people will develop mouth cancer within the next ten years. Without early detection, half will die. However, with early detection, five year survival rates can increase to up to 90 per cent. Unlike most other cancers, cases of mouth cancer are set to increase, which is why the public need more information on the risk factors and the signs and symptoms of the disease.

Latest figures show mouth cancer killed more people than road traffic accidents in 2010, and Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “This fact highlights the danger posed by mouth cancer. It also highlights a lack of awareness about the disease and a need for the entire healthcare profession to support the campaign by educating the public.

“Smoking, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet, smokeless tobacco and, more recently, the human papilloma virus (HPV) are all risk factors which can contribute to mouth cancer. People who smoke and drink to excess are up to 30 times more likely to develop the disease, so it is crucial we continue to educate the public about these risks. The number of cases of mouth cancer is continuing to grow, more women are contracting the disease and there's an increasing risk of younger people being affected, especially by HPV.

“As a result it is really important that everyone knows the warning signs for mouth cancer. They include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth. Our message to everyone is simple. If in doubt, get checked out.”

For further information about the campaign, the risk factors and what to look out for, please visit www.mouthcancer.org