25 November 2016

It’s November which means it is Mouth Cancer Action Month. It’s a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer and promoting the importance of early detection in ultimately saving lives.

Organised by the Oral Health Foundation, Mouth Cancer Action Month is your chance to make a difference, by knowing the facts around mouth cancer we will can really make a difference.

We have put together 21 facts you really need to know and may shock you about mouth cancer, how many do you know?

1. In the UK, one person is told they have mouth cancer every 45 minutes.

2. This is almost than eleven and half thousand people every year.

3. Mouth cancer claims more than twice as many lives than testicular and cervical cancer combined.

4. Mouth cancer takes more lives every year than road traffic accidents on Britain’s roads.

5. Mouth cancer is diagnosed in more than twice as many men than women but cases in women are on the increase.

6. Shockingly, one in ten people have never heard of mouth cancer.

7. Cases of mouth cancer have increased by more than a third in the last decade alone.

8. Chances of beating mouth cancer with a late diagnosis is only 50%, compared to 90% if it is caught early.

9. Scotland has more cases per capita than in England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

10. Mouth cancer is one of very few cancers which incidences are actually predicted to increase in the future.

11. Smoking is the leading cause of mouth cancer.

12. But HPV is predicted to overtake it as the leading cause of mouth cancer within the next decade.

13. HPV is predominantly transmitted through oral sex.

14. Extending the HPV vaccine to include boys of a school age will save thousands of lives.

15. Excessive use of alcohol is linked to more than a third of mouth cancer cases in men and a fifth in women.

16. Heavy drinkers and smokers are up to 35 times more at risk.

17. Mouth cancer can often be spotted in its early stages by your dentist during a thorough mouth examination.

18. As part of every check-up your dentist should carry out a visual examination to look for the early signs of mouth cancer.

19. Mouth cancer can affect anyone.

20. Signs and symptoms of mouth cancer include:

• Ulcers which do not heal within a three weeks.

• Red or white patches in the mouth.

• Any unusual lumps or swellings in the head and neck area.

21. If in doubt you should get checked out by your dentist or doctor as soon as possible.

With your help Mouth Cancer Action Month is the perfect opportunity to fight back against mouth cancer. We want everyone to be Mouthaware and be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer.

Share these facts with your family, friends and colleagues to spread awareness of mouth cancer to everyone and ensure we are all together in combating mouth cancer.