ORAL (MOUTH) CANCER SCREENING

Very important. Please read carefully.

• More than 3500 new cases a year in the UK.
• A serious disease with around 50% survival rate over 5 years if detected late. Early detection improves survival rate drastically to nearer 90%
• Nearly 2,000 deaths per year from mouth cancer. More than will die from cervical cancer.
• Twice as common in men as in women, but it is becoming more common in women and younger people; under 40's.
• Main risk factors are smoking and or alcohol but can often be no obvious reasons.
• People who smoke and drink alcohol have a much higher risk of mouth cancer than those using alcohol or tobacco alone.

Mouth cancer appears in different forms:

• White patch.
• Red patch.
• A painless ulcer that does not clear up or, a small lump.
• It can affect all parts of the mouth. It affects people with natural teeth and people with dentures.
• Common sites are; lip, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheek lining and behind the lower back teeth.
• Mouth cancer can spread into the jaws and the lymph glands in the neck.
• Mouth cancer may or may not be clinically detectable. The dentist can carry out a simple mouth wash based test for its early screening.

The good news is that the mouth is easy to inspect so it is relatively simple to find the cancer early and have it treated and cured. The main problem is that people do not visit their dentist for a regular oral health check. Early diagnosis is important because small cancers are more curable than large cancers.

• Small cancers can be symptomless. Do not delay seeking help for any non-healing sore or persistent lump.
• Unfortunately too many people come forward too late (in 70% of cases).

How can you make sure your mouth is healthy?
Visit your dentist every SIX months (if you have your natural teeth) and every TWELVE months (if you have full dentures), for a regular oral (mouth) health screening.