Mouth Cancer
Mouth cancer currently kills more people than cervical and testicular cancer combined with over 1,800 recorded deaths in 2008. Recent high profile sufferers of the disease include Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, BBC Presenter Danny Baker and former England Football Captain Bryan Robson.
Between 1997 and 2008, the number of mouth cancer cases had risen by nearly 46 per cent1. At current rates, the number of mouth cancer cases recorded in the UK is likely to double within a generation. One in two people who contract the disease will die, without early diagnosis. However, early detection of the disease can improve five year survival rates to 90 per cent.
Knowing the risks
Smoking
Around a fifth of the UK’s population smoke and the habit is still considered the leading cause of mouth cancer. According to the World Health Organisation, up to half of current smokers will eventually die of a tobacco-related disease, including mouth cancer. Smoking helps to transforms saliva into a deadly cocktail that damages cells in the mouth and can turn them cancerous. Around two thirds of smokers want to quit, so taking up smoking cessation and discussing it with your dentist can help.
Alcohol
Drinking to excess can increase mouth cancer risks by four times. As alcohol aids the absorption of tobacco into the mouth, those who smoke and drink to excess are up to 30 times more likely to develop the disease.
Poor diet
Around a third of cases are thought to be linked to an unhealthy diet. It is recommended that people eat a healthy, balanced diet including five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Increasing evidence also suggests that Omega 3- found in foods such as oily fish and flaxseeds- can help lower risks, as can foods rich in fibre such as nuts, seeds, wholemeal pasta and brown rice.
Chewing or Smokeless tobacco
Smokeless tobacco is normally defined as any tobacco product that is placed in the mouth or nose and not burned. Although some people believe this type of tobacco is safer than smoking, the reality is that it is much more dangerous. The types of smokeless tobacco products most used in the UK often contain a mix of ingredients including slaked lime, areca nut and spices, flavourings and sweeteners. The terminology for smokeless tobacco varies, but the main types used in the UK include:
Gutka, Khaini, Pan Masala (betel quid), Shammah and Maras powder (these are sucked or chewed); Zarda, Qiwam, or Mawa (chewed); Lal dantmanjan, Gadakhu, Gul, Mishri, or Creamy Snuff (dental products which are used as toothpaste or rubbed on gums); Nass (can be used nasally, sucked or chewed).
Smokeless tobacco is used particularly by South Asian Communities, especially women. The incidence of mouth cancer is significantly greater among South Asian women. Other parts of South Asian communities are also more at risk from the effects of smokeless tobacco including: people of Bangladeshi origin; those in older age groups; and people from lower socioeconomic groups.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
The Human Papilloma Virus, transmitted via oral sex, is increasingly being linked to mouth cancer. Younger people are particularly at risk. A recent study in the USA has connected over 20,000 mouth cancer cases to HPV in the last five years. Experts suggest it may rival tobacco and alcohol as a key risk factor within 10 years, although some research indicates that people with mouth cancer caused by HPV may have a greater chance of survival. People with multiple sexual partners are more at risk.
The Warning Signs
- Ulcers which do not heal within 3 weeks
- Red and white patches in the mouth
- Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth
If you think your lifestyle is affected by any of these risk factors, or you have any of these warning signs, visit your dentist or doctor immediately and follow the Foundation’s campaign message of ‘If In Doubt, Get Checked Out’.
About the author
The British Dental Health Foundation, the UK’s leading oral health charity, is running Mouth Cancer Action Month in November, supported by Denplan. Over the next decade the Foundation estimates that around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease. Without early detection an estimated 30,000 people will die. The campaign is hoping to raise awareness of the cancer with the general public, including the risk factors and symptoms. For further information about the campaign, or about mouth cancer, please visit www.mouthcancer.org.
References:
- Source: Cancer Research UK
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