Dentist urges patients to check for mouth cancer signs, as deaths rise by 40% in a decade

Sample News Big

A dentist from London has urged patients to check for mouth cancer signs, as statistics show that the number of people dying from the disease has increased by 40% in a decade.

Dr Parneet Sehmi, principal dentist at Hermes London Dental Clinic, explained that mouth cancer can be treated much more effectively if it is detected and diagnosed at an early stage. Up to 90% of people are not aware of the signs and symptoms, and this means that most cases are diagnosed when it’s too late.

Dr Sehmi said that people should get into the habit of examining their mouths at home and attending regular dental check-ups. Spotting the signs early can improve survival rates from around 50% to 90%.

Symptoms linked to oral cancer include slow-healing mouth ulcers and sores in the mouth and lips, red or white patches, difficulty swallowing, persistent hoarseness, unexplained pain the mouth or ear and abnormal swelling. Loose teeth can also be a symptom of mouth cancer.

There were more than 8,700 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in the UK last year, yet public awareness of the symptoms and causes remains very low in comparison to other types of cancer. Mouth cancer causes more deaths than testicular and cervical cancer combined. The main risk factors are smoking and drinking regularly or heavily. Other risk factors include a poor diet and HPV (human papilloma virus) infection.

The message from dentists is to get checked if there are any suspicious symptoms or changes in the mouth. Patients can contact their dentist or their GP for advice.

For more news click here.

Join this Discussion

Comments are closed.