Dentists Meet In Glasgow To Discuss Mouth Cancer Strategy
Dentists and industry experts have gathered in Glasgow to discuss new strategies for tackling mouth cancer, after statistics revealed that the number of cases of mouth cancer in Scotland has risen in recent years.
The latest figures show that 770 people in Scotland are diagnosed with mouth cancer each year. Scotland has the highest rate of mouth cancer in the UK and the disease has become more prevalent, especially among young people, in recent years.
Experts met in Glasgow to discuss the growing importance of early diagnosis; studies show that public awareness of the disease is low and there has been very little change in survival rates over the last five years in contrast to other forms of cancer, which have shown significant signs of improvement. Dentists and health experts were particularly eager to talk about early diagnosis in younger people, as cases among under 45’s have increased considerably.
The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK held an annual study day in Glasgow for the Ben Walton Trust; the trust was founded in memory of Ben Walton, who lost his life to mouth cancer at the age of 22 in 1996. Ben’s father’s dentist, Johnny Hiscocks said that the number of cases of mouth cancer has doubled in the last two years and added that more and more young people are affected by the disease.
Hiscocks, who has a practice in Edinburgh, said that oral cancer used to be associated with men and women over the age of 50 years old who smoked and drank alcohol on a regular basis; however, now, younger people account for around a tenth of cases and people who neither smoke nor drink are being diagnosed with the disease.
Mr Hiscocks said that further research is required into the increase in cases among young people, but one of the major risk factors among young people is exposure to the HPV (human papilloma virus).
Mr Hiscocks encouraged members of the public to attend regular dental checks and see their dentist if they notice symptoms such as red or white patches in the mouth, swellings in the mouth or throat and sores that take a long time to heal.
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