Study suggests many patients ignore the symptoms of oral cancer
A new study has found that many patients ignore the early warning signs of oral cancer.
The study, which involved young mouth cancer patients in Scotland, found that most patients ignored the symptoms of oral cancer, even though they knew about the dangers associated with oral cancer. Many of the patients said that they didn’t realise their symptoms were consistent with mouth cancer. The study also revealed that 40 percent of the participants took over the counter treatments to ease their symptoms, rather than seeking help from a doctor or dentist.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that the recent study confirmed the fears that there were huge gaps in public understanding of oral cancer. Many people are aware of oral cancer but most people don’t know which signs and symptoms to look out for; dentists are also keen to encourage people to seek help from their dentist if they do experience symptoms, rather than relying on over the counter medications, which will not be effective.
Dr Carter said that public awareness about oral cancer was still relatively low in the UK; in comparison to other forms of cancer, including prostate, breast and cervical cancer, there is relatively little media coverage about oral cancer and consequently many people are unaware of the dangers. In reality, oral cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent and many people are ignoring the symptoms which may indicate they have the disease; early detection can make the difference between life and death so regular check-ups are essential.
Early warning signs of oral cancer include lumps in the cheek, white patches and marks in the gum tissue, soreness in the mouth and abscesses. Dentists are encouraging patients to visit their dentist on a regular basis; this enables them to keep an eye on general oral health and identify early symptoms, which can then be treated before they develop. Early detection improves survival chances by around 90 percent.
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