Mouth Cancer Awareness Month

6 November 2022

As we share with all patients, maintaining your oral health is intrinsically linked to your overall health. Many studies suggest that poor oral health is tied to a heightened risk of mouth cancer – even when other detrimental behaviours are in play – notably heavy smoking and drinking. 

November is National Mouth Cancer Awareness month and it’s important to acknowledge its impact on a considerable population in the UK. In 2021, 8,772 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK – or one person every hour.  

More commonly found in women than men, mouth cancer is also the 14th most common cancer in the UK. Most of these cancers occur in the tongue, making up approximately one in three cases for men & women. Cancer of this kind is also strongly associated with age, with more than three in four mouth cancers diagnosed in those over 55.  

Mortality 

Unfortunately, around 2,702 in the UK lose their life to mouth cancer each year – seven people per day. Despite being more prevalent in women, men are actually far more likely to die from mouth cancer. They account for 69% of mouth cancer deaths compared to only 31% for women.  

Risk factors  

Much like the tips we provide for maintaining your oral health, there are several risk factors associated with mouth cancer. 

Smoking 

Those who smoke are at almost double the risk (91%) of a cancer diagnosis than non-smokers – with two-in-three mouth cancers linked to smoking in the UK. For anyone pondering quitting smoking – here’s how it can help: 

• Mouth cancer risk is 35% lower in ex-smokers who quit 1-4 years previously 
• Mouth cancer risk is no higher in ex-smokers who quit 20+ years previously, compared to non-smokers 

Alcohol 

Drinking a high volume of alcohol units on a regular basis can take its toll on your oral health. More specifically, those who drink more than 10 units a week could be increasing the risk of mouth cancer by 81%. 

Those who both drink and smoke in excess could see their risk of developing mouth cancer triple, so please consider reflecting on your habits to ensure your health is maintained. 

Additional Factors 

Outside of alcohol and smoking, the following factors can influence a potential mouth cancer diagnosis: 

• Infections – those with HIV/AIDS are at higher risk of mouth cancer than those without.  
• Organ transplants – Mouth cancer risk is 2-5 times higher in organ transplant recipients  

• Family history – Mouth cancer risk could be up to 70% higher in people with a family (particularly sibling) history of mouth cancer 

Survival rate 

Early detection of oral cancer is essential for curing the condition. Our chances of survival rise from 50% to 90% with early identification. The chance of surviving mouth cancer for one year varies depending on where the cancer first appears. After 10 years, the survival rate falls to between 18% to 57%. 

A more detailed overview of the ten year survival rate for the various oral cancer types can be found below: 

Tongue cancer – The ten year survival rate for tongue cancer is 50% in men and 54% in women. 

Oropharyngeal cancer – The ten year survival rate for oropharyngeal cancer is 57% in men and 59% in women. 

Oral cavity cancer – The ten year survival rate for oral cavity cancer is 42% in men and 50% in women. 

Hypopharyngeal cancer – The ten year survival rate for hypopharyngeal cavity cancer is 18% in men and 23% in women. 

At Etwall Dental Practice, your oral health is our number one priority. We understand your concerns about changing behaviours and regular habits, so welcome consultations to help on your journey.  

If you feel as though you may require dental treatment or are concerned with your health care, please get in touch with us via phone on 01283 733391 or fill out our contact form and a member of the team will get back to you to discuss treatment options. 

For more information about mouth cancers, please visit www.mouthcancer.org