Cancers of the head and neck kill more than 4,000 British people every year and, with a near 50 per cent survival rate, the earlier these cancers are caught the better.
Mouth cancer, in particular, affects more men than it does women, with almost twice as many men being diagnosed with the cancer each year. However, unlike many other cancers, almost 50 per cent of all mouth cancers are preventable.
While giving up smoking and improving your oral hygiene will help prevent oral cancers, the Oral Health Foundation has said that the best way to "save your life" is to keep a regular eye the health of your mouth. Nine in 10 mouth cancers that are caught early are treatable by surgery.
This is important as an oral cancer could affect almost any part of your mouth, with soft tissue areas the most likely to be affected. This includes your lips, gums, cheek, tongue and the roof of your mouth.
If you are worried that you might have this cancer and cannot get an appointment with your doctor, there is another way of seeking professional help.
Unlike other cancers, mouth cancer can also be detected and checked by a dentist as well as a doctor, with both being trained in the identification of head and neck cancers. If this disease is caught early, patients have a 90 per cent survival rate.
The Oral Health Foundation says that the four early warning signs you can spot with a regular oral health check include:
- Ulcers that take longer than three weeks to heal
- Unusual red or white patches
- Lumps around your neck and jaw
- Persistent hoarseness of the throat
Anyone experiencing one of these symptoms are recommended to consult with a dentist or a doctor. The Oral Health Foundation says even if nothing is seriously wrong checking could “save your life”.
How to prevent mouth cancer
The NHS says that the most effective way to prevent mouth cancer is to avoid some of the most common vices, drinking and smoking.
Health bosses say the three most impactful things you can do are:
- Not smoking tobacco, or using other substitutes such as chewing tobacco
- Drinking within the healthy drinking guidelines set by the Chief Medical Officer
- Eating a healthy and balanced diet
How is mouth cancer treated?
There are three main treatments for these kinds of cancer, though they are often used in combination, with surgery following a course of radiotherapy likely to prevent further cancers forming.
The three treatments are:
- Surgery to remove the cancerous cells, along with a tiny bit of the surrounding normal tissue or cells to ensure the cancer is completely removed
- Radiotherapy – where beams of radiation are directed at the cancerous cells
- Chemotherapy – where powerful medicines are used to kill cancerous cells
As well as trying to cure mouth cancer, treatment will focus on preserving important functions of the mouth, such as breathing, speaking and eating.
