In a Westminster Hall debate on tobacco control strategy both government and opposition health ministers acknowledged the vital role dentists can play in early diagnosis of mouth cancer. Oral cancers currently kill more people in the UK than cervical and testicular cancers combined.
The BDA recently partnered with Cancer Research UK to launch a new toolkit designed to help dental health professionals when identifying and referring possible cases of oral cancer. Dentists and their teams are the only healthcare professionals who frequently see patients who have not yet noticed any symptoms, and so are in an excellent position to catch possible oral health problems early on, massively increasing potential chances of survival.
Mick Armstrong, Chair of the BDA, said:
“The spike in oral cancer cases shows precisely why we need real joined up thinking across our health service. We are seeing a preventable disease on the rise, a killer that has a 90 per cent survival rate – but only if it’s spotted early.
“We’ve told MPs that dentists are uniquely placed to help turn the tide on oral cancer. When it comes to prevention and diagnosis we welcome acknowledgement - from both government and opposition - that our profession needs to be part of the emerging strategy.”
In the debate Jane Ellison, the Public Health Minister, said:
“We received welcome information today from the British Dental Association setting out how dentists can help with smoking reduction and the identification of oral cancer. We will consider that further as we develop the [new tobacco control] strategy. That is welcome and timely news."
Andrew Gwynne, Shadow Public Health Minister, said:
“The general health implications of smoking are well known and documented, but mouth cancer often gets overlooked. Oral cancer kills more people in the United Kingdom than cervical and testicular cancers combined, yet there is still an alarming lack of public awareness about oral cancer.”