Mouth cancer can strike anyone at any-time. Worldwide the disease affects 650,000 people a year and it is the sixth most common type of cancer. In the UK there are more than 8,000 people diagnosed with mouth cancer every year and around 60,000 people will be diagnosed in the next decade.
Mouth cancer can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips and adjacent areas like throat, salivary gland, pharynx, larynx, sinus and other sites in the head and neck area. It has the worst ratio of deaths to cases compared with skin, cervical, breast and prostate cancer and affects more men than women.
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is committed to raising awareness of this Cinderella cancer and stressing the importance of regular dental examinations. As early warning signs for mouth cancer can be easily overlooked by patients, it is important to see a dentist who is more likely to notice its early symptoms such as lumps or irregular tissue changes in the neck, head and cheeks. Early detection and rapid treatment can save lives.
The Founder of the Mouth Cancer Foundation, Vinod Joshi says “As mouth cancer is on the increase around the world, we urge everyone to take responsibility for their own oral health. Early diagnosis is imperative in order to save lives. Head and neck cancers are vicious and debilitating when detected late. Patients who survive suffer many disabilities with speech, swallowing and appearance being affected.This is the reason why we stress the importance of regular dental examinations to ensure that any abnormalities are caught early on.”
For more information visit the Mouth Cancer Foundation at www.mouthcancerfoundation.org