Mouth cancer cases rise in UK

Figures collected by the Oral Health Foundation show that 8,864 people in the UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year. This has increased by 34% compared to 10 years ago and has more than doubled (103%) within the last generation.

This comes as research shows that a third of mouth cancers (33%) are found on the tongue and a quarter (23%) are discovered on the tonsil.

However, new figures collected for November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month, have shown that there is lack of awareness around mouth cancer.

The charity is also concerned that too many people do not know what to look for.  Almost half (49%) of UK adults do not know that non-healing mouth ulcers could be a sign of mouth cancer while more than half (51%) are unaware of that lumps and swellings in the mouth turn out to be cancerous.  Around two-in-three do know red patches (60%) or white patches (70%) in the mouth, could be a sign of mouth cancer.

Aston spoke to Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation.