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26/09/2012
Call For Dentists To Perform Oral Cancer Checks
Calls are being made for more dentists to check their patients for mouth cancer.
Oral cancer rates are going up and some dentists are missing an opportunity to spot those at risk, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity says all dentists should be asking about risk factors like smoking or heavy drinking as well as looking for early telltale signs in the mouth.
By 2030 it is predicted there will be 9,200 cases of oral cancer in the UK every year compared with 6,240 in 2009.
Oral cancer affects the lips, tongue, cheek lining, gums, palate and floor of the mouth.
Major risk factors include smoking and alcohol and a virus called HPV (human pappiloma virus) which can infect the mouth as a result of oral sex.
Hazel Nunn, Cancer Research UK's head of health evidence and information, said: "Too often oral cancer is found at a late stage when treatment is devastating and the chances of survival are poor.
"Dental teams are in a unique position to help detect oral cancer in its earlier stages when it's easier to treat and the outlook is greatly improved.
"If a dentist is looking at someone's teeth and knows this person smokes 50 cigarettes a day and drinks well above the recommended amount, he might look that extra bit more carefully."
Early diagnosis and treatment can increase a patient's chances of survival from just below 50% to about 90%.
(H)
Oral cancer rates are going up and some dentists are missing an opportunity to spot those at risk, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity says all dentists should be asking about risk factors like smoking or heavy drinking as well as looking for early telltale signs in the mouth.
By 2030 it is predicted there will be 9,200 cases of oral cancer in the UK every year compared with 6,240 in 2009.
Oral cancer affects the lips, tongue, cheek lining, gums, palate and floor of the mouth.
Major risk factors include smoking and alcohol and a virus called HPV (human pappiloma virus) which can infect the mouth as a result of oral sex.
Hazel Nunn, Cancer Research UK's head of health evidence and information, said: "Too often oral cancer is found at a late stage when treatment is devastating and the chances of survival are poor.
"Dental teams are in a unique position to help detect oral cancer in its earlier stages when it's easier to treat and the outlook is greatly improved.
"If a dentist is looking at someone's teeth and knows this person smokes 50 cigarettes a day and drinks well above the recommended amount, he might look that extra bit more carefully."
Early diagnosis and treatment can increase a patient's chances of survival from just below 50% to about 90%.
(H)
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