Lifestyle changes may be contributing to growing rates of mouth cancer in the UK, experts warned today.
In ten years the incidence of the disease has increased by a third – and it is now the tenth most common cancer among men, according to Cancer Research UK.
Some 2,300 people are now dying from the disease annually including 1,500 men and nearly 800 women.
The charity says that 90% of cases are linked to lifestyle, including tobacco smoking, drinking alcohol and infection with the human papillomavirus, which is often sexually transmitted.
Today the charity launched new tools for GPs and dentists to help them detect the disease.
Its figures show that in 2002 the disease affected nine in every 100,000 people but by 2012 this had risen to 12 per 100,000.
Head and neck surgeon Professor Richard Shaw, from Liverpool University, said: “We know that the vast majority of oral cancer cases could be prevented, so it’s important that people know how to reduce the risk of the disease through lifestyle factors.
"Alongside this, it’s vital that GPs and dentists can spot signs and symptoms of the disease to help catch it early and that they feel confident in knowing the next steps they should take in referring patients for further tests.”
Dr Richard Roope, a GP working with Cancer Research UK, said: "The combination of tobacco, drinking alcohol and HPV provides a toxic cocktail that has led to this rising tide of cancers, so it’s vital that people are aware of how to reduce their risk.
"If oral cancer is found at a late stage treatment options are more likely to be limited with long-lasting side effects and the chances of survival are poor.
"It’s because of this that we’re working to raise awareness of the risk factors of the disease as well as helping doctors and GPs spot the signs and symptoms and have the knowledge they need to act.”
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