Mouth Cancer Rates Soar in UK
A new Cancer Research U.K. analysis reveals that rates of oral cancer have jumped by 68 percent in the United Kingdom over the last 20 years.
Numbers reveal that cancer is on the rise for men and women of all ages. For men under age 50, the rate has jumped by 67 percent, for men older than 50, rates have increased by 59 percent. Oral cancer is more common in men, but women have experienced similar increases. For both age ranges, younger than 50 and older than 50, rates have increased by 71 percent for women.
Cancer Research U.K. – working with the British Dental Association – has developed an oral cancer toolkit to help GPs, dentists, nurses and hygienists spot the disease sooner.
Andrea Fearon, 47, of the U.K. was diagnosed with mouth cancer after a routine checkup by her dentist. She shares her experience.
Leave a reply →“I had thought that most people with mouth cancer are heavy smokers over the age of 50, so I was completely shocked when I was diagnosed with the disease.”
“I’m proof that this type of cancer isn’t limited to a particular age or sex. I thought seeing the dentist was about looking after your teeth – but it can save your life. It’s thanks to my dentist that the mouth cancer was caught early – that’s why I feel so lucky to be alive.”
