Mouth cancer is affecting more and more people in the UK, with an increase of almost 50 per cent in the number of cases within the last decade. One of the most important messages we are trying to spread is the importance of early diagnosis. Treating mouth cancer early increases the chance of survival by up to 90 per cent and this is why we promote screening and encourage all our patients to see their dentist every 6 months for a check-up.
About mouth cancer
Mouth cancer is a form of cancer, which affects the cells in the soft tissue in the mouth. The main risk factors for oral cancer include drinking alcohol, smoking and HPV infection (HPV stands for human papilloma virus) and symptoms include red or white patches in the mouth, abnormal swelling and lumps and mouth ulcers, which take a long time to heal.
Benefits of screening
Many people are unaware of the warning signs of mouth cancer and for this reason, a lot of cases are diagnosed at a late stage when there is a lower chance of successful treatment. Screening enables us to spot changes in the soft tissue, which may indicate the early stages of mouth cancer, before they become visible to the naked eye and this means that we can facilitate diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible. Early diagnosis can make a real difference to the prognosis. In addition to screening, we also carry out checks for symptoms of oral cancer during routine check-ups.
What happens during a screening test?
Mouth cancer screening is quick and painless and you don’t have to have any preparation or worry about recovery afterwards. The test takes just a few minutes and your dentist will use the latest technology to have an in-depth look at the soft tissue in your mouth; abnormal tissue will be flagged up and this can then be investigated further.
