The month of November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, a charity campaign organised by the Oral Health Foundation to raise awareness of mouth cancer and help make people aware of the symptoms.
Being mouth-aware
Firstly, what is included when we talk about “mouth cancers”. As the term suggests, mouth cancers include those occurring in the lips, tongue and cheeks, as well as in the tonsils and throat.
The number of people in the United Kingdom with mouth cancer is growing rapidly, with 10,825 people in England diagnosed last year, an increase of 38% compared to 10 years ago and more than double the number from 20 years ago.
Being aware of your mouth is vital when it comes to spotting if something is unusual and taking action. Some of the symptoms to look out for include:
• A mouth ulcer that does not heal within three weeks
• Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth
• White or red patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps or swellings anywhere in the mouth, head or neck
• Any persistent ‘hoarseness’ that lasts more than 6 weeks
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing or moving your jaw
Although mouth cancer can affect anyone, there are certain factors that can increase the chance of developing the disease. The two greatest are:
• Tobacco use:
75% of mouth and throat cancers occur in tobacco users
• Drinking alcohol to excess:
This can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times.
Other factors include:
• Poor diet
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Mouth cancers are most common in people over the age of 55, and twice as common in men as in women. Mouth cancers are most likely to occur in the tongue, accounting for nearly a third of all cases.
Getting advice
If you notice anything unusual in or around your head, mouth and neck, it’s best to seek medical advice from a doctor or dentist as soon as possible. As the Oral Health Foundation says, “If in doubt, get checked out.”
Early diagnosis is absolutely vital; as long as the disease is caught early, there’s a 90% chance of survival. This drops to 25% if the disease is allowed to reach an advanced stage. Detecting it not only gives a higher chance of beating it, but a better quality of life.
Self-checks and regular dental visits are important for spotting possible mouth cancers early on, so make sure regular check-ups are a priority.
Treatment
Once mouth cancer has been diagnosed, there are a range of treatment options, depending on the location, size and other factors, including a patient’s age and general health. The first step is normally counselling, during which you will be told what treatment you can receive and what the after-effects will be.
Treatment can include a combination of:
• Surgery
Surgery is usually required to remove the cancer, and possibly also lymph nodes in the neck.
• Chemotherapy
This involves medicine that kills cancerous cells, and is sometimes given with radiotherapy.
• Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is often used to treat mouth cancer. It may be the only treatment needed if the cancer is found early.
• Targeted medicines and immunotherapy
Targeted medicines kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy involves the use of medicines which help your immune system kill cancer cells.
After treatment, the recovery period can also be challenging. Patients may experience problems including difficulty breathing swallowing, drinking, and eating, and speech can be affected too.
Dry mouth as a treatment side-effect
One of the common side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy when applied to the head or throat is dry mouth. The salivary glands can be temporarily or permanently affected by these treatments, reducing the quantity or changing the composition of saliva being produced, and resulting in a dry mouth.
Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding mouth-drying substances like alcohol and tobacco, and practicing good oral hygiene can make a significant difference.
Oralieve's range of products are specially formulated to provide relief from the symptoms of dry mouth, helping you keep on smiling, speaking, and enjoying life without discomfort. For more information on Oralieve’s range of products, click here.
We recommend regularly checking the mouth between dental visits. To see a mouth cancer check in motion, watch this video.
Find out more about mouth cancer via the links below:
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer
Oral Health Foundation: https://www.dentalhealth.org/mouth-cancer
Taking notice of your mouth this Mouth Cancer Action Month
The month of November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, a charity campaign organised by the Oral Health Foundation to raise awareness of mouth cancer and help make people aware of the symptoms.
Being mouth-aware
Firstly, what is included when we talk about “mouth cancers”. As the term suggests, mouth cancers include those occurring in the lips, tongue and cheeks, as well as in the tonsils and throat.
The number of people in the United Kingdom with mouth cancer is growing rapidly, with 10,825 people in England diagnosed last year, an increase of 38% compared to 10 years ago and more than double the number from 20 years ago.
Being aware of your mouth is vital when it comes to spotting if something is unusual and taking action. Some of the symptoms to look out for include:
• A mouth ulcer that does not heal within three weeks
• Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth
• White or red patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps or swellings anywhere in the mouth, head or neck
• Any persistent ‘hoarseness’ that lasts more than 6 weeks
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing or moving your jaw
Although mouth cancer can affect anyone, there are certain factors that can increase the chance of developing the disease. The two greatest are:
• Tobacco use:
75% of mouth and throat cancers occur in tobacco users
• Drinking alcohol to excess:
This can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times.
Other factors include:
• Poor diet
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Mouth cancers are most common in people over the age of 55, and twice as common in men as in women. Mouth cancers are most likely to occur in the tongue, accounting for nearly a third of all cases.
Getting advice
If you notice anything unusual in or around your head, mouth and neck, it’s best to seek medical advice from a doctor or dentist as soon as possible. As the Oral Health Foundation says, “If in doubt, get checked out.”
Early diagnosis is absolutely vital; as long as the disease is caught early, there’s a 90% chance of survival. This drops to 25% if the disease is allowed to reach an advanced stage. Detecting it not only gives a higher chance of beating it, but a better quality of life.
Self-checks and regular dental visits are important for spotting possible mouth cancers early on, so make sure regular check-ups are a priority.
Treatment
Once mouth cancer has been diagnosed, there are a range of treatment options, depending on the location, size and other factors, including a patient’s age and general health. The first step is normally counselling, during which you will be told what treatment you can receive and what the after-effects will be.
Treatment can include a combination of:
• Surgery
Surgery is usually required to remove the cancer, and possibly also lymph nodes in the neck.
• Chemotherapy
This involves medicine that kills cancerous cells, and is sometimes given with radiotherapy.
• Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is often used to treat mouth cancer. It may be the only treatment needed if the cancer is found early.
• Targeted medicines and immunotherapy
Targeted medicines kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy involves the use of medicines which help your immune system kill cancer cells.
After treatment, the recovery period can also be challenging. Patients may experience problems including difficulty breathing swallowing, drinking, and eating, and speech can be affected too.
Dry mouth as a treatment side-effect
One of the common side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy when applied to the head or throat is dry mouth. The salivary glands can be temporarily or permanently affected by these treatments, reducing the quantity or changing the composition of saliva being produced, and resulting in a dry mouth.
Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding mouth-drying substances like alcohol and tobacco, and practicing good oral hygiene can make a significant difference.
Oralieve's range of products are specially formulated to provide relief from the symptoms of dry mouth, helping you keep on smiling, speaking, and enjoying life without discomfort. For more information on Oralieve’s range of products, click here.
We recommend regularly checking the mouth between dental visits. To see a mouth cancer check in motion, watch this video.
Find out more about mouth cancer via the links below:
NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer
Oral Health Foundation: https://www.dentalhealth.org/mouth-cancer