DT News - UK - Surge of oral cancer in young men

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 7 December 2017

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LONDON, UK: Young men are more likely to develop oral cancer than any other demographic in the UK, new figures by Cancer Research UK suggest. While men in their twenties and thirties are diagnosed with the condition more often than elderly men, they are also twice as likely to develop oral cancer than women.

Currently, over 5,000 men are diagnosed with oral cancer per year, compared to only 2,500 women, according to the organisation. It also said that overall cases have been on the rise in both genders over the past ten years, with rates rising from 10 cases per 100,000 people a year in the mid-2000s, to 13 cases per 100,000 last year, making it the eleventh most common cancer in males in the UK.

Cancer Research UK suggested that the surge in new cases, particularly in young men, could be linked to high-risk behaviour, such as smoking tobacco, consuming alcohol or contracting the human papillomavirus. For example, around two thirds of all male oral and pharyngeal cancers are believed to be caused by smoking. However, the organisation said that most of the risks could be reduced by people simply rethinking their lifestyle choices.

“It’s a real concern that so many men are getting oral cancer and that it’s been on the rise in both men and women,” Dr Richard Roope, Cancer Research UK’s lead GP, said. “But the vast majority of oral cancer cases are preventable, so the good news is that people can cut their risk by quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol.”

“It’s also vital that everyone knows what their mouth, tongue and gums usually feel like, so they can spot anything out of the ordinary. Early diagnosis is absolutely key for the best results, which is why we’re set on helping dentists and GPs catch oral cancer sooner,” he also said.

Supported by the British Dental Association and accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners, Cancer Research UK offers a free online educational resource, its Oral Cancer Recognition Toolkit, to help dental professionals and GPs spot the disease earlier. The toolkit includes information on how to identify the signs and symptoms of cancer, how to prevent the disease as well as referral pathways. The toolkit can be downloaded from Cancer Research UK’s website.

“Having referred patients with suspected oral cancers, I know that when it’s diagnosed at an earlier stage the chances are better for successful treatment. So it’s crucial that dentists and GPs know the signs to look out for and that patients bring anything suspicious to their attention as soon as possible,” said Nick Stolls from the British Dental Association.

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