Sharp rise of oral cancer
Figures revealed today from the Cancer Research UK show that oral cancer cases have raised to approximately 6.200 cases in 2011. Two-third of the patients are men. A decade ago there were about 4,400 cases. Most cases are linked to smoking and drinking. There is, however, a significant rise of oral cancer caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) through oral sex.
At some point in their lives, up to eight out of 10 people in the UK are infected with HPV. Usually the virus is harmless, but a few strains can cause problems, in particular the HPV-16 variant can cause cell changes which could develop into cancer. The same HPV-16 is linked to cervical and other genital cancers as well. Particularly sharp are the rises of cancers on the base of the tongue (almost 90 per cent increase) and the tonsil cancers (about 70 per cent).
In BBC news Richard Shaw, a Cancer Research UK (CRUK) expert in head and neck cancers based at the Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre, said: "We have noticed that patients with HPV-related oral cancers tend to be younger, are less likely to be smokers and have better outcomes from treatment than those whose tumours show no evidence of HPV. This raises questions as to exactly how these cancers develop and why they only affect a small proportion of people who are exposed.”
If oral cancer is caught early the chance of successful treatment increases. So go to your doctor or dentist when you have the following
Signs and symptoms:
- Mouth ulcers that won't heal
- Lumps or thickening in the mouth, lips or throat
- Red or white patches in the mouth that won't go away.
