Mouth Cancer Action Month

If in doubt…get checked out!

So, it is now officially Mouth Cancer Action Month and it is time for us to actively promote awareness and prevention of oral cancer. Did you know that oral cancer is diagnosed in 5000 people every year and kills almost 2000 of them? Shocking figures aren’t they? It actually works out one death every 5 hours.

More facts and figures about oral cancer:

 

  • The five year survival rate for patients suffering from oral cancer is just 50%.
  • If the cancer is diagnosed early, there is a 90% chance of survival.
  • Lifestyle choices can help prevent oral cancer.
  • The main risks of developing oral cancer are smoking, chewing tobacco, areca nut, paan and guthka.
  • More and more young people are being diagnosed with oral cancer.

Living with oral cancer

Patients recovering from oral cancer can experience major difficulties during the recovery period. Basic functions which we take for granted such as breathing, swallowing, drinking and eating can be a struggle and speech may also be affected and occasionally even lost. Disfigurement to the face is also a possibility.

Other factors such as depression, difficulties in communication, low self-esteem, social isolation and the impact on relationships can also cause major distress which adds to the devastation of the cancer itself.

Patients suffering from oral cancer have access to fantastic care and support from their health-care team which involves reconstructive or plastic surgery, speech therapy, dietary counselling and emotional support.

Can oral cancer return?

It has been proven that if patients continue to smoke or drink after treatment of mouth cancer, there is a much higher risk of the cancer coming back, or even of new cancers.

It is important to monitor patients who have had mouth cancer to make sure that the cancer does not return. Luckily over the past 20 years, survival rates have increased and there is a better chance of mouth cancer survivors living a good quality of life afterwards.

What advice can we give to our patients in order to prevent oral cancer?

  • Smoking cessation advice and support as tobacco is the most common cause of oral cancer.
  • Advise patients to limit their alcohol intake, particularly if they are drinking excessively. Ask patients every time you update their medical history about their alcohol intake and advise accordingly. Alcohol is also another risk factor and if it is combined with tobacco, the chances of developing oral cancer are even greater.
  • Give diet advice- eating our 5 a day and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet can help lower the risk of oral cancer.

Check out http://www.mouthcancer.org for more information!