In this blog, our intern Sadie shares some key facts about mouth cancer.
Did you know that November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month?
I wouldn’t judge you if you didn’t, because until I was asked to write to this blog, neither did I! That is probably because mouth cancer is an uncommon type of cancer and it accounts for only one in 50 of all cancer cases. But because of this, it’s even more important to raise awareness of what mouth cancer is, its causes and risk factors, and the symptoms and signs to look out for.
So here it is, a list of 9 things you might not know about mouth cancer.
1. 7,600 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK every year.
2. Mouth cancer is also called oral cancer. It happens when the cells in the mouth grow quickly and uncontrollably. A lump (tumour) then develops on the lips, gums or inside of the mouth.
3. Mouth cancer is more common in men than women.
4. The main cause of mouth cancer are smoking or chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol . Your risk of getting mouth cancer is greatly increased if you both smoke and drink a lot of alcohol.
5. Mouth cancer has also been linked to the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV is a virus that affects the skin and mucosa (a moist membrane that lines the inside of the mouth and throat). It is spread through body to body contact often during sexual activity.
6. You can reduce your risk of mouth cancer by:
7. There are lots of possible symptoms of mouth cancer. Here are some to be aware of…
8. George Harrison and Michael Douglas had oral cancer.
The lead guitarist of the Beatles George Harrison had throat cancer that was caused by years of smoking. His cancer was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy but sadly George died in 2001 after suffering from a separate case of lung cancer which had spread to his brain.
Actor and producer Michael Douglas was diagnosed with the most common type of mouth cancer, squamous cell carcinoma in 2010 after a tumour was discovered on his tongue. Michael is now cancer free and works with The Oral Cancer Foundation to help raise awareness of oral cancer.
9. The earlier mouth cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat and cure.
Where can I find support and more information?
If you or a loved one are worried about mouth cancer and would like more information, you can visit the NHS choices website which talks more about mouth cancer, including information about treatments and living with the disease.
The Information and Support section of our website provides lots of information on mouth cancer and other types of head and neck cancers.
You may also find it helpful to watch the video below. Clinical Oncologist Andrew Sykes discusses the causes, possible symptoms, and diagnosis and treatment of mouth cancer.
For more information and support on anything to do with cancer you can visit our website or give us a call for free on 0808 808 00 00. Our cancer support specialists are available from 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.
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