68 per cent increase in oral cancer, charity warns

New analysis from Cancer Research UK has shown that the rate of oral cancer (cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth, tonsils and the middle part of the throat) has risen by 68 per cent in the UK, over the last two decades.

The figures revealed that mouth cancer is on the rise for men and women, both young and old, climbing from eight to 13 cases per 100,000 people over the last two decades.

For men under 50, the rate has jumped by 67 per cent in the last 20 years, increasing from around 340 cases to around 640 cases each year. For men aged 50 and over, rates have increased by 59 per cent rising from around 2,100 cases to around 4,400 cases annually.

In women under 50, oral cancer rates have risen by 71 per cent in the last 20 years, with annual cases climbing from around 160 to around 300. Meanwhile rates for women over 50 have also gone up by 71 per cent, with cases increasing from around 1,100 to around 2,200.

The study noted that around ninety per cent of cases are linked to lifestyle and other risk factors. Smoking is the biggest avoidable risk factor, linked to an estimated 65 per cent of cases. Other risk factors include alcohol, diets low in fruit and vegetables, and infections with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Jessica Kirby, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information manager, said: “It’s worrying that oral cancer has become more common. It’s important to get to know your body and what’s normal for you, to help spot the disease as early as possible. An ulcer or sore in your mouth or tongue that won’t go away, a lump on your lip or in your mouth, a red or red and white patch in your mouth or an unexplained lump in your neck are all things to look out for. Speak to your GP or dentist about any changes that are unusual or don’t go away.

“Healthy lifestyles can help reduce the risk of developing the disease in the first place. Not smoking, drinking less alcohol and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables can all help to cut our risk of mouth cancer. HPV vaccination could help protect against oral HPV infections, and it can prevent a range of cancers associated with the HPV virus, so it’s a good idea to get the vaccine if you are offered it."