30 November 2022

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British Dental Journal: Mouth cancer rates doubled within last generation

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Mouth Cancer Action Month was observed in November 2022 in the U.K. The Oral Health Foundation, which led awareness event activities, also released new data on the alarming increase in the number of new mouth cancer cases.

Key takeaways from “State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2022” published in the British Dental Journal on Nov. 11 include that the rates of mouth cancer have doubled within the last generation. What’s more, the foundation said that 3,034 people died from mouth cancer in the U.K. last year - an increase of 40% in the last 10 years.

Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said the organization is fighting an uphill battle against mouth cancer and more must be done to raise awareness of the disease.

“While most cancers are on the decrease, cases of mouth cancer continue to rise at an alarming rate,” he said. “Traditional causes like smoking and drinking alcohol to excess are quickly being caught by emerging risk factors like the human papillomavirus (HPV). The stigma around mouth cancer has changed dramatically. It's now a cancer that really can affect anybody.”

For more information about the foundation’s report, visit www.mouthcancer.org.