Alarming rise in oral cancer rates

Rates of oral cancers, such as cancers of the mouth, tongue and lip, have increased by around a quarter in the past decade among people in their 40s, according to a new study.

And experts believe that the increase in oral cancer rates could mainly be down to drinking.

The study, by Cancer Research UK, found that oral cancer rates for men in their 40s have increased by 28% since the mid 1990s. Rates for women in their 40s have also increased by 24% in the same period.

For both men and women of all ages, oral cancer rates have increased by more than 45%.

Oral cancer is largely a preventable disease with tobacco and alcohol use being the main risk factors. However, the researchers said that cancers caused by smoking often take up to 30 years to develop, so tobacco is less likely to be the main reason behind the increase in oral cancer for people in their 40s compared with older people.

Other risk factors that could have helped to fuel the rise in this age group include a diet low in fruit and vegetables, and the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV).

“Alcohol consumption has doubled since the 1950s and the trend we are now seeing is likely to be linked to continually rising drinking levels,” the authors of the study said.

The most common signs of oral cancer are ulcers, sores, red or white patches in the mouth that last longer than three weeks and unexplained pain in the mouth or ear. Less common signs include a lump in the neck, a persistent sore throat or difficulty swallowing.

“The good news is that oral cancer can be treated successfully if it's caught early enough. It's important that people go to the dentist regularly and report any symptoms to their GP or dentist without delay,” the authors of the study concluded.

According to Ireland’s National Cancer Registry, between 1994 and 2004 there were 6,900 people diagnosed with oral cancer (mouth, lips tongue and throats) and laryngeal cancer (voicebox).

[Posted: Wed 12/08/2009]