Big steps against mouth cancer

Many of us are under the misconception we know what to look out for when it comes to cancer. But it is easy to forget that it can occur all over the body – including our mouths. Although it isn't the most common cancer, its prevalence is on the rise – last year more than 1,800 people lost their lives to it.

Mouth cancers are more common among people over the age of 40 – particularly men – but can affect people of all ages. Most cases are linked to tobacco and alcohol, which damage the DNA in cells and increase the cancer risk. But the disease can also stem from a poor diet while recent studies have linked it the human papillomavirus (HPV) – a major cause of cervical cancer. Shockingly, many experts predict HPV, which is mostly transmitted through oral sex, will soon take over as the biggest cause of mouth cancer.