Catching it early

Aims & Objectives

This article meets GDC development outcome C.

Every year in the UK, an estimated 8,300 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed. With symptoms including mouth ulcers, red or white patches, and lumps, early signs are often missed. Among the general population, awareness of the main signs and symptoms is very low (17 per cent), with awareness of major risk factors even lower (nine per cent). This lack of public awareness is concerning and makes the role of health professionals, including the dental team, key in the early detection of high-risk patients. Factors which may increase a patient’s level of risk for developing oral cancer include: tobacco use of any kind, heavy alcohol use, excessive sun exposure to the lips, human papillomavirus (HPV), and a weak immune system.