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Book Your Oral Cancer Screening Today

Book Your Oral Cancer Screening Today

According to the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) there are more than 300 cases of cancer of the mouth (oral cavity and pharynx) reported in Ireland every year.

While traditionally oral cancer was more common in men than women, the ICS states that this is changing and the incidence rate of oral cancer has increased significantly in women at a rate of 3 per cent per year.

The ICS also states that while oral cancer mainly affects older people younger people are now also being diagnosed.

In Britain, the incidence of mouth cancer has increased faster than any other cancer in the past 25 years and according to the National Cancer Registry in Ireland, roughly half of all mouth cancers and even less of cancers of the pharynx are diagnosed at an early stage.

According to the ICS while it depends on the cancer site, more than half of those with oral cancer who get treatment will have good survival outcomes and this continues to improve each year.

Early detection of oral cancer greatly improves the chances of survival and this is why oral cancer awareness day is so important.

Dentists have a key role to play in the early detection of mouth cancer and in the prevention of the disease by identifying those patients who are exposed to risk factors.

Dr Kieran Davitt, dentist and Group Clinical Advisor, Dental Care Ireland, said Oral Cancer Awareness Day was a great intiative and he would encourage everyone to attend their dentist for a free screen, particularly those who have not attended a dentist in recent years.

Dr Davitt explained that an oral cancer screen takes just five minutes and during the check-up the dentist is looking for a number of things. These include any lumps or bumps, swellings, ulcers that do not heal and hardened tissue in the mouth.

“We try and encourage everybody or anybody who hasn’t been to the dentist in a number of years to come in and get a free screening, it only takes five minutes,” Dr Davitt explained.

“It is just to rule out any problems that patients may have. If anybody was worried about any little bump or swelling, or anything that has been there at all, we would always stress to them to come in, but also patients who haven’t been for a number of years, even if they don’t feel anything,” he added.

2016 marks the sixth year of the oral cancer awareness campaign it was first established in 2010 by a group of mouth, head and neck cancer survivors. On that occasion, more than 3,000 people queued outside the Cork and Dublin Dental University Hospitals for a free mouth cancer examination.

For the examination Dr Davitt explained that the dentist checks all the teeth, the gums all the soft tissue in the mouth.

“We palpate all the tissue, cheeks under the tongue, hard and soft palate and neck for any swellings, gland swellings it is not invasive and there would be no reason for any patients to be worried about it”.

“What we are looking for is anything out of the ordinary, any swellings, any ulcers that may not heal, any hardened tissue… in some cases it might be very normal. A patient might feel a little bump but it might be perfectly normal.

But if we were worried about it at all we can refer the patient to a specialist centre to get a biopsy and rule out any underlying problems,” he added.

The main risk factors associated with oral cancer include excessive smoking and drinking, chewing tobacco betel quid or paan, excessive exposure to sunlight or radiation (for lip cancer), a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables and viral infections, e.g., human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can be spread through oral sex.

Dr Davitt said that the combination of excessive smoking and drinking together could significantly increase the risk of developing oral cancer.

“The two main causes would be smoking and alcohol and if it is excessive smoking and excessive alcohol intake combined, that increases your risk hugely,” he stated.

Encouraging everyone to attend for an oral cancer screen Dr Davitt said: “If you are worried about anything in the mouth, or if you just haven’t seen a dentist in the last couple of years …try and attend for a screen. It just takes 5 minutes and it is a very simple check”.

Cases of concern to general dental practitioners will be referred to the Dental Hospitals for further management.

To book your oral cancer screening at Dental Care Ireland visit our practices page.

Anyone who has concerns about mouth cancer can speak with a specialist nurse in confidence by calling the National Cancer Helpline on Freephone 1800 200 700.

For further information visit www.mouthcancerawareness.ie.