Would you or your teens recognise any of the symptoms of mouth cancer
Would you recognise any of the symptoms of mouth cancer? Neither would 81 per cent of the rest of the population.
A study by oral health charity British Dental Health Foundation, questioned more than 800 parents with children aged 12 – 16 years.
The results showed that 76 per cent of parents could not recognise a single warning sign of the disease.
Mouth cancer is diagnosed in around 6,000 people every year in the UK.
Tobacco is considered to be the main cause of the disease, with excessive drinking also raising the risk.
It is twice as common in men than women, and mainly affects people over the age of 40.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said: “The lack of awareness towards a disease which has increased by nearly 50 per cent in the last ten years is truly alarming. It is really important that everyone knows the warning signs for mouth cancer. They include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth. Our message to everyone is ‘If in doubt, get checked out.’
“In the past mouth cancer was a disease which predominately affected males over 40 but this is no longer necessarily true. Changes in lifestyles amongst women and younger people and their attitudes towards drinking and smoking have meant that these groups are increasingly in danger.
“It is vital that parents in particular know the symptoms so they can then pass this knowledge on to their children.”