Essex woman urges people to look out for signs of mouth cancer: "It could be a lifesaver"
She had to have parts of her tongue removed
A woman from Essex who had parts of her tongue removed after getting mouth cancer is urging people to get to know the symptoms of the disease.
Over 3,000 people in the UK lost their life to the disease last year alone, with the death rate rising by around 20 percent in the last five years.
That's according to research from the Oral Health Foundation.
The charity says Covid lockdowns and the subsequent impact on dental services have contributed to a significant increase in the number of people dying from mouth cancer.
Dentist visits can be an early intervention measure, but delays in appointments caused by the pandemic have meant many patients are falling behind.
They also suggest the cost of living crisis also poses a new threat as families cut back.
Karen Liesching-Schroder, 49, from Rochford was diagnosed with tongue cancer.
She says she was ‘shocked beyond belief’ to be told that a seemingly harmless mouth ulcer on her tongue was actually mouth cancer.
Karen had to undergo radiotherapy, a neck dissection and gruelling surgery to have the side of her tongue removed and hopes people learn from her story: “A lot of people think that mouth cancer only happens to smokers, but my story shows that isn’t always the case.
“If you have worried about an unusual change in your mouth then get it checked out. Don’t be frightened but it’s important that you don’t suffer in silence and to remember that the sooner it’s checked out, the sooner it can be sorted.
“Chances are it’ll be fine but in the rare case it is not, it could be a life saver.”
What the experts say
Dr Nigel Carter says: “While most cancers are on the decrease, cases of mouth cancer continue to rise at an alarming rate. Traditional causes like smoking and drinking alcohol to excess are quickly being caught by emerging risk factors like the human papillomavirus (HPV). The stigma around mouth cancer has changed dramatically. It’s now a cancer that really can affect anybody.
“We have seen first-hand the devastating affect mouth cancer can have on a person’s life. It changes how somebody speaks, it makes eating and drinking more difficult, and often changes a person’s physical appearance.
“During Mouth Cancer Action Month, we will be raising greater awareness of mouth cancer. We urge everybody to become more ‘mouthaware’ by being able to recognise the early warning signs of mouth cancer and to be aware of the common causes.
Dr Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Denplan says:
“The importance of developing the habit of checking for mouth cancer at home in the bathroom while brushing teeth. Looking for unusual changes to the mouth. A self-check for mouth cancer takes a minute and could save your life. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, visit your dentist. If mouth cancer is caught early, the chances to beat it are good. Mouth Cancer Action Month is an ideal opportunity to get into a regular routine of checking.”