Deaths from mouth cancer rise by a fifth
New stats claim 66% of people in North West have never checked their mouth for signs of the disease
Last updated 1st Nov 2022
There are concerns Covid lockdowns and the subsequent impact on dental services have contributed to a significant increase in the number of people dying from mouth cancer.
Research by the Oral Health Foundation shows that death rates from the disease have risen by 20% in five years.
Dentist visits can be an early intervention measure, but delays in appointments caused by the pandemic have meant many patients are falling behind. The cost of living crisis also poses a new threat as families cut back.
Chris from the Chris Mercier Dental Practice in Liverpool says after a three-month closure at the start of the pandemic they were inundated with people.
Chris told us: “Upon reopening there was a high demand upon my practice which is private.
“This demand appeared to be driven by the fact the number of patients were not able to be seen within the NHS system due to the increase in treatment times as a result of the procorsions which were necessary to combat Covid.”
The study also showed that two thirds (66%) of people in North West have never checked their mouth for signs of cancer.
Also, over half of adults (54%) in North West do not know that non-healing mouth ulcers could be a sign of mouth cancer.
Kate Brundell from Wirral's Sandstone Dental Practice told us she's disappointed in the statistics.
Kate said: "I'm sad that people haven't been mindful to be checking themselves.
"There is a degree of that, that's important to care for yourself so we can care for you too.
"I am disappointed and shocked really that so many people haven't checked themselves, especially at a time when it has been difficult to get a dentist appointment or a GP appointment."
55% of those asked as part of the study didn’t know that lumps and swellings in the mouth could turn out to be cancerous.
42% did not know to look out for red patches or white patches in their mouth.
Chris advises people to keep regular dentist appointments and check for themselves.
Chris says “If a cancer can be identified before it has spread then the prognosis is much much better for the patient.”
The study also suggests that the cost of living crisis may delay further cancer diagnosis.
Kate told us: "With the cost of living, I know people are worried about the cost of a check up or any kind of treatment required, but this is why we always recommend people come more frequently because we can pick up things when they are small and less problematic."