Alcohol Behind Alarming Surge In Oral Cancer Cases

Thu, 13 Aug 2009

Rates of oral cancers among men and women in their 40s have increased by around a quarter in the past decade, according to new research.

A study by Cancer Research UK found that the number of men in their 40s developing cancers of the mouth, tongue, lip and throat have increased by 28 per cent since the mid 1990s, while rates for women in the same age group have risen by 24 per cent in the same period.

For both men and women of all ages, the cancer charity discovered that cases of oral cancer have alarmingly grown by more than 45 per cent.

Tobacco and alcohol consumption are the main risk factors or oral cancers . However, the researchers said that cancers caused by smoking often take up to 30 years to develop, meaning tobacco is less likely to be the main reason behind the increase in oral cancer for people in their 40s.

Instead, the experts believe the rise could be mainly down to drinking, which has doubled in the UK over the last 50 years.

Other risk factors that could have driven the increase in this age group include a diet low in fruit and vegetables, and the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which also causes cervical cancer .

Commenting on their findings, the charity's health information manager Hazel Nunn, said: "Tobacco is, by far, the main risk factor for oral cancer, so it's important that we keep encouraging people to give up and think about new ways to stop people taking it up in the first place."

"But for people in their 40s, it seems that other factors are also contributing to this jump in oral cancer rates. Alcohol consumption has doubled since the 1950s and the trend we are now seeing is likely to be linked to Britain's continually rising drinking levels."

"The good news is that oral cancer can be treated successfully if it's caught early enough. It's important that people go to the dentist regularly and report any symptoms to their GP or dentist without delay," she added.

In the UK, around 5,000 new oral cancers (cancers of the mouth, tongue, lip and throat) are diagnosed each year, of which 1,800 prove fatal.

The most common signs of oral cancer are ulcers, sores, red or white patches in the mouth that last longer than three weeks, and sudden pain in the mouth or ear.
add to favouritesnewsletterlink to this pagesend to friendpost comments

Link to this page

Copy and Paste the following HTML into your page.

Health cover, life insurance and PMIProtect Your Health

Find Critical illness, Life and Private Medical Insurance PMI policies.

Save money on your mortgageSave on Your Mortgage

Would you like to save money on your mortgage? Fill out our quick mortgage enquiry form