BDHF Calls For Government Funding To Support Oral Screening Programme

Thu, 19 Feb 2009

The government is being urged to provide funding for a national NHS-led oral screening programme to help prevent mouth cancer from developing.

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has called on ministers to take action following new research which found that oral screenings can assist the early detection of the disease, which kills one person every five hours in the UK.

A report, published in the World Health Organization (WHO) bulletin, revealed that visual oral screening is an effective low-cost measure that can save the lives of many mouth cancer patients.

The research, carried out on 160,000 people in Southern India where alcohol and tobacco usage is rife, showed that early detection was achieved in 42 per cent of cases where routine visual screenings took place, nearly double the 24 per cent ratio in cases not taking part in screening programmes.

Commenting on the study, BDHF chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said: "This report confirms our message that prevention and early detection are key to curbing the effects of oral cancer ."

"Early detection leads to survival 9 in 10 mouth cancer patients. With nearly 5,000 people diagnosed each year in the UK, investment in NHS screening would be a real lifesaver."

However, chief dental officer Barry Cockcroft maintains that the Department of Health is already working with Cancer Research UK on pilot projects in London, aimed at increasing awareness of the early warning signs of the disease.

The chief dental officer added: ‘We share the BDHF's concern about the number of people dying from oral cancer ."

"But the best means of reducing mortality is through oral health promotion campaigns targeted at people most at risk – smokers who are also heavy drinkers – and encouraging these people to see a dentist or other health care professional if they have predisposing symptoms of the disease. "
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