November is Mouth Cancer Action Month

Every November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, a month that is used to remember those who are currently battling with or have passed away from oral cancers and raise awareness.

The number of people diagnosed with mouth cancer continues to rise and causes more deaths than both testicular and cervical cancer combined.

Symptoms and Causes

Mouth Cancer can affect the tongue, gums, cheeks, roof of the mouth or lips. The most common symptoms are;

• Red or white patches
• An ulcer that doesn’t heal within 3 weeks
• New lumps or swelling
• Difficulty swallowing or speaking.

It predominantly affects those between the ages of 66-70, but recent statistics show there has been a 13% rise in cases of people between the ages of 40-49. Men are twice as likely to develop mouth cancer, but there has also been a rise in the number of women being diagnosed.

Certain factors may increase the risk of mouth cancer, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, Leukoplakia and a weakened immune system.

There has been an increase in oral cancer cases related to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This is a very common virus that is spread through skin contact, usually during sexual activity. For most people, it is completely harmless, but for others it can develop into mouth or oropharyngeal cancers. It is believed that HPV could be linked to the rise in oral cancer cases amongst younger people who do not smoke.

An example of a young person with oral cancer is the recently reported case of Dan Durant, age 26, who developed a white patch on his tongue in August 2023. He initially dismissed this as just an ulcer, until his tongue became inflamed after accidentally biting down on it. His GP suspected this to be cancer, and he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in August 2024. This led to an extensive operation in which half of his tongue was removed and reconstructed. The cancer had also began spreading to a lymph node in his neck. He is now recovering and receiving treatment, but Mr Durant’s story highlights the importance of never ignoring the signs, even in the young and healthy. The earlier mouth cancer can be caught, the better the prognosis. Read the full story in the Daily Mirror’s article.

How can I check for signs of mouth cancer?

Mouth cancer is often not detected until a later stage, as many people are unaware of how to check themselves for the signs. This can be done by;

1. Checking your top and bottom lip for any chances, red or white patches, ulcers or lumps,

2. Feeling your lips and the inside of your cheeks for swelling or lumps,

3. Checking the sides, top and bottom of your tongue,

4. Checking the roof of your mouth and tonsils.

Notable people who have been diagnosed with Oral Cancer

The well known actor, Stanley Tucci, who has starred in many films including The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games, has recently spoken of his own battle with oral cancer after being diagnosed in 2017. His initial symptom was a pain in his jaw, and it was revealed that he had a tumour at the base of his tongue. Fortunately, after 35 days of targeted radiotherapy and 7 sessions of chemotherapy, he is now clear of cancer. However, a long-term effect of his cancer is that he now experiences an altered sense of taste and smell. Read the full interview here in the Metro.

Other famous people that have been diagnosed with oral cancer are actor Michael Douglas, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and the infamous founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud.

Williamsons have assisted a number of clients in respect of medical negligence relating to mouth cancer delay, which has led to life changing events. Such cases have included tongue cancer and cheek cancer. If you or a loved one have suffered from mouth cancer, and you feel that there was a delay in diagnosis or that the treatment was not conducted to an appropriate standard, please contact our Medical Negligence team on 01482 323697 to discuss how we can help.

If you would like to donate to Mouth Cancer Action, you can find the link here: www.dentalhealth.org/donate/mouthcanceraction