1. Mouth Cancer Action Month November 2015
Oral Health Education
Community Dental Service
Room 131, Alsager Clinic
Sandbach Road South
ALSAGER ST7 2LU
Tel

2. Aim – Increase awareness about mouth cancer and support healthcare professionals to signpost to treatment and preventative services.
Objectives 
Outline the incidence of Head and Neck cancer
Identify early warning signs of mouth cancer
State how to access mouth checks and signpost to health improvement services

3. Head and neck cancer in Merseyside and Cheshire
During 2008 – % of Head and neck cancers were in people aged under 65
15th Most common cancer in UK
Areas of Crewe have a particularly high incidence – see slide 4
Females incidence in East Cheshire Local Authority is higher than England – see slide 5

4. Local figures
N.B. Statistically high incidence in areas of Crewe

5. Incidence
N.B – Female incidence in Cheshire East LA is higher than England

6. Key UK facts ref. Mouth Cancer Foundation
In 2011, there were 6,767 people diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK
Mouth cancer cases have increased by a third in the last decade…… it is one of few cancers that experts predict will continue to increase in the coming years
The lifetime risk of developing mouth cancer is 1 in 84 for men and 1 in 160 for women
Cancer of the tongue and oral cavity are the most common forms of mouth cancer.

7. Who does it effect?
Rates are much higher in white males, however those in Asian males are similar
More than 90% of mouth cancers in men and 85% in women are linked to lifestyle and environmental factors

8. Risk factors Smoking Alcohol Poor diet Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Gum disease and tooth loss

9. Smoking Two thirds of mouth cancer cases are linked to smoking tobacco
Smokers put themselves at almost three times higher risk…..but cigars and pipe smokers put themselves at greater risk
Ex-smokers reduce their risk by a third

10. Stop smoking contact details
Phone:   
Website:  kickstartcheshire.co.uk

11. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol to excess is linked to around a third of all cases
Those who smoke and drink to excess put themselves at risk by up to 30 times

12. Alcohol metabolises to a product called Acetaldehyde
This is mutagenic.
This is metabolised in the liver but also in the oral cavity and accumulates in the soft tissues.
Metabolism is enhanced by oral streptococci - linking poor oral hygiene to increased risk of mouth cancer. 
Alcohol enhances the penetration of tobacco carcinogens into the oral mucosa.
It has the capacity to eliminate the fatty barrier that protects the oral mucosa and tongue from penetration by tobacco carcinogens. 
This disrupts the normal orderly arrangement of fat molecules opening up inter cellular pathways.

13. Cheshire East Drug and Alcohol service

14. Other risk factors
More than half of cases in the UK are linked to a poor diet
Solar radiation from the sun has been linked to cancer of the lip
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is estimated to overtake smoking as the number one cause of mouth cancers in the future
Mouth cancer is 2.5 times higher in those with gum disease…and is 60 times higher in people with six or more missing teeth
Mouth cancer is 70% more common in those whose family have a history of the disease

15. Silent killer
More than 2,000 people lose their life to mouth cancer in the UK every year
There are more deaths from mouth cancer than there are through road traffic accidents
Mouth cancer also claims more lives per year than cervical and testicular cancer combined

16. Survival
Although the number of mouth cancer cases have increased steadily over the last decade, more people are being treated successfully and living for longer
Early detection for mouth cancer results in a survival outcome of 90%

18. How to check for mouth cancer:-
Self examination
At the dentist
Free mouth checks

19. Self examination
Free leaflets/posters are available from:

22. At the dentist
As part of a regular check-up a dentist is required to carry out a visual examination and look for early signs of mouth cancer. For urgent dental care 9am to 9.30pm every day including weekends and bank holidays telephone If someone is having difficulty finding an NHS dentist call NHS England on or visit NHS choices at

24. Useful resources/references

25. Evaluation Objectives Outline the incidence of Head and Neck cancer
Identify early warning signs of mouth cancer
State how to access mouth checks and signpost to health improvement services

26. Questions Contact Lynn McCutcheon 01270 275555 lynnmccutcheon@nhs.net
Please complete evaluation form