British Dental Association Comment On 'alarming' Rise In Oral Cancer Rates Among People In Their Forties

Main Category: Dentistry
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 16 Aug 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The British Dental Association expressed concern at the statistics released by Cancer Research UK this week showing that oral cancer rates in the UK for men in their 40s have gone up by 28 per cent since the mid 1990s, and rates for women in their 40s have increased by 24 per cent in the same period. According to the charity, oral cancer rates have increased by more than 45 per cent since records began in 1975, for both men and women of all ages.

Commenting on these figures, Keith Altman, Chair of the BDA's Central Committee for Hospital Dental Services (CCHDS), said:

"These figures are worrying and chime with our experience of seeing a substantial increase in the number of people being treated for oral cancer in our hospitals. We believe the rise is related to alcohol intake, smoking and demographic factors.

"Most of the patients we see in hospitals with oral cancer are referred by dentists. As dentists routinely screen patients for oral cancer, they play an important role in diagnosing the condition.

"We can't stress enough the importance of patients going to see their dentist regularly as the earlier the condition is detected the better the prognosis."

Source
British Dental Association

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