In our last blog, we discussed the links between mouth cancer and dry mouth. November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, and as part of this, the Oral Health Foundation has published its latest report on the State of Mouth Cancer in the UK. We thought we would take a moment to discuss this condition, and some of the potential side effects of treatment.

What is it?

Mouth cancers include those occurring in the lips, tongue, cheeks, tonsils and throat. The number of people in the United Kingdom with mouth cancer is growing at an astonishing rate, with approximately 30 people being diagnosed every day!

Mouth cancer can present in a number of different ways. The signs and symptoms include:

• A mouth ulcer that does not heal within three weeks
• White or red patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth, head or neck
• Any persistent ‘hoarseness’

Although mouth cancer can affect anyone, there are certain factors that can increase the chance of developing the disease. The two greatest are smoking, which doubles your chances of being diagnosed with mouth cancer, and drinking alcohol to excess, which is responsible for about a third of cases.

Other factors include:

• Poor diet
• Use of chewing tobacco (including products like paan and gutkha)
• Excess sun exposure or use of tanning beds
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Mouth cancers are most common in people between the ages of 55 and 74, and twice as common in men as in women. Rates of mouth cancer are also higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK. Mouth cancers are most likely to occur in the tongue, accounting for nearly a third of all cases.

What should you do?

If you notice anything unusual in or around your head, mouth and neck, it’s best to seek medical advice from a doctor or dentist as soon as possible.

Early diagnosis is absolutely vital; as long as the disease is caught early, there’s a 90% chance of survival. Detecting it not only gives a higher chance of beating it, but a better quality of life.

Self-checks and regular dental visits are important for spotting possible mouth cancers early on, so make sure regular check-ups are a priority.

Treatment

Once mouth cancer has been diagnosed, there are a range of treatment options, depending on the location, size and other factors, including a patient’s age and general health. They can include a combination of:

• Surgery
  Surgery is usually required to remove the cancer, and possibly also lymph nodes in the neck.
• Chemotherapy
  This involves medicine that kills cancerous cells, and is sometimes given with radiotherapy
• Radiotherapy
  Radiotherapy is often used to treat mouth cancer. It may be the only treatment needed if the cancer is found early
• Targeted medicines and immunotherapy
  Targeted medicines kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy involves the use of medicines which help your immune system kill cancer cells.

After treatment, the recovery period can also be challenging. Patients may experience problems including difficulty breathing swallowing, drinking, and eating. Speech can be affected, and some facial disfigurement may also occur.

Mouth cancer treatment and dry mouth

One of the common side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy when applied to the head or throat is dry mouth. The salivary glands can be temporarily or permanently affected by these treatments, reducing the quantity or changing the composition of saliva being produced, and resulting in a dry mouth.

Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding mouth-drying substances like alcohol and tobacco, and practicing good oral hygiene can make a significant difference.

Oralieve's range of products are specially formulated to provide relief from the symptoms of dry mouth, helping you keep on smiling, speaking, and enjoying life without discomfort.

For more information on Oralieve’s range of products, click here.

Find out more about mouth cancer via the links below:

NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer 
Oral Health Foundation: https://www.dentalhealth.org/mouth-cancer