One of the most common words linked with cancer is ‘beatable’, according to a new study by the BDHF.
The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) is hailing this a huge triumph against the disease, as Cancer Research UK has said that cancer survival rates have doubled in the UK over the last 40 years.
‘Every single one of us has a different way of thinking about cancer and it is great to see that so many of us have a positive perception about the fight against it,’ Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said.
‘We have seen so many wonderful developments within cancer treatment in recent years but unfortunately, when it comes to mouth cancer, progress has been particularly slow.
‘Mouth cancer survival rates have not improved in the last 20 years and we put this down to a lack of awareness of the signs and symptoms, this may result in diagnosis being made too late and the cancer spreading, this makes treatment more extensive and less successful.
‘Evidently, a lot of us see cancer as not something to be completely feared anymore.
‘We want to make this the same when it comes to mouth cancer in particular; key to beating it is early detection as it dramatically improves the chances of survival from 50 to 90%.
‘There are fantastic support networks, information and improved treatments which all play a role in a greater survival rates but this all depends on an early diagnosis.
‘Although a lot has already been done and more people are surviving cancer in general, we need to do more to help protect people from mouth cancer.’
