New cases of mouth cancer in the UK have now reached 8,302 a year

The State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2018/2019

08 February 2019

This report is now available on the Oral Health Foundation website.

A summary of the key findings:

New cases of mouth cancer in the UK have now reached 8,302 a year.

This has increased by 49% in the last decade and by 135% compared with 20 years' ago.

56% of mouth cancers appear on the tongue and tonsils.

Last year, 2,722 Brits lost their life the mouth cancer.

The ten-year survival rate is between 19% and 58%, depending on where the cancer strikes and how early it is diagnosed.

Almost nine in ten (88%) British adults have now heard of mouth cancer. However, only 8% are confident about their knowledge of the disease.

Three in four (75%) do not know the major signs and symptoms for mouth cancer.

Awareness on the major risk factors of mouth cancer remains low.

Better lifestyle choices, earlier diagnosis and improved access to dentistry are some of the key challenges in confronting mouth cancer.

Calls for more investment in community dentistry, as well as a catch-up programme for HPV vaccinations.