26/11/2025
💙 November is Mouth Cancer Action Month 💙
Mouth cancer is on the rise — yet awareness remains low. Here are the facts:
🦷 10,825 people in the UK were diagnosed last year.
💔 3,637 lives were lost.
🌍 Affects 650,000 people worldwide every year.
👨🦱 Twice as common in men, though rates in women are increasing.
👅 53% of cases appear on the tongue or tonsils.
👵 78% occur in people aged 55+.
📉 Survival rates remain low due to late detection — 5-year survival has barely improved in decades.
⚠️ 1 in 4 cases have no clear risk factors.
🚗 Mouth cancer causes more UK deaths each year than road traffic accidents, and more than cervical + testicular cancer combined.
Yet, awareness is worryingly low:
🔹 Only 20% know the signs & symptoms
🔹 Only 8% know the risk factors
👀 Check your mouth regularly and see your dentist or GP if you notice:
• Persistent mouth ulcers
• Lumps, swelling, or red/white patches
• Difficulty swallowing or unexplained pain
💙 Early detection saves lives.
