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Alcohol blamed for massive rise in oral cancer
Ben Bailey11 Aug 2009
Alcohol is chiefly to blame for an "alarming" rise in the rate of oral cancers among men and women in their forties, it was claimed today.
Experts said the number of 40-somethings developing cancers of the mouth, tongue, lip and throat had increased by a quarter in the past decade.
Smoking and alcohol consumption are the two main risk factors for oral cancers.
But since cancers caused by smoking often take up to 30 years to develop, tobacco is not thought to be the main culprit.
Instead, the finger of suspicion is pointing at alcohol consumption, which has doubled in the UK since the 1950s.
Other risk factors that may be involved include a diet low in fruit and vegetables, and the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which also causes cervical cancer.
Figures produced today by Cancer Research UK show that since the mid-1990s, rates of oral cancers have gone up by 28% for men in their forties and 24% for women.
The charity's health information manager Hazel Nunn said: "These latest figures are really alarming.
"Around three quarters of oral cancers are thought to be caused by smoking and drinking alcohol. Tobacco is, by far, the main risk factor for oral cancer, so it's important that we keep encouraging people to give up and think about new ways to stop people taking it up in the first place.
"But for people in their 40s, it seems that other factors are also contributing to this jump in oral cancer rates.
"Alcohol consumption has doubled since the 1950s and the trend we are now seeing is likely to be linked to Britain's continually rising drinking levels.
"It's possible that HPV and diet are also playing a role, and the evidence - particularly for the role of HPV - is growing."
Each year around 5,000 new oral cancers are diagnosed in the UK and 1,800 people die from the disease.
Oral cancers include those of the lip, tongue, mouth, throat and a region called the piriform sinus.
About a third of oral cancers affect the mouth and a slightly lower proportion the tongue.
The most common signs of the disease are ulcers, sores, or red or white patches in the mouth that last longer than three weeks, together with unexplained pain in the mouth or ear.
"The good news is that oral cancer can be treated successfully if it's caught early enough," said Ms Nunn. "It's important that people go to the dentist regularly and report any symptoms to their GP or dentist without delay."
Don Shenker, chief executive of the charity Alcohol Concern, said: "Many people are not aware of the connection between alcohol and cancer, yet as this research shows, it can be a major contributor or cause of the disease.
"While alcoholic liver disease remains the number one killer linked to alcohol, more and more people are suffering from oral cancers - and record drinking levels have undeniably played a part.
"It's time we introduced tobacco-style health warnings on alcohol. It's a consumer issue - people have a right to know the full range of health risks associated with drinking alcohol above recommended guidelines.
"This research will hopefully help people realise the full extent of the damage that alcohol can do, then they're better placed to make informed decisions about how much they drink."
Reader views (2)
Surely this just means drink more quickly, leaving the alcohol less time to cause cancer in the mouth? No doubt the government reaction will be to heap a load more tax on alcohol, just as it is with everything else.
- Paul, London, 11/08/2009 14:18
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Oh oh! Looks like it's 'bandwagon' time again. Would be very interesting to see a proper explanation. Maybe they should commission Levitt and Dubner (Freakonomics) to investigate these meaningless figures before trying to frighten us all. Cancer Research UK - Shame on you!
- Haskey, London SE1, 11/08/2009 13:04
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