Let's talk about mouth cancer – the story and the facts

‘The number of people being diagnosed with mouth cancer (oral cancer) is increasing, with notable rises in incidence in younger people and in females.’

So started the Joint Statement on Mouth Cancer Diagnosis and Prevention from the British Society for Oral Medicine (BSOM) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) published in October 2013.¹,²,³ This document was a rallying call to all dental and healthcare professionals to improve public and professional awareness of mouth cancer and to help institute better preventive strategies, as well as earlier diagnosis and referral for treatment. Recently published CRUK data⁴ show a 92% rise in the incidence of mouth cancer in the UK since 1970; with incidence and mortality rates being significantly higher in Scotland. They also report that 2386 people died from mouth cancer in 2014, a 21% increase on the last decade. A team of five volunteers took on the challenge of the rallying call and, in 2014, formed the Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organization (SC045100) Let's Talk About Mouth Cancer (LTAMC), the main aims of which are outlined in Table 1. The work of the group takes a new innovative approach and, following initial campaigning in Edinburgh, the charity has a national profile in Scotland.