NHS dentist crisis fears deadly mouth cancers go undiagnosed

Medical leaders have warned that oral cancer may go undiagnosed because dentists refuse to offer consultations.

Routine dental appointments are always checked for any signs of illness, including inflamed or white patches and small lumps or blisters in the mouth. These tests are vital as the symptoms are usually painless or not considered serious by patients.

If you notice anything worrisome, you can go to the hospital specialists for a definitive diagnosis. About half of mouth cancers are first detected this way.

But a large survey last week showed that nine out of ten NHS dental practices in England do not accept new adult patients and eight in ten do not recruit children.

As a result, cases of oral cancer, also known as oral cancer, will undoubtedly disappear, says Dr Jane Wilcock, chair of the faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners North-West. “Patients are often unaware of a problem in their mouth until a hygienist or dentist notices something suspicious, such as a red or white spot on the cheek or gums.

Not all will get cancer, but some will. The problem is that many people cannot see an NHS dentist right now. “With fewer studies, cases of oral cancer inevitably go undiagnosed.”

Cancer expert Professor Patricia Price, Head of Radiotherapy UK and co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, said: “The speed of diagnosis and treatment in oral cancer is extremely important. More oral cancer patients will die needlessly if opportunities for early intervention are missed.

In January, the government committed an additional £50m to fund an additional 350,000 dental appointments, but recent data show that this has had little impact.

The number of NHS dentists has fallen to its lowest level in the last decade, with around 1,000 resigning last year to around 22,000. Another 40 percent want to change jobs or retire earlier this year.

Healthwatch UK spokesperson Jacob Lant said calls to their helpline had uncovered a frustrating situation. “We’ve heard of patients who couldn’t get a dentist appointment for two years and then tried to make an appointment but found out it was canceled because it didn’t take that long. Therefore they cannot re-register because doctors ‘offices do not accept new patients’.

New cases of oral cancer were already on the rise before the pandemic. More than 8,722 people were diagnosed in the UK in 2019, an increase of 97% since 2000. Given this trend and there has been no new data since 2019, there are concerns that new cases will not be diagnosed.

An NHS Trust in England reported a 65% drop in oral cancer reports between 2020 and 2021, according to recent research by the Oral Health Trust.

An NHS Trust in England reported a 65% drop in oral cancer reports between 2020 and 2021, according to the latest research from the Oral Health Trust.

About two out of three patients with oral cancer are men, and three-quarters are over 55 years of age.

Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk. It is also caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), the same infection that causes cervical cancer.

In one-third of cases, the tumor is in or on the tongue. It can occur on the cheeks, palate, tonsils, salivary glands and upper throat, and even in the larynx or larynx as it is best known.

Early warning signs include non-healing mouth ulcers, persistent red or white patches in the mouth, unusual lumps and swelling, and persistent hoarseness. If detected early, 85% of patients recover from the disease while the tumors are small. However, most cases are caught after the cancer has spread. About half of these patients die within three years of diagnosis.

Early treatment may only include surgery, but more advanced cancers require radiation and chemotherapy.

Dr. “In later stages, surgery can remove a large part of the tongue, mouth, or throat,” adds Wilcock. “This can make life incredibly difficult.”

Oral Health Foundation spokesperson Dr. Ben Atkins said: “I have been working as an NHS dentist for 25 years and have never faced challenges similar to those we have now. We are now at a critical point.’

“Anyone who has a non-healing ulcer or another mouth problem and cannot make an appointment with the dentist should consult a doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible and have an examination. .’

One person who is well aware of the devastating impact of oral cancer is Kayleigh Samson, 31, whose mother Elizabeth died of the disease in April 2021 at age 52. Elizabeth of Ayrshire developed symptoms, including facial pain, for the first time. – In March 2020, just as the first Covid quarantine was implemented. Antibiotics prescribed remotely by her GP did not help. She tried to make a dentist appointment when the pain moved to her mouth, but was told she didn’t meet the criteria for emergency treatment because she didn’t have a broken or missing tooth or had bleeding in her mouth.

Elizabeth had a dental checkup in November of that year and was sent to the hospital for further testing a month later, where she was told she had salivary gland cancer. “The doctor said it was very aggressive,” Kayleigh recalls. “My mother didn’t smoke and only drank on special occasions. She tried to tell people something was wrong, but she failed.”

In January, Elizabeth underwent surgery, losing three quarters of her tongue and 13 lymph nodes on her head. But it came too late as the cancer had spread to the brain and lungs.

Kayleigh said, “It all happened so fast that it’s still hard to understand. My advice to anyone with a problem with their mouth is to keep insisting on seeing someone who can take a look and give advice. ‘