Health Professionals - Mouth Cancer Statistics
This page contains an overview of statistics about mouth cancer. For more in depth analysis see our CancerStats Oral cancer section.
Mouth cancer includes cancers of the tongue, gums, tonsils, lining of the mouth, lips and upper part of the throat. It can also affect the hypopharynx, which surrounds the voicebox.
Incidence
In 2004, there were over 4,750 new cases of mouth cancer in the UK. This was more than the number of either cervical or testicular cancers. Around a third of cases are found in the mouth and just over a quarter are found on the tongue.
Fifty years ago, mouth cancer was five times more common in men than in women. Now it is only twice as common in men. The disease is more likely to develop in people over the age of 50, but is on the increase in younger adults, especially men.
Mortality
In 2005, around 1,700 people in the UK died from mouth cancer. Overall, death rates have improved little since the 1970s. While the death rate has halved for men over 70, it has steadily increased for younger men in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
Survival
Survival rates vary depending on the type of mouth cancer. But for all types, survival greatly improves if the disease is detected at an early stage. For example, for patients with tumours in the mouth cavity, two-year survival rates are:
- just under 90% if detected early (stage I)
- under 50% if detected after they have spread (stage IV).
Prevention
Almost all cases of mouth cancer are preventable. 80% of cases are thought to be due to tobacco, alcohol or a combination of both. Unhealthy diets may account for 10-15% of cases.
