A 30 per cent spike in head and neck cancer diagnoses has sparked warnings from Queensland health professionals to pay attention to potential cancer signs.
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The data, sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, shows a sharp rise in oral, head and neck cancers in Queensland between 2004 and 2014, with most diagnoses being reported in men.
In 2014, one in 46 men were at risk of being diagnosed with a head and neck cancer before the age of 75, compared to just one in 150 women.
Cancer Council Queensland chief executive Chris McMillan said smoking and alcohol were two major contributors to head and neck cancers.
“Around 59 per cent of mouth cancers are attributed to smoking and 31 per cent to excessive alcohol consumption,” she said.
“While not talked about often, head and neck cancers are in the top five most common cancers for Australian men, with around 75 per cent of all head and neck cancers diagnosed in men.”
In 2004, 752 people were diagnosed with head and neck cancers, but by 2013 that number had spiked to 1007, dropping to just under 1000 in 2014.
Head and neck cancers include cancers of the mouth and lips, throat, voice box, nasal cavity and sinuses, and salivary glands.
Ms McMillan said limiting alcohol and quitting smoking could help reduce the risk. The data showed an increase in cancer diagnoses along with age, with the rates of diagnoses increasing rapidly after the age of 40.
With Dental Health Week currently in operation, Queensland’s chief dental officer Dr Mark Brown said more than half of head and neck cancers occurred in the mouth or lips.
“Early detection saves lives, so be aware of any changes to your mouth, lips, face or neck and report them to your dentist or doctor as soon as possible,” he said.
“Oral health is about your whole mouth – not just your teeth – so check the inside of your cheeks and lips, front and sides of the tongue, roof of the mouth, back of the throat and under the tongue.
“Early changes can be difficult to detect on your own, which is why we recommend regular check-ups with a dentist, who will screen for any early symptoms of oral cancers.”
Symptoms for head and neck cancers include persistent and unexplained bleeding in the mouth or nose, changes in the voice, red, white or dark patches in the mouth, and sores in the mouth, face or neck that haven’t healed in a few weeks.
