FASHION HEALTH & BEAUTY
Discussing mouth cancer...
James Spence of James
Spence and Colleagues Dental
Surgeons, Ryde, discusses
mouth cancer...
Q: How big a risk is oral cancer and
why are dentists good at spotting it?
A: There are around 7,000 cases per year
in the UK, so that's about a one in 10,000
chance. Some 95 per cent of these are
Squamous Cell Carcinoma, which really
need to be caught early. Men are slightly
more affected than women, but women
are catching up year on year. Dentists
can spot these lesions because dentistry
is a preventive model where we see you
when you are healthy, so any change is
easy to see.
Q: Why do you want to catch these
early?
A: With regular patients on a six or
four monthly recall with the dentist or
hygienist we will usually catch the lesion
at stage one when there is an 80 per cent
rate of successful treatment.
Q: What are the risk factors?
A: Smoking or chewing tobacco,
alcoholic drinks, poor diet, betel nut,
HPV virus, sunlight and your genes.
Patients on immunosuppressants need
more regular exams. Tobacco use is
linked with 3/4 of all mouth cancer in
men.
Q: Can I reduce my risk in other ways?
A: If you eat five to seven portions of
mixed colour fruit/veg a day you will
reduce your risk by at least 50 per cent.
Mottistone
Suite has
the benefits
There are many benefits to having private
healthcare and it need not be as expensive as
you think. The benefits of having private care at
The Mottistone, St Mary’s Hospital Private Wing,
include rapid access to private consultations and
treatment, consultant-led care, private en-suite
rooms, dedicated onsite chef, private patient
lounge, open visiting and free parking.
Consultants and surgeons cover a broad range
of specialities, supported by the latest theatre
facilities and diagnostic equipment available at
St Mary’s. Initial consultations cost from as little
as £135. Private health insurance can be used
to pay for consultations and treatment at The
Mottistone.
It is also possible to book a private en-suite
room at The Mottistone while receiving your
care and treatment under the NHS,subject to
availability. For more information call: 01983
826699.
82
www.visitilife.com
Brushing your teeth in an effective way
twice a day also reduces your risk.
Q: What does a check cost?
A: We carry out this check for regular
patients at every visit to the dentist/
hygienist at no additional charge.
Tel: 01983 615108, 7.40am - 2pm
for an appointment.