Mouth Cancer – Essentials of Detection and Prevention in 2025

The battle against mouth cancer remains a dental healthcare priority in 2025. Unfortunately, the incidence of cancer in head and neck in the UK has continued to increase yearly with 10,825 cases diagnosed in 2023, a figure that represents double the number that was seen 10 years ago.  Whilst professional awareness and treatment methods have improved, the overall poor five-year survival of 50% has remained unchanged, primarily due to presentation at late stages.  The most important factors that can improve survival are detection of the tumour whist small (2cm in diameter) and before it has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.  Prevention of mouth cancer is equally important and all healthcare workers should know the risk factors and proactively provide appropriate life style advice to patients to reduce the potential for malignancy.

Learning objectives

• To have contemporary understanding of the clinical presentation, detection and management of mouth cancer.
• To be able to recognise the presence of an orofacial abnormality that requires referral to secondary care on an urgent suspected cancer (USC) pathway.
• To be aware of the known risk factors for mouth cancer and be able to provide advice in the primary dental care setting to potentially reduce the development of malignancy.

This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcome:

C – Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice

Professor Michael A. O. Lewis PhD, FDSRCPS, FDSRCS (Eng), FRCPath, FFGDP(UK), FHEA, Emeritus Professor, Cardiff University

Biography

Professor Mike Lewis is Emeritus Professor of Oral Medicine, Cardiff University.  He has served in a number of senior professional positions within the UK, including Dean of the School of Dentistry at Cardiff University, Dean of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow, President of the British Society for Oral Medicine and President of the British Society for Oral & Dental Research.   He has published over 200 scientific articles and co-authored six medical textbooks.  In addition, he has delivered more than 700 invited postgraduate lectures worldwide. Professor Lewis was recently awarded the John Tomes Medal by the British Dental Association and is a Member of the General Dental Council.