Mouth cancer has risen in Leicester by 30 per cent since 2001 according to Public Health England.
The Oral Health Foundation state that the disease causes more deaths per year than testicular and cervical cancer combined and mouth cancer has started to become more common in the city.
Dental Health Consultant, Jasmine Murphy, from Public Health England said:
“Last year for Leicester alone, we had 208 cases diagnosed, that represents a 30% increase from 2001. And it has been a year on year increase and we’d love to see it buck the trend and go down and decline in rates,”
Phillip Martin from White House Dental Surgery believes his surgery has seen cases of the disease due to chewing tobacco, which is used in Asian communities around the city. He described the form of tobacco as “lethal” when it comes to causing mouth cancer.
David Shakesby, from Leicestershire, died of mouth cancer aged just 41-years-old, despite being a non-smoker and an occasional drinker. His family spoke to Pukaar News (video above) as they try to raise awareness of the disease.
