This seemingly harmless, albeit uncomfortable, symptom affects millions of people: a canker sore. And when Sinead Marland noticed she had one, she didn’t pay it any attention.

It had stubbornly refused to go away after three weeks – which is why the mother-of-two visited her GP. There was nothing to worry about, he was told.

The little raised white lump on his tongue was more itchy than painful. But reassured, Sinead, then aged 39, attributed it to the stress of running after her children.

Two months later, Sinead visited her dentist for a check-up. She had learned to live with this uncomfortable ulcer, but the dentist, concerned, referred her to a specialist.

A series of tests eventually revealed the shocking truth: it was oral cancer.

When Sinead Marland noticed she had a canker sore, she didn’t pay attention to it, but a series of tests later revealed it was oral cancer.

“I was a smoker so I knew there was a risk, but the doctor told me I was fine,” says Sinead. “I was incredibly lucky that he was caught.”

Sinead is cancer free after surgery. However, much of his tongue was removed during the procedure. For months, she had trouble eating or speaking. His speech hasn’t completely returned to normal yet.

She says: “I had to relearn how to speak, but I sound different now. And I have scars on my arms and torso where skin grafts were done to reconstruct my tongue.

Sinead is not alone: ​​doctors, dentists and patients are failing to detect the early symptoms of cancer, leading to a steep rise in deaths over the decade.

Cases in the UK have reached a record high, surpassing 10,000 for the first time, according to data collected by the Oral Health Foundation. Over the past 20 years, diagnoses have increased by 133 percent.

As a result, the association is organizing Oral Cancer Action Month throughout November, to raise awareness of the early signs and prevent thousands of deaths.

Symptoms include persistent ulcers, red or white spots in the mouth, and bumps in the mouth, head, or neck. Ulcers caused by cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, but can occasionally appear elsewhere in the mouth.

‘The problem is that the early signs of mouth cancer are very similar to those of many other conditions and many people suffer from mouth ulcers,’ says Manchester-based dentist Dr Ben Atkins.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, added: “The demographics of people with cancer have changed: we used to only diagnose heavy smokers and drinkers at age 70, but we are seeing a lot of cases younger. » .’

The disease is also detected later. More than half of cases are diagnosed at stage three or four.

Five-year survival for the most advanced cases is 35 percent – ​​it is 85 percent in the first stage. As a result, an estimated 3,637 people died from mouth cancer in the UK last year, 61% more than a decade ago.

“It is essential to detect symptoms as early as possible. So it’s important that if you have a persistent ulcer, you see a dentist,” says Dr. Atkins.

However, this data comes as people across the country struggle to get a dentist appointment.

“We tell people to see either a GP or a dentist, as both can spot the signs of oral cancer,” says Dr Carter.

Research shows that the increase in cases is mainly driven by people aged 40 to 50. Experts believe this is due to lifestyle.

In 2013, actor Michael Douglas revealed that he had developed oral cancer following an HPV infection. He no longer has cancer

“Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption remain significant risk factors, but we are seeing increasing numbers of cases linked to human papillomavirus (HPV),” says Dr. Carter. According to Cancer Research UK, around 70% of cases of mouth and throat cancer are caused by HPV.

In 2013, actor Michael Douglas revealed that he had developed oral cancer following an HPV infection. Douglas, now 80, had a walnut-sized tumor removed from the base of his tongue and underwent intensive chemotherapy. He no longer has cancer.

There is a vaccine against HPV, but figures show that the number of children receiving it is falling. The highly effective vaccine has been offered to all 8th grade girls since 2008 and all boys since 2019, but almost half of all eligible children do not receive it, leaving them vulnerable later in life .

For some, the introduction of the vaccine came too late.

“My mouth was a mess, it was really painful, so when I found out I had cancer I was almost relieved to know what was wrong,” says Rachel Parsons.

Mother-of-five Rachel Parsons, 53, visited her dentist and GP three times with a persistent mouth ulcer before insisting on being referred and having her cancer diagnosed. Subsequent tests showed that HPV was likely the cause.

“My mouth was a mess, it was really painful, so when I found out I had cancer I was almost relieved to know what was wrong,” Rachel says. “That first year, I was in and out of the hospital. It also put a strain on my marriage.

Fortunately, Rachel’s insistence that a test be carried out led to the problem being detected early enough to be able to surgically remove it. She is cancer free and has been able to repair the damage done to her relationship.

But the Coventry carer says she gets scared almost every year, with an ulcer or pain in her mouth: ‘I always worry that it won’t be caught by doctors, but I’m not scared to open your mouth now and demand answers.

With the increase in cases and the importance of early diagnosis, if you have had a canker sore for more than three weeks, consult a dentist or doctor.