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Fear Factor: Anxiety - a Cause of Delayed Presentation of Oral Cancer

From Volume 47, Issue 2, February 2020 | Pages 121-126

Authors

Sukbir Nandra

BDS, MFDS RCSEd, PGCertMedEd

Restorative and Paediatric Dentistry, Bristol Dental Hospital, UK

Articles by Sukbir Nandra

Oluwatoyin Aiyegbusi

BDS, MFDS RCSGlas

Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Restorative and Special Care Dentistry at Royal Preston Hospital

Articles by Oluwatoyin Aiyegbusi

Email Oluwatoyin Aiyegbusi

Abstract

If oral cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage, 5-year survival prognosis can be particularly poor. The existing literature indicates that patient anxiety is a contributing factor to patient delay in oral cancer diagnosis.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article explores the causes of delay in oral cancer diagnosis and encourages practitioners to play an active role in the early diagnosis of oral cancer. Practitioners should appreciate the need to take a holistic approach to patient management and understand that treatment of patients must be tailored to account for their general or specific anxiety issues.

Article

Despite efforts to reduce predisposing risk factors, incidence rates for head and neck cancer in the UK have increased by 30% since the early 1990s and are projected to rise by a further 33% over the next 20 years.1 It has been suggested that there is poorer survival from cancer in the United Kingdom than other European countries; this can be attributed to more advanced cancer progression at initial presentation.2 Unfortunately, oral cancer is often diagnosed late, which results in higher mortality rates. If oral cancer is identified at an advanced stage, when tumour size is large and there is lymph node involvement or metastases, 5-year survival rate can be as low as 20%.3 In contrast, early detection of oral cancer may limit the extent of treatment required and improve survival rates. The 5-year survival rate has been found to be higher than 90% if a diagnosis is made in the initial stages of the disease.4

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