Oral cancer

Oral cancer is any abnormal growth and spread of cells in any part of the mouth. There are many risk factors for oral cancer (Canadian Cancer Society), and many, like smoking, are avoidable. Regular visits to the dentist is a good way to detect abnormal changes in the mouth.

Rates of oral cancer are too low to provide reliable estimates by age, sex or by geographic area below the health unit level. Also, oral cancer mortality rates are too low to be reliably reported.

Oral cancer by geographic area

Key findings:

• In the SDHU area, there were 36 cases of oral cancer in 2009.
• In 2009, the rate of oral cancer in the SDHU area was 13 cases per 100,000 population.
• Oral cancer rates were generally similar in the SDHU area, northeastern Ontario and Ontario.
• Between 2000 and 2009, the oral cancer rate in the SDHU area was fairly stable.

Notes:

• Rates are age-standardized using the 1991 Canadian population.
• Data Source: Ontario Cancer Registry and Population Estimates, Cancer Care Ontario, SEER*Stat, Oct. 2012 release.

Figure: Annual age-standardized incidence rate, oral cancer, by geographic area, 2000–2009

Table: Annual age-standardized incidence rate, oral cancer, by geographic area, 2000–2009

Table: Annual number of cases, oral cancer, by geographic area, 2000–2009

This item was last modified on March 26, 2018