Media

Researchers at the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will hold a press conference tomorrow (March 19, Tuesday) on the latest trend and figures of mouth cancer and its prevention.

The move is to mark the 2019 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) on Wednesday March 20. The theme this year is ‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health’.

Mouth cancer is the deadliest oral disease. Despite advances in surgical and radiotherapy treatment, half of the patients die within five years of diagnosis.

The incidence of mouth cancer is reaching epidemic proportions, with 300,000 new cases detected globally every year, including 40,000 in China alone. Statistics from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry showed a rising trend of mouth cancer in Hong Kong in the last 20 years.

Most tumours in the mouth can be identified early at a ‘pre-cancer’ stage during standard oral examination by dentists. This offers important opportunities for intervention and curative treatment.

The oral oncology research team will at the media briefing identify the early signs of mouth cancer and the population in Hong Kong most at risk, as well as strategies currently used to prevent pre-cancer from advancing.

Details of the press conference:
Date: 19 March 2019, Tuesday
Time: 10:30 am
Venue: Room 3B57-58, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

Speaker: Professor Peter Thomson, Clinical Professor and Head of the Discipline of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, HKU

Media enquiry:
Faculty of Dentistry, the University of Hong Kong
Ms Eva Tang, External Relations Manager (Tel: 2859 0494 / Email: epytang@hku.hk)

Communications and Public Affairs Office, the University of Hong Kong
Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600 / Email: melwkwan@hku.hk)