The GAA legend reflected on his sporting success, his pioneering medical career in the transplant field and his battle with oral cancer on ‘The Whole Tooth’ podcast in conjunction with the Irish Dental Association.
Hickey described the discovery of a “small ulcer” on his gum and swelling on the floor of his mouth that he thought might be serious.
Speaking on Mouth Cancer Awareness Day, he said: “I immediately went to see my brother who is a dentist and following subsequent hospital tests I was diagnosed with oral cancer”.
He added that “early diagnosis is key” and that dental practitioners are very aware of the potential difficulties one can run into if it is not dealt with quickly.
“With mouth cancer in particular, you have a small window of opportunity, which closes very fast. I would very much recommend regular checks and if you notice anything, like bleeding when brushing your teeth, then you should be seen by your dentist immediately”, David Hickey said.
There are 700 cases of mouth, neck and head cancer every year in Ireland today, with 250 cases of mouth cancer alone.
Oral cancer specifically targets the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks, hard palate (roof of the mouth) and floor of the mouth.
The National Cancer Registry of Ireland has said that there was an elevated risk of death among oral cancer patients who were older than 60 years of age, smokers and people whose tumour was situated at the base of the tongue.
The registry reported that oral cancer increased significantly for both genders between 1999 and 2009 in Ireland. This increase was reported to be due to factors such as smoking, time of diagnosis, age, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and overexposure to sunlight and radiation.
The Irish Dental Association has said that oral cancer can affect anybody and at any stage of their life.
“Signs of mouth cancer include white or red patches in the mouth, a lump or persistent sore throat or hoarseness”, said vice president of the Irish Dental Association Eamon Croke.
“If someone hasn’t visited the dentist in a long time, we would urge them to get checked out”, Mr Croke said.
“We would also encourage all healthcare professionals to be aware of the signs and refer to a dentist if they have any concerns – it could save a life. This episode of the podcast series is about more than just education, it’s about empowering people to take control of their health and their future. 80 pc of the population is entitled to a free oral examination through their PRSI or Medical Card”.
Mouth Cancer Awareness Day is an annual campaign run by the Irish Dental Association.
It aims to highlight the importance of visiting a dentist regularly for a full oral examination in order to maintain good oral health and raise awareness on the circumstances surrounding oral cancer.
It is every year on the third Wednesday of September.
