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Oral Cancer
There is
enough scientific evidence accumulated over several
years that consumption of tobacco (including betel
leaves laced with lime and catechu or premixed tobacco
formulations) can lead to pre-cancerous lesions and
subsequently oral cancer. Consumption of alcohol, poor
dietary intake and poor oral hygiene are major
contributory factors.
Furthermore it has been shown that 70% of oral cancers
would not have occurred in absence of tobacco
consumption.
A clear correlation - as in case of smoking and lung
cancer - is well established between consuming tobacco
and oral cancer and hence 70% of oral cancers are
avoidable cancers.
In India,
where occurrence of oral cancer is well documented,
almost 56,000 new cases of oral cancer have been
estimated to occur every year, which would lead to more
than 100,000 individuals suffering from the disease in
the population in any given year.
Oral Cancer
patient after
removal
of mandible
and reconstruction
of
the resected area
The
suffering and disfigurement due to this disease are
easily avoidable since the causes associated with the
disease have long been identified. Furthermore, an
important aspect of oral cancer is its easy
accessibility for detection. This feature coupled with
the finding that precancerous lesions usually precede
oral cancer, provides an excellent opportunity for early
detection and control.
Precancerous lesions in the
mouth: Certain type of
white patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth and a
condition leading to progressive inability in opening
mouth and/or intolerance to spicy food called
Sub-Mucous Fibrosis (S.M.F.) have been seen
repeatedly in association with frank oral cancer.
Seven signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for are:
-
Any
white\red patch of more then 15 days duration
-
Repeated
ulcerations in the mouth.
-
Intolerance to spicy food.
-
Burning
sensation in the mouth.
-
Ulcers
of long duration because of sharp edges of worn out
or broken tooth\teeth or old ill-fitting dentures.
-
Difficulty in gargling water or protruding the
tongue.
-
Any
change in old benign (harmless) growths of the
mouth.
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