ORAL CANCER AND PRE-CANCEROUS LESIONS

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Oral cancer is one of the sixth most common cancers in the world. In India, it is one of the third most common cancers and poses a major public health problem. Currently available information show that nearly 9 per 1,00,000 both in males and females suffer from oral and lip cancer. It is common where betel quid chewing, bidi smoking, alcohol and tobacco consumption is high. Other risk factors are poor oral hygiene, chronic irritation (e.g. rough teeth, dentures and fillings etc.) and alcohol consumption.

Signs & Symptoms

Cancer of mouth or facial region may remain undetected for a long duration because initially the symptoms may be mild. The most common problems which require an alert and prompt treatment are:

  1. Persistent non-healing ulcer of more than 2 weeks' duration

  2. A white or red raised patch in the mouth

  3. Restriction in mouth opening

  4. A lump or growth in the mouth

  5. Abnormal loosening of few teeth or unexplained bleeding from the mouth

  6. Soreness or a feeling that some foreign object is caught in the throat

  7. Difficulty in chewing or swallowing

  8. Numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth

  9. Hoarseness of voice

Prevention of Oral cancer

The most important step in oral cancer prevention is restriction or stoppage of various tobacco related habits and discouraging the use of alcohol since 95% of the oral cancers are due to these tobacco related habits. Apart from this, early detection and treatment of cases with pre-cancerous lesions and cancers is more desirable since early treatment of cancer is more effective. The simplest way is to educate and encourage individuals to examine their own mouth (Self-examination).

We should target

  1. Prevention from adoption of tobacco habit

  2. Cessation of existing tobacco habits

  3. Motivation of the people who have left tobacco habits

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