Risk of oral cancer high among adults

Falaknuma: Out of 2,000 adults screened for oral health here, 70% were men and of them almost 1/3rd have been found to have oral pre-malignancies disorders (OPMD). A majority of those at risk are below the age of 35 years.

The screening was conducted by city-based NGO, Helping Hand Foundation (HHF) in urban slums across areas like Nawabsahab Kunta, Teegal Kunta, Tadban, Vattepally, Jahanuma, A R Nagar and surrounding slums wherein 30 dental screening camps were held in the last 3 months starting since May this year.

According to HHF, it has launched first of its kind, randomised population-based screening program for Oral Pre-Malignancies Disorders (OPMD) in the Urban Slum areas of old city. "HHF has screened more than 2000 adults in the last 3 months and has found 1 in 3 adults suffering from OPMD due to very high exposure to non-smoke tobacco," said Mujtaba Askari of Helping Hand Foundation.

Speaking to The Hans India, Mujtaba Askari said that according to community medicine experts the consumption of non-smoke tobacco is high in the old city area particularly amongst daily wagers and auto walas. "Although the data from National Cancer Registry is publicly not available, yet it is well established fact that the incident of Head and Neck Cancers, mainly Oral Cancer is high among adults in Old City area," he observed.

"While we are able to mobilise people for screening at vantage points, the challenge is that only 50% of the cases are turning up for counselling and treatment due to stigma and denial of the fact that there is a problem", he added.

According to HHF team, 60% of the OPMD have Oral Submucosal Fibrosis, 5% have Leucoplakia, both of which predispose the person to malignant form of Oral Cancer in span of 2 to 5 years if not treated.

The remaining 25% were found to have poor oral hygiene like tobacco pouches (Keratosis) and extensive nicotine stains which can also lead to oral cancer, but no conclusive studies are still done on this. Oral pre-malignancies disorders are broadly classified as leucoplakia formation of white patches on the buccal mucosa and cheeks and Oral Submucosal Fibrosis, which is restricted opening of the mouth, can potentially lead to oral cancer.

60% of Oral malignancies which can be diagnosed at an early stage by proper screening come in the stage 2 and 3 where the chances of cure and hope of survival is low, further many vulnerable people are also turning to Hakeems for traditional medicine which is only making things worse for such patients.

"Everyone has an idea that smoking causes cancer, but how often are people made aware of the fact that precancerous lesions can be detected early in oral cancers? If detected early, then we can treat early, but we need to raise more awareness about this," said Dr Akbar Ali khan, Dental Surgeon and Palliative Care physician with HHF.

In 2018, the National Institute of Cancer Prevention which falls under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), released a study that showed that oral cancer cases in India had spiked in a span of six years. The institute noted that around 12 lakh cases of cancer were reported across the country in 2018, rising from 10 lakh reported cases in 2012.