Oral Cancer Awareness

One of the most common cancer in India is Oral Cancer. Oral Cavity includes lips, hard & soft palate, anterior fauces & tongue.

Primary tumors of the oral cavity are derived from the mucosa, salivary gland, bone & dental part.

90% of tumors are squamous cell carcinoma. Oral cancer can present at any age & to any gender but common in males in the sixth to the seventh decade but incidences are increasing at a young age.

Oral cancer is considered largely preventable as tobacco smoking, tobacco chewing & alcohol consumption are majorly responsible for it.

Early diagnosis of oral cancer is directly proportional to better prognosis & minimal treatment.

Studies have shown that if oral cancer is diagnosed & it is only affecting oral mucosa then the survival rate exceeds 80 percent compared to 40 percent survival rate when the disease has spread regionally & 20 percent survival rate if metastasis has occurred.

The management of oral cancer patients requires medical expertise & resources and for that, a truly multi-disciplinary approach is required.