Oral cancer in India: an epidemiologic and clinical review

Oral cancer is one of the most fatal health problems faced by the mankind today. In India, because of cultural, ethnic, geographic factors and the popularity of addictive habits, the frequency of oral cancer is high. It ranks number one in terms of incidence among men and third among women. Several factors like tobacco and tobacco related products, alcohol, genetic predisposition and hormonal factors are suspected as possible causative factors. Hence the study was designed to determine the prevalence of Oral Cancer in patients who attended the outpatient department, at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Dental College Sangli India during a period of 24 months in 2009-2010. Further various modes of tobacco and alcohol consuming habit were assessed along with the site of occurrence of oral cancer. About 35,122 subjects belonging to a semi-urban district of Sangli in Western Maharashtra (India) were screened. Tobacco and alcohol consumption was the common habit among the study population. Out of these about 112 cases showed Oral Cancer. The prevalence of Oral Cancer was 1.12%. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS software 11. The findings in the present study reveal a high prevalence of Oral Cancer and a rampant misuse of variety of addictive substances in the community. Close follow up and systematic evaluation is required in this population. Education about ill effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption is necessary at a broader scale. There is an urgent need for awareness programs involving the community health workers, dentists and allied medical professionals.