26/05/2017
PREVENTION IS BEST STRATEGY IN FIGHT AGAINST ORAL CANCER*
'Prevention is always better than cure' - this basic and very first rule of medical science is perhaps most appropriate for oral cancer.
It is well established now that consuming to***co, betel nut or leaf in any form is an open invitation to oral cancer. In our country consumption of to***co is increasing continuously. Latest research findings confirm that to***co makes the single major factor for causing oral cancers all over the world. It could be shocking to know that out of the several lakh incidents of cancers appearing in the country every year, about half (nearly 46 per cent) the number is of oral cancer only.
A recent survey shows that 90 per cent of all the oral cancer patients chewed to***co in one or the other form. When these substances come into close contact with the soft tissues of oral cavity for a long duration they irritate the cells and eventually change their genetic structure to trigger off cancer.
What Is Oral Cancer
Sometimes cell division becomes uncontrolled, leading to an overgrowth of tissue known as a tumour. Tumours can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).Malignant tumours not only compress but also invade and destroy nearby tissues and structures. Moreover, cancer cells can break away from the original tumour and metastasise (spread) through the blood and lymphatic system to other parts of the body often to lungs, liver and bones.
To***co - Oral Cancer Go Together
The primary causes of oral cancer are to***co and alcohol. Nutritional deficiencies, certain oral conditions and dental factors are also associated with this type of cancer.
To***co contains a number of known carcinogens, including to***co-specific nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polonium-210, a radiation carcinogen. N-nitrosonornicotine, a nitrosamine seen to be a powerful carcinogen
Chronic or excessive alcohol consumption also contributes to the development of oral cancer. The risk of oral cancer is elevated among drinkers even if they do not smoke and in combination, smoking and drinking tend to multiply each other's harmful effects.
Symptoms
The symptoms of oral cancer may appear even before it actually occurs. Leucoplakia- a whitish patch or erythroplakia- a reddish patch replacing the normal pink mucous membrane of the mouth are the most common conditions which progress into cancer. These are commonly associated with irritation of the mucous membrane from chronic injury (for example, cheek chewing, sharp teeth, poor oral hygiene or ill-fitting dentures) and from excessive use of to***co and alcohol. Because cancer may develop in some of the whitish patches, and most of the reddish patches early diagnosis is important. Biopsy (removal of all or part of a growth for microscopic examination) is the only way to establish the exact nature of a suspicious-looking patch.
Early Diagnosis : Key To Cure
Early oral cancers usually are without obvious symptoms of disease, such as pain. Progression of the cancer may be accompanied by pain and bleeding. Sometimes, a lump or lesion in the Oral cavity is the first symptom, which may indicate that the cancer has spread to the cervical lymph nodes. Finding these or other changes does not necessarily mean that cancer is present, but any problem lasting more than two weeks should be checked by a physician or dentist at the earliest.
Many oral cancer deaths could be prevented by early detection and diagnosis.A biopsy is necessary to make a definite diagnosis, in which a sample of tissue from the suspicious-looking area is surgically removed. For testing enlarged cervical lymph node needle biopsy may be performed. Endoscopy, Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) scans, specialized X-ray studies and (MRI) may be useful in locating the primary tumour as well as determining the spread of the disease.
Significant advances have been made in recent years in screening of Oral Cavity which helps in early treatment of oral cancer. ORAL ID a unique adjunctive device for examination of ORAL TISSUE abnormalities. It increases the efficacy of oral exams. It works on "fluorescence technology." "This technology identifies dysplastic lesions -even micro invasive lesions that were completely 'normal' looking with visible light, even to the suspicious eye of an oral pathologist.
The device is handheld portable and works on batteries. It uses a blue light (435–460 nm) that allows a clinician to identify oral cancer, pre-cancer and other abnormal lesions at an earlier stage.. Oral ID is having certificates like US 510, CE and currently used in many countries across the world.
Features that make ORAL ID Useful tool for Primary Examination
Handheld : Lightweight and portable
User Friendly : Simple visual examination.
No Side Effect : Works without any side effect
Simple Training : Health workers can be easily trained
Accurate : Sensitive, May detect microscopic lesion
Affordable : One time investment. No Consumable
Patient Comfort : Safe, painless with no radiation.
Conclusively it can be suggested that, early detection and diagnosis are the key to reduce Oral Cancer mortality .
