Risk profile of oral cancers and strategies to improve awareness and early detection

Abstract

Fundamentals of implementing any cancer control programs are the understanding of the burden of the disease in the community (incidence trends), risk factor profile and the awareness among the public about the cancer and its risk factors. In this project we attempted to investigate all these three inter related subjects, which would form the basis to implement a systematic oral cancer prevention strategy. In addition, we have investigated the efficacy of a novel oral cancer health education program to improve awareness of oral cancer in the community. Recent data on the incidence trends from the low incidence, developed countries suggest that the head and neck cancers are increasing especially among young adults. In our study on incidence trends in India of two large tumor registry data, it was observed that there is an overall reduction in the incidence of head and neck cancers in urban and rural populations. However, there was a significant increase in the incidence of tongue cancers among females. An attempt was made to compare the Indian data (Mumbai) with the SEER data from US and it was observed that there was an overall reduction of head and neck cancers in India, whereas SEER revealed an increase in the incidence of head and neck cancers among males and an increase of tongue cancers among females. Among young adults, an increased incidence of oral cavity and pharynx cancer was observed among Indian males and tongue cancers among Indian females. Young Americans showed an overall increase in incidence in all head and neck cancer subsites except in the laryngeal cancers.