TOBACCO USE AND BETEL CHEWING MAIN CAUSES OF CANCER

TTo prevent oral cancer we must refrain from using tobacco and alcohol, smoking and chewing betel with arecanut and lime. Once detected, one must seek immediate medical advice as early detection helps treat cancer successfully he ‘International Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeries Day 2018’ was marked yesterday at the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) with a seminar on the theme ’Defeat Tobacco, Prevent Oral Cancer.’

The seminar highlighted the fact that smoking, drinking, chewing betel with arecanut and chunam and the use of tobacco were the main factors that contributed to the increase in incidents of oral cancer in Sri Lanka. Health studies have also revealed that three people die every day from oral cancer and at least 2,500 new cases are detected every year in the country.

Dr. Ananda Ratnayake told the journalists gathered at the seminar that the face was the most vulnerable part of the human body that was disfigured from oral cancer, accidents and interpersonal violence.

“To prevent oral cancer we must refrain from using tobacco and alcohol, smoking and chewing betel with arecanut and lime. Once detected, one must seek immediate medical advice as early detection helps treat cancer successfully,” he said.

Dr. Ratnayake said the need to introduce legal measures was necessary to save schoolchildren from using narcotics like babul, bida and pampara because they were not only harmful but also act as carcinogen, causing gene mutation that ultimately led to cancer. Meanwhile, Dr. Prashantha Atapattu said oral health severely impacted on the lives of people. “The World Oral Health Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage individuals, families, communities and governments to take measures to lower the incidences of oral disease. This day offers the dental and oral health community a platform for action: working together to prevent the epidemic of oral cancer, caries, gum diseases and tooth loss and help our communities maintain a solid dentition for life. Oral cancer or Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) is the fifteenth most common cancer in the world and is the commonest cancer among males and fifth most common cancer among females in Sri Lanka. Carcinogenic agents in tobacco and areca nut in alkaline medium (lyme) cause damage to the normal structure of the oral cavity leading to cancer. Therefore, just by stopping the habit of smoking, using tobacco and chewing betel with areca nut and lime reduces the occurrence of oral cancer markedly,” he said.