On the occasion of World Head and Neck Cancer Day on July 27, the experts have urged people to stay away from tobacco, as it is the major cause of this type of lethal cancer.
Dr TP Sahoo, cancer surgeon and Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV) patron from MP said, “Head & Neck Cancers are the biggest source of cancer burden in India as well as in MP. Nearly half of the newly diagnosed Head & Neck Cancers die within 12 months of diagnosis.
Paradoxically, two-thirds of head and neck cancers are related to known agents such as tobacco, areca nut and alcohol. Unfortunately, these causative agents are freely available either due to a weak policy or implementation or absence of it.
“India witnesses 1.75 lakh new cases of head and neck cancers every year. Of these 76% are males and 24% are females, said Dr Sahu adding state wide data of this disease was not available.
In India chewing tobacco is more compared to smoking form. 90% of oral cancers, throat cancers are due to tobacco use, said another VoTV patron from MP Dr lalit Shrivastava.
India has the dubious distinction of having largest amount of chewing tobacco consumption in the world. It is a cheap and easily available addiction and its growing consumption in the last two decades has contributed to alarming rise in oral cancer, added Dr Shrivastava.