THE WAY TO PEACE
How to prevent tobacco related oral cancer
Users of Tobacco Worldwide & in India
In the world tobacco users are 110 crores.
In India tobacco/gutka users are 25 crores.
17 crores male and 8 crores female.
WORLD RECORD OF TOBACCO
Globally Oral Cancer is one of the 10th most common cancers of the body and a serious health problem and a cause of death.
In India Oral cancer( cancer of mouth ) is number one cancer .
Every year tobacco kills about 3-4 million people worldwide .
Tobacco Habits prevalent in India are:
1) CHEWING
-
Khaini (Tobacco+ Lime )
- Pan (Betel leaf, Tobacco,
Supari, Lime, Cathectu etc.)
- Pan Masala / Gutka /Kharra/ Mawa
- Mainpuri Tobacco
2)Smoking
- Bidi
-
Cigarette
-
Chilum
-
Dhumati
-
Chutta/Reverse Chutta
-
Hookli
-
Hookka
3) PRODUCTS USED FOR TEETH CLEANING (DENTIFRICES)
-
Mishri (Burnt Tobacco)
-
Gudhaku Paste (Some Dant Manjan)
-
Bajjar (Dry Snuff)
-
Moist Snuff
Beware of Supari -( Betel nut )
TOBACCO - A POISON
Tobacco containing products act as slow poisons.
Nonsmoker smokes 1 cigarette per 10 cigarette passively.
As many as 4000 substances identified in tobacco smoke .
It contain numerous hurtful toxins, gases -CO, Nicotine etc.
And more than 43 carcinogens (substances which initiate cancer) Like nitrosomines, aromatic hydocarbons, tar and
Mutagens (substances capable of damaging the genetic makeup of an individual).
HOW TOBACCO KILLS ?
Heart attack, stroke (paralysis), lung cancer, liver cancer.
Stillbirth, underweight, mentally retarded baby born to tobacco addicted mother.
Sterility is common in men.
Each cigarette reduce your life by 5 minutes
----and still many of us very proudly consume this poison !
What an irony !!
What Is Oral Submous Fibrosis?
Oral Submous Fibrosis is a precancerous condition . It is more commonly seen in those patients who are panmasala and gutka chewer and habitual eater of "Bharda" betelnut . It is predominantly seen in India and Indian subcontinent . The unfortunate part is that ;it is more commonly seen in teenagers and youths .
WHAT IS ORAL PRECANCER?
Fortunately many a times Oral Cancer is (but not always) preceded by simple changes (lesions) which are not cancers to begin with. In precancer the oral tissue is altered and cancer is more likely to occur in that part, than the other normal counterpart of the mouth.
These are forewarning signals, which are painless and can be called as Precancerous lesions. These may get transformed into frank cancer in due course of time.
Precancer may appear as:
a) White Patch (Leukoplakia)
b) Red Patch (Erythroplakia)
c) Visible changes in the palate.
d) Restricted mouth opening due to stiffness and rigidity of the cheek and tongue (Oral Submucous Fibrosis).
People with precancer run a high risk of developing or cancer as compared to people who are without precancer
WHAT IS ORAL CANCER?
Oral cancer means a life-threatening tumour growing in the oral cavity.
Oral Cancer appears as:
a) Exophytic or outwardly growing mass in the mouth. or
b) Ulcerative or inwardly spreading non-healing ulcer. Or
c) Growth with finger likes projections or cauliflower like appearance.
Either of these can appear on any part of mouth like lip, corner of the mouth, cheek, tongue, palate, gum and floor of the mouth .
It occurs more commonly in men than women.
It is not a single moment phenomenon, but a complex disease process occurring over a period of time.
Therefore although oral cancer is seen more commonly in the adult and old age group, the cancerous process begins at a very early young age.
WHAT IS THE FATE OF ORAL CANCER PATIENTS?.......
The destiny of oral cancer patients rests greatly upon early detection and timely treatment. The earlier the detection, the smaller is the lesion and better is the treatment.
This is possible because oral cavity is a readily accessible part of our body and self-oral examination in the mirror is possible.
Unfortunately, however, oral cancer is a painless disease process and hence it is usually noticed very late or in the advanced stage making the prognosis very poor.
The overall 5-year survival rate after complete surgical removal is only 43% due to late detection or treatment. Approximately half of oral cancer patients’ die within 5 years, and the surviving half are left with severe esthetic or functional compromise.
Since the face, mouth and teeth are the most expressive parts of the look; their stinging deformity may often lead to heartless indignity and social trauma as a result of their monstrosity.
Cancer stigmatizes in the family and the society
Signs and Symptoms One Should not ignore:
A persistent lump or thickening in the cheek .
A persistent white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or any part of oral cavity .
A sore in the mouth that does not heal in a month time .
A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that doesn't go away .
Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.
Difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue .
Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth .
Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable .
Sudden loosening of the few or more teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw .
Voice changes or hoarseness of voice .
CHEMOPREVENTION
It refers to administration of natural or synthetic substances to reduce cancer risk.
Certain vegetables like Carrot, Gooseberry, Guava, lemon, orange, cabbage may reduce cancer incidence by 20 to 30%.
CAN WE PREVENT ORAL PRECANCER CANCER?
Studies have shown that the main evil doers for oral precancer, cancer are tobacco, pan, supari, gutka, kharra etc.
Thus Oral Cancer is self-inflicted disease and is avoidable.
The most rational way of preventing it is, by avoiding various habits.
Suggestions to help a person quit using tobacco, pan supari, gutka etc.:
In the Qur'an, Allah says, "...he [the Prophet] commands them what is just, and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good, and prohibits them from what is bad..."
(Surah al-Araf 7:157).
Do not kill yourselves, Allah is indeed merciful to you.
("Noble Qur'an" Surah An-Nisa(4), verse: 29)
Do not cast yourselves, with your own hands, into destruction.
("Noble Qur'an" Surah Al-Baqarah(2), verse: 195)
Whoever consumes poison, killing himself with it, then he will he consuming his poison in the hellfire, and he will abide in it permanently and eternally.
( Al-Bukhaari and Muslim )
And the Messenger says: No harm may be inflicted on oneself or others.
(Ahmad and Ibn Maajah )
So dear brothers and sisters, if you are addicted to this habits, you must make your intention firmly to Allah to stop and seek aid with Him Who hears and sees all, and always answers the supplication of the sincere Believer.
He, Most High says: " And when My slaves ask you about Me, [oh, Muhammad, say that] verily, I am near [in hearing, seeing and know-ledge]: I answer the supplication of the one who asks when he asks Me"
("Noble Qur'an" Surah Al-Baqarah(2), verse: 186)
Stop immediately instead of claiming it is best to do it gradually. The gradual approach is the way of one who does not trust his determination and the will power that Allah has granted him.
Let the example be taken from the Sahabah who, as soon as Allah's command reached them regarding alcohols:
...Will you not then desist?
("Noble Qur'an" Surah Al-Maa'idah (5), verse: 91)
they immediately poured out all the alcohol that they had and said, "We desist our Lord, we desist!" They did this despite the fact that alcohol has a greater addictive power over those who drink it.
Avoid the bad company of smokers and users of tobacco, gutka etc.
Use medically tested and established procedures to help stop smoking, as directed by physicians, such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum, etc.
It is first recommended to make the firm intention, from deep in your heart, to give up this evil habit.Trust in Allah's words: "...When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust in Him.
If Allah helps you, none can overcome you; if He forsakes you, who is - after that -that can help you? In Allah, then, let believers put their trust".
("Noble Qur'an" Surah Al lmran(3), verse: 159-160)
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Dr Vivek K Pakhmode ,
Prof. & Head of the Dept of Dentistry ,
B.J. Medical College ,
Sassoon General Hospital ,
Pune : 411001 India .
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