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Results: Study findings showed, mouth ulcers and trismus were common symptoms and tobacco chewing and smoking were common addictions. There were statistically significant associations among the symptoms and addictions as well as predominance in rural populations. The majority of smokers (27.1%) belonged to age ≥55 years whereas the tobacco chewers (29.2%) and alcohol abusers (45.8%) in the age group 25-34 years. Also the risk of developing mouth ulcers and trismus in this area are approximately 35 (MRR: 35.7,) and nearly eight (MRR: 7.7, 95% CI: 2.2-26.6) times higher respectively in males.However, joint use of smoked and smokeless tobacco increases nearly three times more risk of either mouth ulcers or trismus. Conclusion:Male individuals are more exposed to certain addictions such as tobacco (smoked and smokeless) and alcohol. The prevalence of oral ulcers is primarily associated with the addictions. Therefore, these persons are more at risk of further developing head neck cancer. A large level community screening and awareness are required especially among the rural population of India.# Screening and early detection are very useful methodologies, since precancerous lesions, in situ carcinoma as well as early stage of head and neck cancer have significantly good survival outcome after treatment. 5,6 The screening method of oral cavity malignancies is relatively simple and can be done effectively by visual inspections. 7 It is also mentioned in the literature that visual inspection of oral cavity by proper trained personnel is well accepted and accurate method of screening for oral cavity malignancies. [8][9][10] Oral self examination is a simple way of assessing self-perception of oral health and its validity has been proven. It is also a cost effective, less time consuming procedure. 11Literature mentions that visual inspection method for oral screening could be restricted to high-risk individuals and organized visual screening is a worthwhile initiative of control for oral cancer in addition to primary prevention efforts to reduce tobacco and alcohol use, 12 as well as, it has potential to prevent deaths due to oral cancer. 13 Despite the fact, that the oral cavity is accessible for visual examination and those oral cancers and premalignant lesions have well-defined clinical diagnostic features, oral cancers are typically detected in their advanced stages in our country. In fact, in India, 60-80% of patients present with advanced disease, as compared to 40% in developed countries. 14 Consistent with patients presenting for medical care with more advanced disease in India compared with developed countries, overall survival is also reduced. 15,16Early detection would not only improve the cure rate, but it would also lower the cost and morbidity associated with treatment. For planning of national or regional oral health promotion programs, as well as to prevent and treat oral health problems, baseline data about the magnitude of the problem is required. India has a vast geographic area, divided into states, wh...

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Background: Oral cavity is prone for myriad of changes with advancing age as well result of environmental and life style related factors like consumption of tobacco (smoke or smokeless) and alcohol. Aim: The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the association of oral mucosal changes (OMC) with nonsmoked tobacco over smoked tobacco and alcohol. Methods: Data of 11,145 subjects from 106 health screening camps, organized in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan between April 2015 to June 2017 was analyzed to unveil and determine the mode of addiction and prevalence of OMC. Bivariate and multivariable models were tested for comparison and identification of factors associated with an increasing risk of developing OMC. Results: The primary symptoms were mouth ulcer in 5.6% and trismus (1.0%). The overall proportions of tobacco chewing, smoking and alcohol addiction were 12.5%, 10.7% and 2.5% respectively. The highest prevalence of smoking noted in the age-group 55-64 years (14.4%), for tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption in the age-group 25-34 years was 15.6% and 4.2% respectively ( P < 0.001). The prevalence of mouth ulcers were 20.7% among smokers and 27.8% among tobacco chewers ( P < 0.001) while the percentage of trismus 26.1% among smokers and 53.0% among tobacco chewers ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Results of this study can be used for creating awareness among the population regarding the hazards of tobacco use. More number of studies needs to be conducted all over India to understand the prevalence and the biologic behavior of these oral premalignant lesions and its progression to invasive diseases.

Background: Routine screening for distress is internationally recommended as a standard of care among cancer patients. This study was conducted to assess the level of stress and determine the association between quality of life (QOL) with demographic, socio-economic status, treatment phase, cancer stage, etc.Methods: An observational study, performed in the department of Clinical Oncology, Nayati Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Mathura, India. Data of 62 histopathologically proven cancer patients between Nov 2016 and July 2018, were analyzed. This pilot study was conducted to assess the QOL and stress levels of cancer patients by using scales of WHOQOL-BREF, QSC-R23 and Hamilton scale. Results: Among 62 cancer patients, high distress along with poor QOL was seen maximum in males, 40-60 year age group and educated. In majority of domains, high distress was found in middle class, whereas poor QOL was found in Lower class in Environmental domain (p<0.01). We found higher distress in nuclear families (p<0.05). High distress was seen in cancer patients who were aware of illness and was found to statistically significant. Poor QOL in stage 4 was found to be statistically significant in Psychological domain of WHOQOL-BREF. High distress was found in patients undergoing treatment in all patients as compared to Pre-treatment phase and Post-treatment phase (p<0.05).Conclusion: To assess psychological stress in cancer patients using all three scales we could not obtain a conclusive result covering all dimensions of QOL. So, in our next study authors plan to develop one indigenous new scale.