Analysis of risk factors for oral cavity and oropharynx cancer in the authors’ own material

Abstract

The major part of the examined patients were women and men with the secondary and high level of education, 47,76% and 35,82%, and 58,97% and 35,91% respectively. The patients were informed by mass media about the planned preventive medical examinations - 80,60% women and 79,49% men. The most common symptoms reported by women were: hoarse voice in 61,19% cases, dysphagia in 32,84% cases and burning sensation and/or pain in the oral cavity in 29,85% cases. The examined male patients mainly showed hoarse voice (46,15%), other symptoms (43,59%) and dysphagia (25,64%). 28,35% women and 28,20% men smoked cigarettes, while passive smokers were 22,38% and 25,64% respectively. Alcohol consumption was reported by 67,16% women and 82,05% men, rather occasionally. Having oral sex was noted in 25,37% women and 38,46% men, mostly with multiple sexual partners. Among the studied patients, 13,43% women and 5,12% men suffered from malignant cancer, including 2,98% women and 2,56% men who reported head and neck carcinoma in the medical interview. On the basis of the interview and ENT examination, 11,94% women and 17,94% men were qualified for the extended oncological diagnostics. Conclussion. The Fourth Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week shows the increased interest in preventive screening, especially oncological screening, and thus the necessity of such preventive activities in the future.

Oral Cancer Awareness in Turkish Dental Patients

“…Independent from smoking and alcohol, family history among first-degree relatives is a strong determinant of oral and pharyngeal cancer risk. [16] Our study group revealed that 33.5% of all subjects had cancer diagnosis of any type of first-degree relatives, which also increases the risk of recalling the disease. The elevated risks in genetic predisposancy in familial cancers may also be due to shared environmental exposure.…”

“…The main causes in aetiology are tobacco and alcohol usage in 90% of the cases, as well as genetic background, personal exposures and oncogenic virus contamination have a considerable impact. [2][3][4] By reducing tobacco and alcohol usage mostly in public common places and providing cessation support, public health initiatives are contributing to the prevention of the malignancies. [5][6] Common symptoms of oral cancers may include red/white lesions that are regarded as potentially malignant disorders, oral ulcers/pharyngitis, swelling of the mouth/neck, numbness of the perioral area and bloody postnasal drainage for a prolonged time period.…”

Early Detection of Oral Cancer Through Dental Practice in Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia

“…The dental students could be influenced by their peers' beliefs and behavior towards performing oral cancer examinations or educating patients about oral cancer risk factors. Moreover, the perceived school support for the practice, and the degree of dental students' motivation to comply with their fellow students' and supervisors' beliefs and behavior may influence dental students, as well [36,37].…”

“…Nevertheless, slightly more than half of the participants expressed positive feelings (would feel comfortable) about being examined for oral cancer (item 34). The majority of participants had favorable attitudes toward different oral cancer preventative measures, such as health education, community lectures and symposiums, and distributions of written educational material about oral cancer (items 36,37,38,39). Around three-quarters of the participants were in favor of banning Ghat, Shamma and tobacco as a way of preventing oral cancer in the community (item 40; table 3.3.).…”

“…The problem of oral cancer late detection/delayed diagnosis might be better understood in view of behavior change theories, as an outcome of the interaction between multiple factors from the perspective of both patients and dentists at the individual level and other agents at the environmental level [36,37]. From a patient's perspective, knowledge, awareness and perceptions of oral cancer and its related aspects (including its signs, risk factors and oral cancer screening/clinical examination) as well as self-examination skills, might contribute to oral cancer late detection, due to patients delaying seeking out dental care [38,39].…”