Lifestyle factors contributing to oral cancer
Dr Maria Paula Curado - A.C.Camargo Cancer Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil
I just talked about the epidemiological changes in oral cavity and oropharynx in the world. What we identified in the study is there is some transition change in different parts of the world; it depends if they’re a developed country or developing country. The main issue that is oral cavity is in developing countries is still high incidence and oropharyngeal cancer is increasing while in developed countries like the United States the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer, which is related to HPV infections, is increasing steadily. So the important message is not only tobacco and alcohol related to oral and oropharyngeal cancer but we have also infection with HPV.
The other thing that we verified that sexual behaviour, multiple partners, also is a risk factor for oral cavity and oropharynx because it brings HPV to the oral cavity so then it can be a preliminary carcinogen for the future oropharyngeal cancer.
What can be done to tackle this problem?
We have to protect ourselves when you do, for example, with multiple sexual partners we have to protect, use a condom. For tobacco and alcohol reduce the quantity. I understand that you like or everybody used to drink alcohol but you have to be more careful. And the other problem is the multiple partners. You can have multiple partners but be careful and then I think we have to try to choose more carefully and take care of yourself because you have to take care of yourself, just think about that.
Another quick message that lifestyle is very important. You have a healthy lifestyle, it’s very important not only for oral cancer but for other types of disease like chronic disease. So having a very healthy lifestyle, doing good diet, exercise, this is a key message that I can bring. And I think also go to the doctor once every year at least or every two years and ask the doctor to look at your oral cavity, to do a good exam. So that avoids you to have advanced oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer.
Should there be a government screening programme?
It’s difficult for the government to establish this type of screen because they have other priorities like breast cancer and other types of cancer. But I think it should start, some studies on this, just because most of the oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer are always advanced stage. So the survival didn’t change in the last ten years for this type of cancer in the world, it’s not only in Brazil but all over the world, because most of the patients are in late stage.
Is this something dentists could check for?
You don’t need to be a big specialised person, it should be a dentist, general practitioner and the specialist because you know that the head and neck surgeon is a very expensive guy, he has to do a big surgery. So I think you can stratify this for all the health personnel to establish some guidelines for them, explain.
