POPULAR LOCAL custom of chewing 'dohra' —an indigenous preparation of tobacco and slaked lime —has led to an alarming increase in the number of oral cancer patients in Allahabad district. What's worse the histology study at the Department of Pathology, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, shows that maximum patients suffered from squamous cell type of oral cancer which does not respond to chemotherapy or other cancer treatment.
These figures came to light after the retrospective study conducted by Department of Pathology under a project sanctioned by Department of Biotechnology. Government of India. for the research on molecular aspects of cancer. The department assessed the patients characteristics and histopathological types of oral cancers in Allahabad district.
After analysing the 11-year data pertaining to patients' characteristics it was found that male to female ratio of cancer patients was 2.3:1 in Allahabad. This was mainly attributed to more male cancer patients seeking early medical intervention in the State. The commonest histological variety was the squamous cell type of oral cancer. Year-wise trends of incidence revealed maximum incidence of 15.58 oral cancer cases per 1000 biopsies examined in 1997 followed by 11.67 per 1000 during 1999. About 267 benign lesions constituted 35.17 per cent of cases, premalignant lesions including leukoplakia (white discolouration of oral cavity due to excessive chewing of tobacco) made up 16.73 per cent and oral cancers of different grades constituted 39.92 per cent.
The tongue was found to be the most common site involved by the malignant process and was observed in 42.57 per cent of patients reported to the Department of Pathology, followed by the cheek in 58 (19.14 per cent). Most of the patients had similar smoking or tobacco chewing habits, said Dr Ravi Mehrotra of Dept of Pathology.
{{/usCountry}}The tongue was found to be the most common site involved by the malignant process and was observed in 42.57 per cent of patients reported to the Department of Pathology, followed by the cheek in 58 (19.14 per cent). Most of the patients had similar smoking or tobacco chewing habits, said Dr Ravi Mehrotra of Dept of Pathology.
{{/usCountry}}"Chewing of 'dohra' was found to be one of the major factors for this high incidence of oral malignancy in Allahabad district. Betel chewing is also an equally important factor for oropharyngeal malignancy. Irony is that oral cancer is preventable. But for this an intense education programme is required for the society," he added.