Epidemiological Study on Oral Cancer from Various Districts of Nepal 2013-2016

Abstract

Cancer epidemiology can be used to identify events that increases or decreases cancer incidence in specific populations. Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, is cancer of the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat. Oral cancer incidence doesn't mean that only one bodily cancer but it covers the lip, mouth, palate, gum, and above all the cavity along with the other unspecified sides. Cancer of the oral cavity (Oral cancer) is the 11th most common malignancy in the world, despite the general global trend of a slight decrease in the incidence of oral cancer, tongue cancer incidence is increasing. About 90% of tumors are subtyped to oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The incidence and mortality of this tumor shows variability according to the geographic location in which it is diagnosed, however in the last decade an increase was seen in the percentage of young patients, especially patients with tongue cancer. Various hospital based cancer researches showed that Cancer incidence including oral cancer burden in Nepal was increasing every year. But exact cancer incidence, death and relevant community based details of cancer is unknown. Therefore the aim of this study is to determine the incidence of oral cancer and assess its trend in the fifteen districts of Nepal for 2013-2016 A.D. This population based descriptive epidemiological study was based on secondary data derived from various sources where recorded new oral cancer every year since January 2013 to December 2016. Among the reported cases of oral cancer topography, other and unspecified parts of tongue C 02 was the first leading cancer site followed by other and unspecified parts of mouth C 06 and gum C03 for both sex. Among the female cases other tongue C 02 was the leading cancer cases followed by other mouth C 06 and gum C03. Similarly, other tongue C02 was the most common cancer among males, followed by other mouth C 06 and gum C 03. Oral cancer was found to be increased in the year 2013 and 2014 whereas relatively decreased in 2015 A. D. as because, the earthquake of 2015 was a major factor to access the cancer diagnosis and treatment which decrease the patient flow at hospital and other data source institution. According to collected data oral cancer was increased in 2016. The trend of oral cancer was seen to be fluctuating yearly during the study period. Though well organized awareness activities, HPV vaccination and screening programs are still needed to prevent and control the incidence of oral cancer in our communities.