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Increase in oral cancer patients 

02 Aug 2020

Six patients per day

Sri Lanka is seeing a record increase in oral cancer patients, with a daily average of six new cases and the highest mortality rate for any cancer type, with a daily death rate of two to three persons. Health Promotion Bureau Community Medical Specialist Dr. Palitha Karunapema revealed this, marking World Head and Neck Cancer Day on 27 July. “The main reason behind the high count of new cases being reported and the amount of deaths recorded per day is assessed to be with the delay in oral cancer-affected persons seeking medical advice.  “The vices that are identified to cause oral cancer are linked to the consumption of tobacco and areca nut products and by-products, excessive smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and beetle leaf consumption.” He added that Covid-19 can aggravate the symptoms of oral cancer, speed up the spread of the cancer, and cause health complications as well. Commenting on the present situation, especially when it comes to oral cancer prevalence in Sri Lanka, National Cancer Prevention Programme Director Specialist Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana revealed that about 70% of the oral cancer patients start on treatment after they reach the critical stage of the cancer. Caring and starting chemotherapy at the last stage is always complex and has a very low success rate. “There is also this social stigma towards cancer in society, which is creating an aversion among cancer patients towards coming in for treatment on time, and even those who undergo treatment and manage to control the spread of their cancers are too shy to share their recovery story with society, as they feel stigmatised for having cancer,” Dr. Vidanapathirana elaborated.    


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