Oral Cancer Cases Soar High in India

By Showkat Shafi  

India Has The Largest Number of Oral Cancer Cases

With a soaring number of oral cancer cases in India, this country fighting hard against this menace, making the masses conscious about hazardous use of smoking and chewing tobacco. It is believed that India accounts for 80% of oral cancer cases in the world, which is said to be the sixth most common cause of cancer-related deaths. "There are around twenty eight lakh cancer patients in India. The highest number of cases in India is that of oral cancer. It accounts for nearly one third of all cancers in the country," says Dr. Tapaswini Pradhan Sharma, Consultant Surgical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and research Center. Chewing tobacco has become the most common practice among lower socio-economic class.

From old-age people to children and women everyone can be found addicted to chewing tobacco in India. Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Head of Department- Medical Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, says that people who use tobacco in any form, whether they consume it in smokeless form by chewing it or smoke it; run a high risk of getting oral cancer.

Dr. Shyam Aggarwal Photo: Showkat Shafi

The practice of chewing tobacco such as Paan (areca nut, tobacco wrapped in betel leaf), Gutka (a combination of areca nut, tobacco, catechu, lime and flavourings), Khaini (smokeless tobacco product) is prevalent in every corner of India apart from smoking in the form of Bidi(an Indian form of cigarette without a filter), cigar or cigarette. "The main problem is that youngsters and adolescents, because of peer pressure and fascination with macho advertisements of these products, start using tobacco. It becomes a habit because of the nicotine content in tobacco, which later is hard to give up. Most of the sufferers of oral cancer are aged 35 and above, because of the continuous use of tobacco for long period," says Dr. Aggarwal.

Dr. Tapaswini Pradhan Sharma Photo: Showkat Shafi

The medical study said that there are more than 300 carcinogens (cancer inducing agents) identified in tobacco and cigar smoke. That has a synergistic role in causing oral cancer, if taken with alcohol.

Dr. Sharma says that there is dire need for an increase in awareness about cancer amongst the general population. "People should be made to realize the potential carcinogenic effect of smoking, tobacco chewing and alcohol. There should be strict laws to ban the companies from promoting products which are potentially hazardous," she said.

Even though the government has ordered manufacturers to put pictorial warnings on every tobacco selling product, it has not provided the desired positive result. As there is an increase in the number of tobacco users day by day, rather than any decline.

Interviews of Oral cancer patients

Suresh Kumar Batra Photo: Showkat Shafi

Suresh Kumar Batra

Age - 58

Occupation - Businessman

Lives in Kotwara, Uttrakhand

Suffering from Throat Cancer due to cigarette smoking

"I had been smoking cigarettes for 25 years and was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009. I was operated on in 2010. My vocal cords were removed and I lost my voice. I got throat cancer because of cigarette smoking and I lost my voice. It isn't so painful but what hurts the most is that when I speak people cannot understand me and at that moment I regret the day when I started smoking cigarettes," says Suresh Kumar Batra.

"I want to tell people that please don't smoke or you will end up like me. I am requesting the Government, if they can't ban cigarettes, then they should look for other alternatives," he says.

His voice is not audible easily and one has to look at the movement of his lips to understand what he is trying to say. Suresh Kumar Batra has been undergoing speech therapy at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center, New Delhi.

Ran Singh Dabbas Photo: Showkat Shafi

Ran Singh Dabbas

Age - 66

Occupation - Retired Government Employee

Lives in Rohini Delhi

Suffering from Throat cancer due to smoking bidi (a form of Indian cigarette)

"I started smoking bidi (an Indian form of cigarette) more than 30 years ago. I had an operation in 2009 and my vocal cords were removed. I lost my voice forever," says Ran Singh Dabbas.

"Please don't smoke. If I would not have developed the habit of smoking bidis, life would have been different. Nobody can understand me or hear me and at that time I realize my mistake," he further added.

He has lost his voice and not a single sound can be heard from him. He had an assistant with him who understands his lip movements and helps people understand what he is trying to say.

Naresh Prasad Singh Photo: Showkat Shafi

Naresh Prasad Singh

Age- 67

Occupation - Retired Government employee

Lives in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Suffering from mouth cancer due to khaini (an Indian smokeless Tobacco product that is chewed)

"I had been chewing khaini for 15 years and I was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. Cancer has spread to my jaw, lips and tongue," says Naresh Prasad Singh (His mouth was stitched and he wasn't able to speak and communicated through writing).

"He has undergone three operations so far. Our whole family is suffering because of the cancer. It's not only my father's cancer but it has left an impact on everybody's life in the family," says Amar Kumar Singh (18) son of Naresh Prasad Singh.

P.K. Natrajan Photo: Showkat Shafi

P.K. Natrajan

Age - 57

Occupation - Government Employee

Lives in Pashchim Vihar, Delhi

Suffering from throat cancer due to chain smoking of cigarettes

"I had been smoking cigarettes for the past 35 years and I was diagnosed with throat cancer in February 2012. I suffered from drastic weight loss and after I was operated on, I lost my voice," says P.K. Natrajan

"People should quit smoking and its really very easy by sheer will power," he further added.

Story of a throat cancer survivor who becomes a saviour

Satish Sahni Photo: Showkat Shafi

Satish Sahni

Laryngectomy Speech Therapist
Age- 54

He was diagnosed with throat cancer 12 years back and his operation removed his vocal cords and he lost his voice. But it was because of his will power and a desire to live, that he tried everything possible to get his voice back. He traveled to Japan to get speech therapy. Satish Sahni is now able to communicate by speaking softly with people. He takes speech therapy classes for those who have lost their voice due to oral cancer.

"There are thousands of people like me in India who have lost their voice due to oral cancer. Most of them are poor and cannot go abroad for therapies. That is why I decided to dedicate my life to help oral cancer patients in India," says Satish Sahni.

"85 percent of oral cancer in India happens due to consumption of tobacco in any form (smoking or chewing). Most of the oral cancer patients come from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The reason for this is lack of knowledge, low literacy rate and poverty."

"I request people to help the government to eradicate this evil from our society. Our teachers, parents and doctors can play a vital role in eradicating this life threatening disease. I tell youngsters that you will one day grow old, so you need to start taking care of your health and wealth and stop taking tobacco and alcohol," he added.

Showkat Shafi is a Freelance Photojournalist based in New Delhi, India. Contact Showkat through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Showkat Shafi