INCREASED RISK OF ORAL CANCER IN BIDI SMOKERS: A PILOT STUDY

*Dr. Juhi Gupta

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cancer is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality today. It is estimated that around 43% of cancer deaths are due to tobacco use, unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption, inactive lifestyles and infection. Oro-pharyngeal cancer is significant component of the global burden of cancer. Tobacco and alcohol are regarded as the major risk factors for oral cancer. The evidence that smokeless tobacco causes oral cancer was confirmed recently by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. But apart from smokless tobacco and alcohol bidi smoking especially in people from low socio economical status showed increased risk of oral cancer. Several epidemiological studies suggest that bidi smoking increases the risk of oral cancer. No systematic review, however, has been reported to examine how consistent the evidence is across the studies. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate various etiological factor associated with oral cancer and to evaluate increased risk of oral cancer in bidi smokers. Material and Methods: 79 patients suffering with oral cancer who reported to the Department of Oral pathology/Oral medicine and Radiology of Z.A Dental College, AMU, Aligarh for dental evaluation prior to radiation therapy were included in our study. Results: Result of the study showed significant increased risk of oral cancer in bidi smoker. Conclusion: It is important that this information be incorporated into smoking prevention and cessation efforts, particularly among the urban poor and rural mass in South Asian countries where bidi smoking is widely prevalent.

Keywords: Oral Cancer, Bidi Smoking Tendu leaves, Gutka Chewing, Nicotine.