TITLE:
Oral Cancer: Health Promotion and Visual Screening —A Study Report
AUTHORS:
Augusta P. Silveira, Augusta Marques, Miguel Pavão, Eurico Monteiro, Gabriela Pereira, Joaquim Gonçalves, Luís Castro, Maria Inês Guimarães, Bernardete Carvalho, Cláudia Ribeiro, Teresa Sequeira
KEYWORDS:
Oral Cancer; Visual Screening; Oral Health Promotion; Epidemiological Strategies
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.4 No.8,
October
25,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Background: Oral cancer presents
a heterogeneous geographic incidence. Annually, more than 275,000 new cases are
diagnosed worldwide. In spite of the easy accessibility of oral cavity during
physical examination, most malignancies are not diagnosed until late stages of
disease. Methods: Oral health
promotion was our main objective, risk factors were identified and oral cavity
self-examination was promoted. The population considered (n = 1117) was divided
in two main age groups—a youngest (individuals under 25 years old) mostly
targeted for oral cancer awareness and oral cavity self examination promotion, and
an older group having accumulated potential risk exposure. Results: The results obtained revealed smoking habits and fruits-vegetables
consumption deficit as the highest risks factors found. Considering a Risk
Factor Exposure Index analysis, individuals with secondary level of instruction
and living in sub-urban areas assumed the highest risk exposure. Alcohol
consumption had also contributed as a significant risk exposure. Conclusions: Some of these risk factors work as biological reward of quality of life
deficit. A wide comprehension of the problem requires a multidisciplinary
approach necessarily involving Health and Social Sciences in order to target
the core of oral cancer health promotion. An effective epidemiological strategy
must thus support three major aspects: population knowledge, sensitization and
visual screening.