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Health experts have raised alarms over the rising incidence of head and neck cancer in India, attributing the surge largely to the increased consumption of tobacco and related products. Speaking on Sunday, they emphasized the urgent need for stringent regulations and heightened public awareness to combat this growing health crisis.
Head and neck cancer encompasses malignancies in the tongue, mouth, and various parts of the pharynx, including the oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, as well as the salivary glands, nasal cavity, and larynx (voice box).
“The prominent cause of oral cavity cancers is the consumption of tobacco and tobacco-related products, betel nuts, smoking, and alcohol. In some cases, HPV infections also contribute to the disease,” explained Dr. Pritam Kataria, Consultant in Medical Oncology at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, in an interview with IANS.
Dr. Kataria stressed the importance of implementing strict regulations on tobacco and alcohol to reduce the incidence of head and neck cancers. “If tobacco and related products are eliminated, the majority of head and neck cancer cases will decline significantly. However, this is a considerable challenge due to the lack of awareness among the masses and the difficulty in changing established behaviors,” he said.
Head and neck cancer accounts for 30% of all cancer cases in India, making it the most prevalent type of cancer in the country. The burden of these cancers is significantly higher in India compared to countries like the US, UK, Australia, Africa, and Brazil.
The rising trend in cancer cases is a major concern. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, India is projected to see 2.1 million new cancer cases by 2040, marking a 57.5% increase from 2020.
To address this pressing issue, Dr. Prathmesh Pai, Director and Surgeon at Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Head and Neck Cancer Institute of India, called for comprehensive public awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of tobacco, betel nut, and alcohol. He advocated for engaging parents and schools to prevent the youth from adopting these harmful habits and for public campaigns aimed at banning the sale of these substances to young people.
“Engaging parents and schools to prevent the adoption of these habits by the youth, and launching public campaigns to ban the sale of tobacco, betel nut, and alcohol to the youth, and prohibiting the production and sale of these products are crucial steps,” Dr. Pai asserted.
The call for action from these health experts underscores the critical need for immediate and robust interventions to curb the rising tide of head and neck cancers in India. Implementing strict regulations, enhancing public awareness, and changing behavior are essential strategies in this battle against cancer.
