KUCHING: Early detection can greatly improve the chance of cure for mouth or oral cancer, which is the 21st most common cancer in Malaysia.
Dr Subramaniam (third left) leading the walkathon at the Kuching Waterfront. Also seen is Dr Jerip (second left).
According to statistics, two in 100,000 Malaysians are affected by oral cancer, with one case diagnosed every day, revealed Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.
“About 70 per cent of cases were diagnosed late, that is in Stage 3 or Stage 4 of the disease, making it one of the reasons why the mortality rate is high.
“Detection of mouth cancer in the early stages may lead to as high as 80 per cent chance of a complete cure.
“This is why there is need for greater understanding of oral/mouth cancer so that people will come forward and get their mouths checked. It is important to pick up cases at the early stages so that they can be treated early,” he said at the launch of Mouth Cancer Awareness Week 2014 at Kuching Waterfront here yesterday evening.
Subramaniam pointed out that 90 per cent of oral cancer cases are associated with known risky habits.
“These risky habits include smoking and tobacco use, betel nut chewing and excessive alcohol consumption. Reducing consumption of tobacco, alcohol and betel nut can reduce oral cancer and other related diseases.
“Malaysia has put our stance in the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) trade meeting, requesting tobacco to be totally removed from TPPA. It is still an ongoing discussion,” he said.
Mouth or oral cancer commonly occurs at the inner cheek area, tongue, floor of mouth, gum, palate and lip. People who find unusual change to their mouths should seek medical advice as soon as possible in order to identify the disease at its early stages.
The Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (MCAW) is an annual event organised by the Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya in collaboration with the Oral Health Division of the Health Ministry and Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation.
This year’s event, themed ‘Sometimes a Big Mouth is a Good Thing’, was held to coincide with the start of the International Association for Dental Research and Southeast Asia Association for Dental Education Meeting.
Among some of the activities held were a walkathon, exhibition, free mouth screening and counselling.
Among those present at the launch were Public Health Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, state health director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai and event organising chairperson Dr Khairiyah Abdul Muttalib.