Self Asscessment for Screening Oral and Oropharynk Cancer.

Abstract

Dental Health Division, Department of Health studied the self assessment for screening oral cancer by collecting the data from National Cancer Institute and Cancer Center in Lopburi Province. The patients' questionnaires consisted of the lengh of time from the unusual symptom to the day they came to see doctor and risk factors. Data of diagnosis, site and staging were recorded from OPD card. The data was collected during May-July 2004 and analyzed. Self assessment questionnaires were formed, for people to detect themselves and come to hospital for early diagnosis. Al patients (107) had squamous cell carcinoma. 98 patients had oral cancer while 9 patients had nasopharynx, 53.3% are male. Most of risk factor were cigarette smoking and alcohol (39.5% and 77.8%). Important risk factor of lip cancer was chewing betel nut. 80% of nasopharynx patients were smoking or had smoked (55.5% and 77.8%). 20% of patients were stage 1, 84.3% had visited hospital once or more. 65% of patients stage 1-4 (76) came to see doctor within 2 months since the first sign showed in the month. The important signs that made the patients came to see doctor for stage 1 were sore and white patch, stage 2-3 were pain, the extension of sore, white patch and dysphagia stage 4 were mass, swelling beneath jaw, bleeding, and severe pain.

The further study should be the patient's route for treatment, the spending time in each hospital, to suggest for referring system and manpower management. Dental schools should train the students to examine oral cancer in routine work. Educated the people about the sign of oral cancer in early stage and to check up for oral cancer every year.