With 75,000 to 80,000 oral cancer cases being reported every year in India, the country contributes to almost 25 per cent of the world’s oral cancer cases.

Oncologists say prevalence of oral cancer is more in India than in any other country mainly due to lack of awareness about the disease.

According to Indian cancer registry, Chennai has 10.1 per cent men and 4 per cent women suffering from oral cancer and the number is more than patients in other metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

“While the high per cent of cases in Chennai compared to other metros could be mostly due to better documentation, a lot needs to be done to improve the situation,” says Prof S. Rajasundaram, senior consultant, surgical oncology at Apollo Hospital.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS 2010), nearly one third of Indian population including a large number of youth is addicted to smokeless tobacco.

Pointing out to shocking facts that almost 40 per cent of the people in India who were suffering from cancer became victims of the disease due to constant use of tobacco products, Dr Sagar from the Cancer Institute said most of them were students.

He added that more awareness about the consequences of tobacco use should be created among those in the age group of 10 to 15 years.

As most of the patients approach doctors for treatment only when they are in the last stage of the disease, doctors say early detection is the only way to control it.

“We have advanced a lot in terms of technology and if patients come to us during the early stage, we can surely help them,” assured Dr Rajasundaram.