KOLKATA – Oral cancer, predominantly found in men, is showing a concerning rise among women.In 2024, the state-run R Ahmed Dental College (RADC) Kolkata reported 422 oral cancer cases, with 133 cases affecting women, approximating a 2:1 ratio.

On World No Tobacco Day, medical professionals are highlighting the growing use of tobacco as a primary factor in the increased incidence of oral cancer among women.

RADC Kolkata,a key dental health institution,has been tracking oral cancer data. In 2023, the hospital identified 673 cases, comprising 522 men and 151 women. The previous year, 2022, saw 422 cases, with 281 men and 141 women affected.

Tobacco Use a Key Factor

“There is a concerning rise in oral cancer in women, and the main reason is the increased use of tobacco. There is a need to say no to tobacco in any form – smoking or chewing – to minimise the risk of oral cancer,” stated dental surgeon Raju Biswas, state secretary of the Indian Dental Association.

“We are also seeing a rise in oral cancer cases among women,” said Saha.

Hospital sources indicate that numerous patients, notably women exhibiting pre-cancerous symptoms, do not attend follow-up biopsies for confirmation, suggesting the actual number of women affected by oral cancer could be considerably higher.

Early Detection is Crucial

“While we still detect oral cancer more in men, the number among women is also rising. This cancer can progress very fast in an aggressive way. While the best way is prevention, a yearly oral health check-up can definitely help prevent pre-cancerous lesions from turning into malignancy, and also in early detection for a better outcome,” explained Basudev Mahato, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial pathology at RADC Kolkata.

Alangkar Saha, a maxillofacial surgeon at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), noted that in addition to tobacco usage, HPV (human papilloma virus) could contribute to the increasing rates of oral cancer among women, perhaps linked to changing sexual behaviors.

“We are also seeing a rise in oral cancer cases among women,” said Saha.

Head-and-neck onco surgeon Sourav datta of medica superspecialty Hospital added that tobacco is a cause of cancers of the lungs, larynx, bladder, and oesophagus. “The number of these cases is also on the rise among women, where tobacco is the main cause,” said Datta.

To commemorate World No Tobacco Day, city hospitals including Manipal, CMRI, NCRI, Apollo, and organizations like IDA, are organizing various awareness activities.