The forgotten cancer and its symptoms

There are three hundred thousand new patients every year that are diagnosed with oral cancer and 50% of them are in Asian countries, not to mention Southeast Asia and more specifically Indonesia, which contributes 11% of the total patients with the disease. Sadly, year by year, the death toll for patients with oral cancer has risen and there is no sign from the government to put an end to it. If we could compare with different types of cancer, other cancers can be treated first-hand and even the number of them has dropped. Dr. Elizabeth criticized that the Indonesian government hasn’t put this matter into focus and prioritized. She also suggested that the government needs to create a national campaign where it focuses on educating citizens about the danger of oral cancer, symptoms, risk factors, and how to prevent it. The fact that 90 million people in Indonesia smoke tobacco and chew betel quid (nyirih), which is the main cause of oral cancer, makes it hard to spread the word about how dangerous it is.

In defence, the Indonesia government is claiming that Indonesia also has other diseases or cancers that need to be resolved. However, knowing the fact that there are many diseases out there still roaming in Indonesia doesn’t change the fact that oral cancer needs to be treated accordingly.

Identifying oral cancer or pre-cancer diagnostics is essential for comprehending oral cancer, and there are several signs. First, a red or white spot would appear inside the mouth, on the palate, tongue, gums, and inside of the cheek. In other circumstances, it is brownish, blueish, or yellowish. Many patients with this diagnosis are asymptomatic or pain-free. However, if the symptoms are present on the floor of the mouth, this indicates dysplasia or the presence of an abnormal cell, which is a precursor to the development of cancer.