Myanmar’s betel-nut chewing in risk of oral cancer

People of Myanmar are addicted in chewing betel-nut. This is very risky since it could lead to oral cancer and eventually death. WHO reported that of the six nations in Southeast Asia who are fond of chewing betel nut quids, it is Myanmar that consumes a little more than half of the region’s total amount. In ASEAN alone, oral cancer is the fifth most common cancer, said news report from Myanmar Times.

Since the treatment of oral cancer is very costly, patients that are diagnosed having this ailment would not dare to be treated. Normally the price range for the treatment is from K3 million to K5 million.

According to Professor Swe Swe Win of the University of Dental Medicine in Yangon out of the 9000 people who goes to the University for Treatment around 200 of them are identified positive of oral cancer.

Cancer patients are now referred to the Yangon General Hospital cancer department for treatment however only 25 of the patients are treated. More often than not the patients never visit the hospital.

There has been no official figure on the rate of death from oral cancer since there is still ongoing research. Since year 2012 Swe Swe has conducted survey of 200 oral cancer patients basing from the registries from Mandalay and Yangon hospitals with the Medical Research Department. Unfortunately some patients die along the way while the research is in process, the report said.

Research revealed that toxic chemicals in betel and cigarettes can cause oral cancer. Dangerous betel quid was also being illegally imported from India.

Myanmar is now concerned on the heath related problem this cancer brings because most people use betel and tobacco. One more thing the Tobacco-related legislation is not very helpful.