Oral cancer as a leading annoyance of the South Asian territory: An epidemiologic and clinical review

Oral cancer is one of the most fatal health problems faced by the mankind today. In India, because of cultural, ethnic, geographic factors, and the popularity of addictive habits, the frequency of oral cancer is high. It ranks number one in terms of incidence among men and third among women. Several factors such as tobacco and tobacco-related products, alcohol, genetic predisposition, and hormonal factors are suspected as possible causative factors. The exciting opportunity provided by the well-established oral precancerous lesions for intervention and early detection programs is also discussed. The poor survival revealed by existing studies is mainly due to the overwhelming proportion of advanced cases. The excellent opportunity for more research and efforts in prevention and control of oral cancer in India is highlighted in this review. Here authors sought to epidemiologically review oral cancer in South Asian province with special focus on major risk factors and future perspectives.