Head and neck cancer: Doctors discuss precautionary measures

Smoking and beetle chewing were one of the major causes. If proper guidelines are shared, the cancer can be prevented.

KARACHI:

Head and neck cancer is a preventable disease, said the speakers at a conference, titled Back to Basics, which was held on Friday.

The speakers stressed on the importance of care in the initial stages of head and neck cancer in an economically unequal society. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) consultant clinical oncologist, Dr Arif Jamshed, stated that head and neck cancer was among the top three types of cancer along with breast and lung cancer. According to him, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had the most cases of head and neck cancer.

This cancer is common in people of lower economic group. Calling it a preventable disease, he said that the first step was to create public awareness. Smoking and beetle chewing were one of the major causes, so if proper guidelines are shared with people, this cancer can be prevented. Dr Raza Hussain stated that in Pakistan, less than one per cent was spent on health and education.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2013.