A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption were the main drivers of oral cancer in most countries, mainly in South and Southeast Asia, including the use of smokeless tobacco and chewing of areca nut products.

The findings of the study revealed that the cessation of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption has a preventive effect on the incidence of oral cancer and a probable decrease in the risk of oral potentially malignant disorders. The researcher also found that cessation of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption is beneficial as the combined effect of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption is greater than the multiplicative.

Dr. Béatrice Lauby-Secretan, Deputy Head of the Evidence Synthesis and Classification Branch at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and a co-author of the report, stated that the handbook provides a first-time evaluation of primary and secondary prevention strategies for oral cancer.

Commenting on the handbook, she stated that in the study, the group of researchers evaluated the interventions for quitting the use of smokeless tobacco and areca nut products; the benefits of quitting the use of these products; quitting tobacco smoking; quitting alcohol consumption, and the effectiveness of current oral cancer screening methods. She added that the working group has also reviewed the implementation of bans on the sale of tobacco and alcohol. They have also reviewed the policies to control the use of smokeless tobacco and areca nut products.

(Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/not-just-tobacco-alcohol-too-top-driver-of-oral-cancer-new-research-442528 )