Cancer is a major public health problem. The overall burden of cancer is increasing worldwide. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, it accounts for 2% of all cancers. Oral cancer (OC) is a malignant neoplasia which arises on the lip or oral cavity. It can be defined as a malignant cancer occurring in the oral cavity.

1. “Epidemiological Profile of Oral
Cancer Patients Attending at B.P .
Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital’’
Prakriti Poudel
BNS (Oncology)

2. Introductions
 Cancer is a major public health problem. The
overall burden of cancer is increasing
worldwide.
 Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer
worldwide, it accounts for 2% of all cancers.
 Tobacco smoking and alcohol intake are well
established risk factors for oral cancer.
 The incidence of oral cancer is 2 to 3 times
higher in men than women.

3. Objectives and Rationale
 To assess the epidemiological profile of oral cancer patients attending at
BPKMCH.
 Though the various researches have been conducted in developed countries, a
very few studies were conducted on epidemiological profile of oral cancer in
Nepal.

4.  The study was carried out at B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital (BPKMCH).
 Non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample.
 The sample size was 50.
 Histological proven oral cancer patient was included.
Methods

5.  All the collected data was analyzed and interpreted in terms of descriptive
statistics (frequency, mean, percentage and standard deviation).
 A semi-structured interview schedule was developed in English and translated
into Nepali language. The instruments consisted of three parts:
Part I: Question-related to socio-demographic variables
Part II: Question-related to life style related factors.
Part III: Question related to clinical profile of oral cancer.
Methods Cont..

6.  Socio-demographic Characteristics of
Respondents
Age Group: Most respondents (30%)
were in the 35-45 age group.
Gender: The majority (88%) were male.
Address: Predominantly from provinces
such as Madesh (26%) and Lumbini
(24%).
Findings Variables Frequency Percentage
Age group
35-45 15 30
46-55 13 26
56-65 9 18
66-75 13 26
Gender
Male 44 88
Female 6 12
Address
Koshi province 10 20
Madesh province 13 26
Bagmati province 3 6
Gandaki province 2 4
Lumbini province 12 24
Karnali province 5 10
Sadurpachhim province 5 10
Mean ± SD: 54.75±11.754
Mini / max: 35/75
n=50

7.  Socio-demographic Characteristics
(Education, Occupation, Income of Family)
Educational Status: 42% had no
education.
Occupation: 38% in agriculture, 32% in
service.
Income of Family: 48% had income for 6
to 12 months.
Findings Cont..
Variables Frequency Percentage
Educational Status
No education 21 42
Primary 11 22
Secondary 10 20
SLC and above 8 16
Occupation
Agriculture 19 38
Housemaker 5 10
Business 9 18
Service 16 32
Other 1 2
Income of Family
Sufficient only for 3 months 1 2
Sufficient 3 to 6 months 5 10
Sufficient 6 to12 months 24 48
Sufficient to run family 20 40
n=50

8.  Smoking Habits of Respondents
Type of Smoke: 88% Cigarette, 12% Bidi.
Smoke Time per Day: Mostly 2-4 times
(32%).
Duration of Smoking: 52% for >15 years.
 Distribution of Respondents by Risk Factor
Smoking: 50%,
Chewing Tobacco: 68%,
Gudka Consumption: 40%,
Alcohol Consumption: 68%.
Findings Cont..
Variables Frequency Percentage
Smoking 25 50
Chewingtobacco 34 68
Gudkaconsumption 20 40
Alcohol consumption 34 68
Oralsexhabits
No 50 100
Familyhistoryof oralcancer
No 50 100
n=50

9.  Distribution of Respondents by Sign and
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Pain: 80%,
Speech Problem: 70%,
White and Red Patch: 70%.
 Anatomical Site of Oral Cancer:
Tongue (36%) and Gum (32%) were the
most common sites.
Findings Cont..
Variables Frequency Percentage
Pain 40 80
Speech problem 35 70
Bleeding fromoral cavity 16 32
White and red patch 35 70
Losing teeth 18 36
n=50
Variables Frequency Percentage
Tongue 18 36
Gum 16 32
Lips 1 2
Cheek 12 24
Roof and floor of mouth 3 6
n=50

10.  Staging and Metastasis:
Stage IV was most prevalent (30%).
Lymph node metastasis was reported in 28%.
 Treatment Modalities:
Surgery alone (36%) and surgery with adjuvant therapy (30%) were the
common treatment approaches.
 Histological and Morphological Classification:
60% had well-differentiated histological classification.
All cases were classified as Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC).
Findings Cont..

11.  The study was conducted to assess the epidemiological profile of oral cancer
patients.
 The findings of this study show, majority of respondents was male (88%). This
finding was also supported by the study conducted in department of oncology &
radiotherapy, Madhya Pradesh where the finding was male (76.0%) and female
(24.0%).
 The study, involving 50 respondents, revealed that a significant proportion (68%)
engaged in chewing tobacco, while an equivalent percentage had a habit of
alcohol consumption. Additionally, half of the participants (50%) were found to
have a smoking habit, and 40% reported gudka consumption. These findings align
with a retrospective study conducted among 295 individuals at VSPM Dental
College and Research Centre and Rashtrasant Tukdoji Cancer Institute.
Discussion

12.  Regarding the sites of oral cancer, in this study, tongue was common 18 (36%)
site, followed by gum 16 (32%), cheeks 12(24%), roof of mouth 3(6%) and lips 1
(2%). This finding is consistent with the findings with the studies carried in India
2015, and Portugal 2016. The majority of study site of oral cancer tongue, cheek,
gum and root of mouth and lips respectively.
 In current study all the oral cancers were squamous cell carcinoma, similar
findings seen in the studies in 2016, in north Portugal and International Journal of
Otorhinolaryngology in 2019. The majority were oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Discussion Cont..

13.  The findings of the study concluded that oral cancer is most common in male.
 Majority oral cancer was seen at 30-45 years.
 Smoking, tobacco and gudka consumption are main risk factor of oral cancer.
 Pain and speech problem are the main clinical features of oral cancer. Therefore,
risk assessment approach and screening program should be focused timely.
Conclusion

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