Oral Cancer

The official, who recently visited Uganda and Kenya, stated that he was shocked to see that the African consumers have no idea that they are chewing tobacco in disguise of a mouth freshener, and that it might be contributing to the increasing oral cancer threat in the continent.

The study, conducted by the researchers at the Aberdeen University, found that the concoction of three – taking to alcohol, smoking, and not eating enough fruits and vegetables, the factors already known to cause the tumors in the elderly – fueled nine in 10 cases of oral cancers in young people, too.

"Cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract are on the increase throughout the world and to date the increases have been greatest in young adults under the age of 50," study’s lead researcher, Gary Macfarlane, Professor of epidemiology at the Aberdeen University, said.

In what may open new avenues for treatment of mouth cancer, a group of international researchers have developed a new microchip that will enable doctors to spot malignant lesions with a high degree of accuracy.

Unlike the current method in practice, which is painful and involves using a scalpel and lengthy lab assessments, the new procedure promises an early diagnose, less anxiety and shorter waiting time.