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ADDICTION OF CHEWING TOBACCO, SHAMMA AND KHAT: PERVASIVENESS OF ORAL CANCER IN SAUDI ARABIA

Shalini Saggu *, Atif Abdulwahab A. Oyouni, Hasibur Rehman, Abdullah Farasani

Objective: The purpose of our study was to conduct a review and analyze the pattern of oral cancer (OC) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive epidemiological review of oral cancer of all Saudi oral cancer cases diagnosed. The keywords used in this study were permutations of the following: “Squamous Cell Carcinoma”, “oral cancer”, Nasopharynx, Hypopharynx. “awareness”, “ knowledge”, “epidemiology”, “prevalence”, “incidence” and “ Saudi Arabia”. Results and Conclusions: SCR reported a total 158 cases of male patients in 1994 and after the five-year interval, the number of cases was 161, 182, 186 and 251(in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2013) when compared to females. The number of cases was relatively higher in the year 2013 in both male and females as compared to the other years. The median age group was found to be 45-47 years. The highest rate of current smoking (15.6%) in Saudis among aged 55 to 64 years. The rate was higher for males (24.7% ) when compared to females (4.2%). Among Saudi patients, there is a significant increase in the number of male cases of OC cancer when compared with the female. Persistent observance, screening, and patient education are needed to establish early diagnosis and perform the optimal treatment. Keywords: Oral Cancer, Shamma, Khat, Epidemiology, Nasopharynx

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