30,000 new oral cancer cases a year

Star: According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30,000 new cases of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx were diagnosed each year.
MDA-CSCSP organising chairman Dr How Kim Chuan said that over 8,000 deaths were due to oral cancer.
“Preventing high risk behaviour such as cigarette smoking, cigar or pipe smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is critical in fighting oral cancer.”
Health Ministry oral health division director Datuk Dr Wan Mohamad Nasir Wan Othman said the World Health Organisation reported that smoking-related diseases killed one in 10 adults globally, or four million deaths.
By 2030, if current trends continue, smoking will kill one in six people.
“According to our ministry’s records, it is estimated there were five million smokers in Malaysia in 2003. That makes up 22% of the population,” he said.