More youth die due to oral cancer

by Dulmin Samarasinghe

The number of youth dying of oral cancer has increased.

Consultant in Community Dentistry, National Cancer Control Program, Ministry of Health Dr. Hemantha Amarasinghe said that about three youth in the 30 age group die daily from oral cancer. This was caused by chewing betel, tobacco, Babul, Panparg and Gudekh he said. At present about 2,000 people die annually due to this disease.

Dr. Amarasinghe said that they introduced Ayurvedic ingredients to the traditional Dehath Wattiya, offered it to bhikkhus and sought their approval to popularise it among the public.

Tobacco, Arecanut and lime in the traditional sheaf of betel contains 28 cancer causing substances. The introduction of Ayurvedic ingredients to the sheaf of betel will drastically reduce the risk, he said.