KARACHI, June 24: Doctors at a programme expressed concern over the rising incidence of mouth and throat cancers among the youth and demanded an immediate ban on the sale and manufacturing of betel nuts, gutka and paan.

Addressing the programme “Oral cancer epidemic in the making” organised by the Pakistan Medical Association on Saturday, Dr Umer Farooq, the chairman of the ENT, head and neck surgery department of Lyari General Hospital, said the incidence of mouth and throat cancers had increased alarmingly in the last 15 years in Pakistan.

He said an increasing number of young boys and girls were being diagnosed with sub-mucous fibrosis, a pre-malignant condition, primarily caused by the use of paan, chhalia, gutka, mainpuri and their other concoctions besides smoking.

“Earlier, it was used to be considered a disease of old age. Today, teenagers are being diagnosed with the SMF which leads to complete closure of mouth. Though nothing really works well in its treatment, improvement largely depends on early diagnosis and treatment,” Dr Farooq said.

Internationally, he said, the cancer of the mouth and throat was the sixth most common cancer while it was the second most common cancer in the subcontinent. Its incidence was a little more common in girls because of the widespread use of chhalia, he added.

Dispelling the fears attached with biopsy, he said biopsy was the first step in treatment as it helped a doctor know the type of cancer and decide upon the method of treatment.

“Radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy are three options available. Their selection depends very much upon the type and stage of cancer. Delay in seeking treatment only reduces chances of recovery, enhances suffering to the patient and increases loss of precious time and money,” he said.

Calling paan shops as cancer shops and their salesmen as death traders, he urged the government to ban the production, sale and advertisements of chhalia products and organise awareness-raising programmes at the community level. He also urged the media to highlight the hazards associated with these products.

Supporting his demand, Dr Qaisar Sajjad said the government should also take action against advertisements of quick-fix medicines in the print and electronic media.

The adviser to the chief minister, Fatima Surayya Bajia, stressed that the public should work at their own for a healthy society. Dr Aziz Khan Tank, Rafia Haider and Tufail Ahmed also participated in the panel discussion.