Kathmandu, April 1

Cases of oral cancer are on the rise of late due to lack of awareness of oral health, according to doctors.

According to the research carried out by Nepal Health Research Council-2017, 41.80 per cent of people have no idea about oral cancer whereas only 38.60 per cent people have heard of oral cancer. Among the people who have heard of oral cancer, 30.10 per cent knew about the disease through media, 10.80 per cent through dentists, friends and family, 5.30 per cent through health camps and 4.70 per  through physicians.

In comparison to oral cancer, people know more about lung cancer.

As per the study, 64 per cent people know about oral cancer, 50 per cent people do have knowledge about cervix cancer, 45 per cent people have heard of breast cancer while only 36 per cent people know about oral cancer.

Among illiterate people, only 3.82 per cent people have know about oral cancer. As far as school students are concerned, only 0.49 per cent students from primary level, 4.03 per cent students from lower secondary level, 25.90 per cent from higher secondary level and 50 per cent students from college/university have heard of oral cancer.