ORAL CANCER SITUATION IN THE STATE OF BAHIA: ESTIMATES AND ACTION PERSPECTIVES

• Main Authors: Suélem Maria Santana Pinheiro, Fábio Ornellas Prado
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia 2009-04-01
• Series: Revista Saúde.com
• Subjects: oral cancer; diagnosis; disease prevention
• Online Access: http://www.uesb.br/revista/rsc/ojs/index.php/rsc/article/view/103/140
• ISSN: 1809-0761; 1809-0761

Cancer is actually a challenge to Brazilian Public Health, once the number of new cases is growing in last decades. Some studies show that cancer was responsible for 12% of causa mortis in the World, achieving six millions of deaths per year. The aim of this study was to compare oral cancer estimates for Brasil and Bahia state in the years 2006/2007 and 2008/2009, to see the possible evolution of this pathology in the periods and, at same time, find perspectives of action for disease control. For this objective, it was searched the Instituto Nacional do Cancer database for oral cancer Situação do câncer bucal no Estado da Bahia: estimativas e perspectivas de ação incidence estimates for the cited years, observing segregation for sex variable. This way, it was possible to compare both estimates. It was observed in Brasil an increase in the estimated crude incidence rates per 100.000 individuals, with a value of 3,58 in 2006/2007 going to 3,8 in 2008/2009 for females and 10,91 to 11,00 in males. In the state of Bahia, the estimated crude incidence rates increased 2,86 to 3,25 among females and 7,15 to 7,28 among males. However, specifically for the city of Salvador it was noted a decrease in incidence estimates, once the estimated crude incidence rate was 16,00 in 2006/2007 and 14,20 in 2008/2009 for males and 5,72 to 5,21 in females. Educative actions involving health professionals such as physicians, dentists, nurses, health agents and media campaigns that make possible early diagnosis and adoption of preventive measures, consequently improving survival rates and life quality in affected population.