85% of oral cancer cases in Sudan caused by chewing tobacco, study shows

June 7, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A recent study has revealed that 8-9 million Sudanese people chew tobacco and indicated that 82% of oral cancer cases are attributed to this.

The report further said that 92% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking while 5% of Sudanese women carry genes that make them susceptible to cervical and breast cancers.

The oncologist at the national radiation therapy hospital, Kamal Hamad, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the hospital detects 10 new cases of prostate cancer a week.

Hamad disclosed that they urged the government to impose additional taxes on tobacco to discourage its consumption as well as using the revenues to support cancer patients.

The government has yet to respond to the request, Hamad said.

He added that the top causes of cancer in Sudan also include misuse of agricultural fertilizers and methods of food handling and preserving.

(ST)