According to data from the Health Monitoring Unit, in Cyprus during the period 2012-2021, a total of 521 new cases of cancer have been recorded in the wider area of the oral cavity, salivary glands, oropharynx and tonsils, the Minister of Health Michalis Damianou said on Friday at a Dental Services day as part of Cancer Prevention Week of the Mouth.
He further stated that in the last five years, approximately 60 new cases are diagnosed annually, with men being twice as likely to be affected as women.
According to the Minister, 41% of these cases are detected at an early stage, which contributes to a better prognosis of the course of the disease, and metastases are found in 6% of cases.
He referred to the initiative to institute Oral Cancer Prevention Week 12 years ago, when Dr. Christina Giannaki, adding that the actions of the Week are enriched and upgraded every year.
Mr. Damianou stated that the Ministry of Health, following the basic principles of the European Cancer Strategy, implements health policies aimed at both prevention and effective treatment of the disease.
At the same time, it invests in cross-sectoral collaborations, recognizing that chronic non-communicable diseases, which are also the main causes of death in developed countries, have common risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol and increased sugar consumption.
Source: KYPE
