December 5th, Latin American Day of Fight against Oral Cancer
Abstract
On December 5, the birthday of Dr. Julio César Santana Garay, the "Latin American Day of Fight against Oral Cancer" was established at the Assembly of the Latin American Odontological Federation held in Rio de Janeiro on July 15, 2009. The date recognizes the dedication of the whole life of the illustrious Professor of Merit to teach, research, and write articles and books in order to stimulate and convince Cuban, Latin American and world stomatologists to work in the prevention of oral cancer; work that they can and must do to avoid in people a disease that affects them physically, socially, economically and psychically, and that in a large percentage can be even deadly.The Oral Cancer Detection Program (PDCB) in Cuba, since its creation, has been guided to carry out the methodology of the examination of the oral complex as part of the habitual examination that the stomatologist must perform for all patients in the Primary Health Care; this is no more than the application of the clinical method, based on its fundamental pillars: the anamnesis and the physical examination. This physical examination must be thorough and orderly to enable a comprehensive evaluation of the patient. If alterations are detected during the examination that suggest a potentially malignant disorder or benign or malignant neoplasm, the patient should be referred to the maxillofacial surgery clinic.
Despite all the efforts, the Statistical Yearbook of Health of 20151 reports that the incidence of lip cancer, oral cavity and pharynx in males in 2012 was 1 167 men with a gross rate of 20.7 per 100 000 inhabitants, and 817 deaths of both sexes in 2014 and 783 in 2015.
The figures referred to are worrisome considering that we have a program of national coverage that constitutes a chimera for most of the countries.
In tribute to Professor Santana, we must redouble our efforts to comply with the provisions of the PDCB, reduce the incidence and mortality of oral cancer because our patients deserve to live a healthy and long life.
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