Prevalence of Oral Cancer in Fiji

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of oral cancer in Fiji and to report its distribution in relation to race, gender, and age-group. Method: Data was extracted from the cancer records 1998-2008 held by the Health Information Unit in the Ministry of Health. Result: The period prevalence rate for oral cancer in Fiji for 2007 was 0.07 per 10,000 people. 58% of the subjects who suffered from oral cancer were Indigenous Fijians and majority of them were males (53%). Oral cancer was more prevalent in the 45-54 year old age group. 39% of the oral cancer cases affected the tongue and this also recorded the highest cause of death (60%) as a result of oral cancer. Conclusion: The prevalence of oral cancer in Fiji is low in comparison to some other Pacific Island countries. However the number of cases seems to be rising steadily. Oral cancer was more prevalent in males (53%), the 45-54 year olds (27.2%) and affected the tongue more than the other oral structures. The findings are similar to other epidemiological studies of oral cancer. The management of oral cancer in Fiji is limited to oral surgery as we do not have chemotherapy and radiotherapy services. Oral cancer affects the individual patients, their families, health system and the socio-economic status of the Fijian community