Betel Quid: Gateway to Oral Cancer.

Objectives: The primary objective was to prove that consumption of Betel Quid/Nut can cause Ulcers and eventually oral cancers with the highest susceptibility of individuals being ones that consume paan and gutka.
Methods: The study was carried out in Lahore and comprised of 154 candidates selected on a non-randomised first come first serve basis. The criteria for selection was strictly narrowed down by two filter questions being age and whether the individuals were consumers of betel quid. The selected candidates were then prompted with a questionaire comprising of 12 questions that highlighted consumption patterns, ulcer incidence and their aptitude towards maintaining a good oral hygeine.
Results: Results indicated a sound correlation between consumption of betel quid and occurance of ulcers that were predisposing factors to oral cancer. Every form of betel quid consumed presented with ulcers, most of which were seen in pan and gutka users. The chi square test of consumption type versus ulceration incidence was highly significant and validated the hypothesis.
Conclusions: Conclusively, Pan (46%) and Gutka (20%) were forms that were most consumed and were responsible for most of the ulcer cases. Although the percentage of Gutka consumption is less than that of paan, it is more potent in causing ulcers. Men consumed more than women which leaves them more prone to ulcers. 75% of individuals also consumed extras (alcohol, cigarettes, E.Cigarettes, hookah, bidi or tobacco chewing). 49% of which consumed cigarettes along with Betel Quid/Nut.