This study, conducted through a
literature review, aimed to elaborate on
oral cancer,
smoking and coping with these two
diseases by
public health policies in force in
Brazil. According to the Brazilian
National Cancer Institute (INCA),
oral cancer is among the most frequent
diseases in the country, and if detected at early stages, has a high rate of
survival when compared to other types of
disease. INCA estimates show that there is a tendency for
disease progression, nearly doubling the number of cases from 2005 to 2020, which constitutes a challenge not only to advances in
science and
technology but to the continuity of higher
incidence in countries of lower
socioeconomic level, reinforcing the need to
work on social determinants. According to the
literature reviewed,
smoking, among the
risk factors for
oral cancer, is one of the most potent
carcinogens known, with the aggravating factor that the
patient voluntarily introduces the
carcinogen into their body. The correlation between these two
chronic diseases justifies the concern of
public health and the dental profession both to deter the progression of these previously established
diseases and to reduce the
incidence of cases.