Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 1

Written Answers. - Oral Cancer.

Ivor Callely

Question:

47 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the support and funds which have been made available to investigate the incidences of dental cancers; if there has been any noticeable increase in dental cancers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

I assume that the Deputy's question refers to oral cancer.

Cancer is not a notifiable disease— accordingly, there is no information available to my Department on the incidence of oral cancer. However, the functions of the National Cancer Registry Board, which was established in 1991, include the identification, collection, classification, recording, storing and analysis of information relating to the incidence and prevalence of cancer and related tumours.

The following table sets out deaths from oral cancer in recent years:—

TABLE

Deaths due to Malignant Neoplasms of Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharynx (ICD Codes 140-149).

Year	No. of deaths
1984	122
1985	142
1986	121
1987	140
1988	130
1989	131
1990*	107
1991*	138

*provisional.

Source: Central Statistics Office — Annual Reports on Vital Statistics (1984-1988). Central Statistics Office (unpublished) — 1989 to 1991.

Publicly funded research into cancer is primarily a matter for the Health Research Board. The Board does not have any current research in progress into oral cancer. However, I would refer the Deputy to a reply to a parliamentary question of 26 November 1991 — columns 926 to 928 — which dealt with cancer research generally and set out the position in relation to funding.

Smoking is a major risk factor in oral cancer — particularly if associated with heavy alcohol use. Many of the initiatives taken by my Department's Health Promotion Unit are targeted at these risk factors and, where appropriate, the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Dental Health Foundation have been involved in these initiatives.

The Deputy may also wish to note that under the Tobacco (Health Promotion and Protection) Act, 1988 it is illegal to import, manufacture, sell or otherwise dispose of an oral smokeless tobacco product. Such products are marketed towards young people and their use is implicated in certain oral cancers.