
A doctor has issued a warning to Asians living in the UK that they could be putting themselves at a significant risk of mouth cancer as a result of traditional high-risk habits.
Dr Chet Trivedy, who is an A&E consultant at Kingston Hospital in London, believes common cultural habits in many British-Asian communities, such as tobacco and betel (areca) nut chewing, is placing thousands at severe risk of developing mouth cancer.
Dr Trivedy believes chewing tobacco and betel nut increases a person’s risk of developing mouth cancer by up to seven times.
He is bringing attention to the issue as he believes there is a need for greater education about chewing products and their links to mouth cancer.