Mr. Cui, a 58-year-old oral cancer patient, has the habit of smoking, drinking and chewing betel nut. At first, his gums will be red and swollen, but he never cared. It was not until three consecutive dentists advocated that he had the fourth stage of oral cancer after going to the hospital for examination. The Health Bureau of Taipei City reminds people over the age of 30 who have the habit of smoking and chewing betel nut that they should receive free oral mucosal examination regularly, even if eat areca does not contain additives such as red ash, white ash and Chinese shepherd's leaf.

According to the statistics of the Department of Health, 9 out of every 10 oral cancer patients in China have the habit of chewing betel nut. (Photo courtesy of "National Health Bureau of the Department of Health" website) Many people mistakenly think that if you chew betel nut without additives, you won't get cancer. However, the International Center for Research on Cancer (IARC) confirmed in 2003 that semen arecae itself is the first carcinogen of human beings. Even if you don't add additives such as red ash, white ash, flowers and leaves, just chewing betel nut will cause cancer. In addition, betel nut is coarse in fiber, and when chewed, it is like a piece of watermelon cloth rubbing in the mouth, which is easy to cause oral submucosal fibrosis, causing burning sensation in the mouth, and will repeatedly cause blisters or ulcers, making eating, brushing teeth, oral examination and dental treatment very difficult.

According to the Health Bureau, according to the statistics of the Department of Health of the Executive Yuan, the population of Taiwan Province who chews betel nuts is about1390,000, and on average, 9 out of every 10 oral cancer patients have the habit of chewing betel nuts. Moreover, oral cancer is a common cancer in young men, with an average death age of 56 years, which is earlier than other cancers 10 years; Most of these young men are the source and pillar of family and economy. If they lose their health by chewing betel nut, they will cause considerable losses to their families and society.

Because the five-year survival rate of oral cancer in 0 ~1period can reach 76 ~ 80%, in order to reduce the harm of betel nut to health, the Health Bureau appeals to Hong Chunzu to quit betel nut as soon as possible, and suggests that people over 30 who chew betel nut or smoke should have regular free oral mucosal examination every two years, so as to find out and treat it early.