Oral cancer: a retrospective study of 100 Danish cases.

One hundred Danes with oral cancer who were collected consecutively from 1986 to 1991 were evaluated retrospectively. The study included subjective and objective observations in 56% men and in 44% women. M:F ratio was 1.2:1. Fifty percent of the patients were non-smokers. Nine percent were women who did not drink alcohol. Ten percent of the patients were between 40 and 49 years of age, 20% between 50 and 59 years, 35% were between 60 and 69 years and 20% between 70 and 79 years of age. This may reflect a tradition of early drinking and smoking. Doctor's delay was the cause of delayed referral in 14% of the cases while 72% of the patients were the cause themselves for the delayed referral.