Oral cancer, considered as one of the top three types of cancer affecting people, claims more than five lives in India every hour.
But when detected and treated early, it offers the best opportunity for long-term survival and the treatment remains affordable, a release issued by the Institute of Dental Sciences (IDS) of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) said. The IDS would observe a six-day free oral cancer screening week from April 5 to 10, it said, adding members of the public can take advantage of the opportunity. Oral cancer relates to any malignant neoplasm found on the lip, floor of the mouth, cheek lining, palate or tongue.
Addiction to alcohol, use of tobacco products like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, chewing of betel nut and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are the most common risk factors for oral cancer with 20 out of every one lakh population in India being affected by the disease. Treatment of oral cancer has emerged as a significant public health concern as the disease is mostly diagnosed at later stages resulting in low treatment outcome and high cost. Regular oral cancer examination performed by oral health professionals is the best method for detecting the disease in its early stages.
Free screening for oral cancer in patients who have prolonged use of tobacco products or have related signs or symptoms is also being conducted by the IDS at the Rural Health Centre at Mendhasala on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and the Urban Health Centre at Baramunda. Confirmatory diagnostic procedures during the oral cancer screening week are provided at the IDS at no cost to the patient.