Oral cancer detection through Indian Dental Association (IDA) led state-wide initiative

The initiative is being implemented under CanWin, a program spearheaded by the Indian Dental Association (IDA), with support from VPS Lakeshore Hospital, the Chittilappilly Foundation and other healthcare partners. “Oral cancer continues to be one of the biggest public health concerns in India, largely because many patients reach specialists only at advanced stages. What makes this initiative important is that it shifts the focus towards early detection and community-level screening,” said Dr. Eapen Thomas, President, IDA Kerala State. According to national cancer estimates, oral cancer accounts for nearly 30% of all cancers in India, with over 70% of cases diagnosed at advanced stages. Early-stage detection, however, can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival.

The Oral Lesion Surveillance Program (OLSP) places dental clinics at the centre of the effort. Since people visit dentists regularly, often for routine issues, clinics become a practical point for screening and early identification of suspicious lesions. “Even today, a large number of oral cancer cases are detected quite late. That makes treatment more difficult and outcomes less predictable. The idea is to identify these conditions much earlier, closer to where patients actually seek care,” said Dr. Moni Abraham Kuriakose, HOD, Institute of Head and Neck Oncology, VPS Lakeshore Hospital. As part of the initiative, around 6500 dental clinics across Kerala are expected to be equipped as Early cancer detection centres through structured programs conducted across all the IDA branches, creating a wide surveillance network at the community level in association with Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India- Kerala State, KSOMP- Kairali Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists, ASMIK - Association of Stomatologists and Maxillofacial Imageologists of Kerala & KSOMP. The program introduces a structured system for training, documentation and referral, helping dentists connect suspected cases with specialists and hospitals without delay.

“What we are trying to do is make screening a routine part of dental care. If dentists are able to identify early changes and guide patients appropriately, we can reduce delays in diagnosis,” said Dr. Aswin Mullath, Associate Consultant, VPS Lakeshore Hospital. Doctors associated with the initiative believe that such a model could help reduce late-stage diagnoses by systematically identifying high-risk cases earlier and directing them for timely intervention. “Early detection has to move closer to the community if we want to improve outcomes at scale. The project will help to identify the mouth cancer in the early stage itself. This gradually help to reduce the number of oral cancer cases in the state,” said S.K. Abdulla, Managing Director, VPS Lakeshore Hospital. The initiative is being supported through a mix of institutional collaboration and philanthropic funding, with the overall project estimated to cost around ₹50 lakh. Financial support will also be extended to patients who may not be able to afford treatment, using funds mobilised through the program.