Almost 600 new cases of oral cancer are found in BC each year. Screening for oral cancer and precancer is fast and painless yet 4 out of 10 oral cancers are diagnosed at a late stage leading to debilitating treatment and poorer survival rates. Treatment for late stage oral cancers can lead to changes in the way a person talks, eats, and speaks.
Approximately 1 in 800 British Columbians have a precancerous area in their mouth. There is a need to develop methods to aid in the early detection and management of these areas to reduce the risk of developing cancer.
Our goal is to reduce the barriers to oral cancer screening and the early detection of oral cancer and precancer.
