Oral cancer is far from rare in India—accounting for nearly one-third of the country’s cancer cases—but it remains a “silent public health emergency” hiding in plain sight. Despite being easily visible, nearly 70–80% of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, when five-year survival rates drop below 30%. Early detection, by contrast, offers survival rates above 80%.

 

The delay is deadly: patients typically wait three to seven months after noticing symptoms before reaching specialized care. Early lesions are often painless, small, and easily dismissed, allowing a highly curable disease to progress unchecked.

 

“Screening programs have proven to be a game-changer. Organized oral screening initiatives can reduce mortality by 24–30% by detecting precancerous conditions early. In Maharashtra, mobile screening units and community cancer camps have already demonstrated impact by identifying high-risk lesions before malignant transformation,” said Dr. Sultan A. Pradhan, Surgical Oncologist at the Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India.

 

Tobacco use—especially smokeless forms like gutka, khaini, and betel nut—is linked to more than 90% of cases in India, with alcohol and HPV also contributing, particularly among younger, non-tobacco users. Maharashtra carries one of the highest oral cancer burdens in the country. The disease is the most common cancer among men in the state and ranks among the top five for women.

 

“Hospitals such as Head & Neck Cancer Institute of India play a critical role by combining early detection pathways with advanced surgical technology, precision reconstruction, and multidisciplinary care, helping bridge the gap between screening and survival. Oral cancer is one of the few cancers where we can truly change outcomes through early action, technology helps, but awareness and timely referral helps us save lives,” added Dr. Pradhan.

 

Oral cancer is preventable, detectable, and curable when caught early. The true cost lies not in treatment—but in delay.