Detect Early. Live Longer.
Routine oral cancer screening included in every check-up at VCare. Systematic examination by Dr. K. Saritha using visual, tactile, and fluorescence techniques — because early detection saves lives.
Early Detection. Better Outcomes. Saved Lives.
Oral cancer encompasses malignancies of the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, gums, palate, and pharynx. India carries one of the highest global burdens of oral cancer — accounting for nearly 30% of all cancer cases nationally — largely due to widespread tobacco and betel nut use. Despite this, oral cancer caught at Stage 1 has a five-year survival rate exceeding 80%, while late-stage diagnosis drops this to below 20%.
At VCare, oral cancer screening is performed as a routine component of every dental examination. Dr. K. Saritha systematically examines all oral mucosal surfaces using direct vision, palpation, and where indicated, adjunctive VELscope fluorescence technology — which reveals abnormal tissue changes invisible to the naked eye under white light.
- ✓ Systematic visual and tactile examination of all oral surfaces
- ✓ Included in routine check-up at no extra cost
- ✓ VELscope adjunctive fluorescence screening available
- ✓ Prompt referral to oncology if suspicious lesions found
- ✓ High-risk patients advised on cessation and monitoring
Who Should Get Screened?
While anyone can develop oral cancer, certain factors significantly increase lifetime risk. All patients at VCare are screened regardless of risk profile.
Tobacco Use
Smoking cigarettes, bidis, cigars, or pipes — and smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, gutkha, khaini) — are the single largest risk factors for oral, pharyngeal, and oesophageal cancers.
Areca Nut / Pan Masala
Chewing betel quid (paan) with or without tobacco is strongly carcinogenic and is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by IARC. Widespread in India, it is responsible for the epidemic of oral submucous fibrosis and oral cancer.
Alcohol Consumption
Heavy alcohol use significantly multiplies oral cancer risk — particularly when combined with tobacco. The combination of alcohol and tobacco is synergistic, creating a risk far higher than either factor alone.
Sun Exposure
Chronic UV exposure without protection significantly increases the risk of lip cancers (squamous cell carcinoma and actinic cheilosis), particularly in individuals who work outdoors.
HPV Infection
Human papillomavirus (HPV-16) is the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancers — those affecting the tonsils, base of tongue, and soft palate — with rapidly increasing incidence globally.
Age & Prior History
Risk increases with age (most cases occur after 40). Individuals with a personal or family history of any cancer, or a previous oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD), require more frequent screening.
Symptoms That Should Never Be Ignored
Oral cancer is often painless in its early stages. These signs warrant immediate dental examination.
Non-Healing Ulcer
Any mouth ulcer that does not heal within 2–3 weeks despite normal care must be evaluated by a dentist or specialist without delay — healthy ulcers always resolve.
White or Red Patches
Leukoplakia (white) and erythroplakia (red) lesions on the tongue, cheek, or gum lining have significant malignant transformation potential and require urgent biopsy.
Restricted Mouth Opening
Progressive difficulty in opening the mouth (trismus) or stiffness of the cheeks is a hallmark of oral submucous fibrosis — a direct precancerous sequela of gutkha use.
Unexplained Numbness
Numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the lips, tongue, or jaw region without an obvious dental cause may indicate perineural invasion by malignant tissue.
Persistent Neck Lumps
A painless lump in the neck lasting more than 3 weeks may indicate lymph node enlargement secondary to oral or throat cancer — requiring urgent investigation.
Voice Change or Dysphagia
Hoarseness, changes in voice quality, or difficulty swallowing that are not explained by acute illness should trigger prompt ENT and oral oncology evaluation.
Oral Cancer Screening — Your Questions Answered
No. Oral cancer screening is completely non-invasive and painless. It involves a thorough visual and tactile examination of all oral tissues, taking approximately 5–10 minutes as part of a routine dental check-up. No instruments are inserted, and no anaesthesia is required for the screening itself.
For average-risk individuals, screening every 12 months is standard. High-risk patients — those who use tobacco, consume alcohol regularly, or have a history of oral potentially malignant disorders — should be screened every 3–6 months. Dr. Saritha will assess your individual risk profile and recommend an appropriate recall frequency.
If a suspicious lesion is identified, Dr. Saritha will either perform a biopsy in-clinic or refer you urgently to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or oncologist. Finding something suspicious does not mean you have cancer — it means further investigation is warranted. Most suspicious lesions turn out to be benign inflammatory or traumatic lesions.
Yes — particularly when detected early. Stage I oral cancer has a five-year survival rate of over 80%. This drops dramatically with late-stage diagnosis. This is precisely why routine screening is life-saving — it catches the disease when treatment is most effective, least invasive, and outcomes are best.
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Comprehensive dental care across 7 specialities — all under one roof at VCare, Hyderabad.