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02/15: Taking research to the streets: Agency brings oral cancer screening into the community
A partnership between the BC Cancer Agency, University of British Columbia, and the Portland Dental Clinic is providing oral cancer screening to the Downtown Eastside community.
The screening program is an outreach component of the BC Oral Cancer Prevention Program. Each year, about 200 patients at the clinic will improve their chances of early oral cancer detection. When caught early, the success rate of treating oral cancer is much higher.
“We looked for a community that would most benefit from a program like this - this community represents a cross-section of people that has a strong need,” explains Dr. Catherine Poh of the BC Cancer Agency, who holds screening sessions at the clinic twice a month. “The screening program’s focus on oral health prevention and disease management is really suited to a community like this.”
Patients volunteering for the screening program are checked for early cancer using a special blue dye, and a blue light device that helps identify cancerous and pre-cancerous tissue. If there seems to be a concern, people can get referred quickly for further follow-up and treatment, either cancer-related or otherwise.
This program is one of several projects of the BC Cancer Oral Cancer Prevention Program, led by Dr. Miriam Rosin, bringing dentists and oral hygiene professionals into the community to make first-line decisions about early stage biopsies and referrals for anti-cancer related care.
“The Oral Cancer Prevention Program is joining an ongoing partnership that was already focused on improving the health of people in the neighbourhood,” explains Dr. Rosin.
The opportunity for this screening program came about through the existing Portland Dental Clinic, which provides comprehensive oral health care to residents of the area. The clinic has partnered with the UBC dental school to provide quality dental care, so this additional partnership with the BC Oral Cancer Prevention Program seemed like a natural transition.
“We have a unique opportunity of leaders from both the medical and dental community coming together with a common vision of identifying this disease in its early stages” explains Dr. Christopher Zed, assistant dean at UBC. “If these cancers are left to develop, the stress on the medical system, and the cost, would be exaggerated, not to mention the decreased quality of life and mortality.”
So far, the screening program has been able to identify several cases of severe oral disease, including people requiring treatment for cancer and pre-cancerous conditions.
British Columbia is an excellent environment for developing a model to screen and identify high risk lesions among dental patients. Ninety percent of the province’s residents see a dentist at least once every two years. Approximately 2,500 dentists in British Columbia could form a potential province-wide screening network that would forward high risk patients to special care facilities.
This research has been funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research / National Institutes of Health. Research at the BC Cancer Agency is supported by the BC Cancer Foundation.
The BC Cancer Agency, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Research Centre conducts research into the causes and cures for cancer.
UBC researchers, who conduct more than 5,000 investigations annually, attracted $364 million in research funding in 2004/2005.
For more information, please contact:
Nicole Adams
BC Cancer Agency
T/ 604.877.6272
E/ nadams@bccancer.bc.ca
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