The British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program (BC OCPP) is a multidisciplinary network of clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals dedicated to reducing the burden of oral cancer. Through research, education, early detection, and collaborative partnerships, we are developing and implementing a province-wide strategy to improve oral cancer prevention and care across British Columbia.
Our vision
The BC OCPP is committed to reducing the incidence and mortality of oral cancer through innovation in early detection, risk assessment, and the prevention and management of oral potentially malignant disorders.
Our integrated program connects community healthcare providers, specialists, and researchers through a coordinated referral network that supports seamless, evidence-based care—from the identification of high-risk premalignant lesions to the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer.
Our Goals
- Prevent the development of oral cancer through education, risk reduction, and early intervention.
- Detect oral cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage, ideally before malignant transformation occurs.
- Improve treatment outcomes through timely diagnosis and coordinated, patient-centred care.
- Advance research and translate scientific discoveries into clinical practice.
- Develop innovative, evidence-based models for oral cancer prevention that can be implemented in British Columbia and adapted worldwide.
Who we are
The BC OCPP brings together expertise from oral medicine, oral pathology, dentistry, surgery, oncology, epidemiology, public health, and biomedical research. United by a shared vision, our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to improve prevention, screening, diagnosis, and patient care while advancing research that informs best practices and health policy.
South Asia accounts for approximately one-third of the global burden of oral cancer. The disease is among the most common cancers in India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, particularly among men. Major risk factors include betel quid chewing and the use of smokeless tobacco. Most cases occur in rural communities, where poverty, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate screening contribute to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes.
In 2018 and 2019, the BC OCPP, in collaboration with the Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration, conducted oral cancer screening camps in rural communities outside Hyderabad, India. Building on this work, the BC OCPP continues to expand its global partnerships and is developing new initiatives in Sri Lanka. By working with international collaborators, we aim to develop sustainable, evidence-based approaches to oral cancer prevention and early detection that can improve outcomes in high-burden regions around the world.
