Oral Cancer Screening & Help to Quit Tobacco
तोंडाच्या कर्करोगाची तपासणी आणि तंबाखू सोडण्यासाठी मदत
तंबाखू, गुटखा, खर्रा किंवा मावा खात असाल किंवा धूम्रपान करत असाल तर तोंडाची नियमित तपासणी करा. तंबाखू सोडायची असेल तर आम्ही मदत करतो. राष्ट्रीय तंबाखू सोडा हेल्पलाइन: 1800-11-2356 (टोल फ्री).
India has more new lip and mouth cancers than any other country. In 2022 it had an estimated 143,759 of the world’s 389,846 new cases, according to the WHO’s GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates. Tobacco is the main cause, especially chewed forms such as gutkha, kharra, mawa and khaini. A quick mouth examination at every check-up can find early warning patches, when they are easier to treat.
Who it is for
Anyone who chews or smokes tobacco, chews areca nut (supari), or drinks alcohol. Also anyone with a mouth ulcer or patch that has not healed in 2 weeks.
Warning signs (get checked)
- a white or red patch
- an ulcer that doesn’t heal in 2 weeks
- a lump
- difficulty opening the mouth
- burning with spicy food
- a tooth that becomes loose without reason
What happens and how many visits
- A look-and-feel examination of the lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, palate and neck. It takes a few minutes during your check-up.
- If we find a suspicious area, we explain it and refer you for biopsy and specialist care. We do not diagnose cancer without a biopsy.
- Quitting support:
- We talk about your habit and why you want to quit, and help you set a quit date.
- We give you the national quitline number, 1800-11-2356 (toll-free; Government of India; counselling available in Marathi, Hindi, English and other languages).
- You can also give a missed call to 011-22901701 (mCessation).
Aftercare
A re-check of any patch at the time advised, and regular check-ups.
Fee
Oral cancer screening is included in a routine check-up: ₹200.
Frequently asked questions
No. Quitting at any age lowers risk, and some early patches may improve after stopping.
No. Most ulcers heal in 1–2 weeks. One that doesn’t heal should be checked.
We refer you to an oral surgeon or oral pathologist for the biopsy.