Dr. Bhumika Kamal Badiyani, Dr. Amit Kumar and Dr. Nitesh Kamal clubbed the organization Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Geneva, Switzerland, for the first time in India with Tobacco Intervention Initiative (TII) for IDA Laheriasarai and the Department of Public Health Dentistry at Sarjug Dental College and Hospital. This programme was professionally led for dentists to eradicate tobacco addiction while striving for a “Tobacco Free India.” 4th February every year is observed as the World Cancer Day. It is an initiative taken by UICC that unites the community to reduce the global cancer burden. Taking place under the tagline “We can. I can.” World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer. Along with TII the dentists conducted on World Cancer Day a free Oral Cancer Screening and related medicines were distributed to all the patients on that day.
Oral Cancer Foundation
Under the aegis of Oral Cancer Foundation a two day comprehensive Workshop for Dental Professionals on “Evaluation and management of Oral Cancer patient” was conducted on 20th and 21th February 2016 at IDA head office, Prabhadevi.
A total of 18 IDA members from Maharashtra and adjoining states attended the workshop.
The main objective of the workshop was to cover the basic pre- cancer lesion and condition, early detection, diagnosis and treatment modality so that the dentists can help their patients who may present themselves with leukoplakia, erythroleukoplakia or erythroplakia, oral sub-mucus fibrosis (OSMF), non healing ulcer or nodule, bleeding in the mouth, loose teeth, dysphasia, lump in the neck, ear ache or hoarseness.
The programme started with the Pre evaluation and Introduction conducted by Dr. Afshan Laheji, CDE Convener, IDA Mumbai branch.
Dr. Sagar Vaishampayan of MGM Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, explained the Role of Dentist in screening and early detection and treatment.
Dr. Prashant Pawar, Head and Neck Oncosurgeon and skull base surgeon, Fortis Hospital covered Epidemiology, aetiology of malignant and pre-malignant lesions of oral cavity and Burden of Disease.
Dr. Suhail Sayed, Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon, J J Hospital, gave a talk on Examination of oral cavity and neck in a patient of oral cancer and how to break the news of cancer.
Dr. Apurva Garg, Fellow from Head and Neck Department, TATA Memorial Hospital explained the different types of Biopsies and also covered the practical aspects of the same.
Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor, Head and Neck Surgeon, TATA Memorial Hospital, guided all dentists how to convert their dental clinic into a SPOT Centre and overall management of oral lesion.
Dr. Akhil Shankar, oral pathologist, covered the topic “Understanding histopathology reports”.
Dr. Kanchan Dholam, Prof & Dental Surgeon, TATA Memorial Hospital, explained in detail, about Prosthetics and rehabilitation of oral cancer patients.
The case studies were discussed in detail during the workshop and the demonstration of examination of oral lesions and lymph node for picking up the warning signs was also done successfully.
Two types of biopsies were demonstrated to the participants by Dr. Apurva Garg and the practice of taking biopsies on pig jaws was done by the participants.
The presentations were followed by group discussions and answers to the queries raised by the participants. The programme ended with a vote of thanks.
This training will support dentists to reduce the burden of disease due to oral cancer in our country.