Epidemiology of oral cancer in Southern Punjab,Pakistan

Aim: to develop preventive oral healthcare approach for early detection of oral cancer for prevention and better control among general population with practices like risk factors for oral cancers the use of tobacco and alcohol consumption. methods: this is retrospective hospital based study carried out on the oral cancer patient data available at bahawalpur institute of nuclear medicine and oncology (bino) and the multan institute of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy (minar) for last five years from 2010 to 2015. results: the prevalence of the squamous cell carcinoma was 95% out total 398 patients of oral cancers while non-squamous cell carcinoma was among 5% of patients. conclusion: a community base preventive oral healthcare approach for early detection of oral cancer for better control and prognosis is the best strategy for squamous cell carcinoma prevention at population level for a country with scared resources with respect to manpower and finances.