Oral Cancer: From Screening to Survival

A five-minute exam can save a life.In this episode, Julia Flor explores why early detection of oral cancer makes such a dramatic difference in survival. We cover the key clinical red flags — from non-healing ulcers and red/white patches to suspicious lumps, numbness, and high-risk oral sites.You’ll learn how to apply the two-week rule, assess malignant vs benign features, and recognise oral potentially malignant disorders like leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus, submucous fibrosis, and actinic cheilitis. We also discuss the role of field cancerisation, major risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, HPV, areca nut), and disparities in outcomes for rural and Indigenous patients.From biopsy principles and surgical margins to new tools like autofluorescence, narrow-band imaging, and saliva diagnostics, this episode gives you the knowledge to screen systematically, document effectively, and make timely referrals.Whether you’re on your first clinic rotation or preparing for practice, this episode will help you approach oral cancer detection with vigilance and confidence.*Some topics in this episode — like OPMDs, screening tools, biopsy guidelines, and lesion descriptors — are touched on briefly, but they’re expanded in greater detail in the accompanying Podcast Digest. We recommend downloading the digest and keeping it handy as a quick-reference guide for study and in clinic - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nzEfcHNjG6cq-sJexGdhSa64GITlKWXY?usp=sharing

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