Mouth Cancer Control Program in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Oral cancer persists as a public health problem. Thus, mechanisms that ensure active involvement of the population must be created. Within this context, the Mouth Cancer Control Program of the University of Pernambuco (UPE) has been updating and training professionals in the prevention, and differential and early diagnosis of oral cancer since 1998 by performing educational, preventive, and diagnostic activities without interruptions. CAAE: 0201.0.097.000-08. From January 2002 to January 2017, 1400 students from UPE and 300 students from other educational institutions participated in the development of the activities. A total of 8600 professionals were trained in 63 cities in Pernambuco and 59,600 individuals participated in the educational/preventive activities designed to improve self-care, prevention, and the early detection of oral cancer. A total of 2984 individuals were examined during the training. Among the oral lesions identified and investigated by biopsy, 33% were potentially malignant lesions and 12% were malignant lesions (cancer). Health education is an excellent tool for the popularization and diffusion of technical–scientific knowledge, demystifying the disease and bringing its description closer to the population, thus permitting the identification of risk factors and the search for prevention and early detection. Brazil still faces some challenges, but education and guaranteed access to and greater effectiveness of health services will provide better conditions for the prevention, early detection, and reduction of disabilities and death since oral cancer can be prevented and cured when diagnosed at an early stage.