Oral cancer control: The New Jersey model

Recent data released by the American Cancer Society highlighted a significant decrease in cancer deaths in the U.S. Of those sites reported, oral and oropharyngeal cancers (O/OPC) showed the least improvement. SEER data show a 5-year survival rate of only 59% with minimal improvement over the past 30 years. The NJ model offers a rational approach to the control of O/OPC integrating individuals and entities most likely to effect positive change.

In 2000, the Governor issued an Executive Order establishing the Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment in NJ linking state agencies and private organizations and charged them with conducting a capacity/needs assessment and formulating a 5-year plan to deal with cancer. A dentist was appointed among the original 16 members. In the earliest organizational meetings of the Task Force, it was determined that O/OPC should be addressed by a separate workgroup and our Cancer Control Plan reflects this by devoting a separate chapter to this cancer site. This organizational structure has allowed us to reach out and network with individuals and entities not previously involved in cancer control and to elevate the priority of oral cancer within organized dentistry, hospital-based dental departments, dental schools and residency programs, and among individual dentists and dental hygienists throughout the state. We have also coordinated existing programs regionally with our colleagues in New York through the Oral Cancer Consortium and spearheaded a nationwide Oral Cancer Task Force under the auspices of the American Academy of Oral Medicine.