Subramaniam, Pram Kumar (2026) Oral Cancer: Staging is Not Sentencing - A Misconception Article in Sunday Makkal Osai (Malaysian Tamil Daily) segment. Makkal Osai (Malaysian Tamil Daily) - Sunday Edition, NA (NA). 05.
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Abstract
This article, published (in tamil) in the Makkal Osai Malaysian Tamil newspaper (Sunday Edition, 12 April 2026), addresses a prevalent public misconception in oral cancer care; that a diagnosis of Stage IV of oral cancer disease signifies a terminal and untreatable condition. Drawing from my personal clinical experience in treating such patients, the article challenges this deterministic perception by emphasizing that staging in oral cancer is a complex, multi-dimensional process rather than a definitive prognostic endpoint. The discussion outlines the principles of staging specific to oral cancer, highlighting the distinctions between clinical, radiological, and pathological staging. It underscores that staging may evolve with further diagnostic evaluation, and that patients categorized within the same stage of oral cancer can have markedly different treatment pathways and outcomes. Importantly, the article illustrates that even Stage IV oral cancers may remain operable and amenable to multimodal management, including surgery, microvascular reconstruction, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies. A central theme explored is the probabilistic nature of prognosis in oral cancer. Survival statistics are framed as population-based estimates rather than individualized predictions, with outcomes influenced by tumour biology, patient-related factors, and treatment response. This perspective aims to recalibrate patient expectations from fatalistic assumptions toward informed clinical understanding. The article further identifies late detection of oral cancer as a significant public health concern in Malaysia, where many patients present at advanced stages due to low awareness and misinterpretation of early signs. It advocates for improved public education and emphasizes the role of routine dental examinations in facilitating early diagnosis. Overall, it was my intent that the article promotes a shift in public discourse; from fear-driven interpretations to evidence-based understanding, thus emphasizing that staging in oral cancer should guide clinical decision-making without negating the potential for treatment and meaningful survival outcomes.
| Item Type: | Article (Newspaper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | oral cancer, staging, perception |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RD Surgery R Medicine > RK Dentistry R Medicine > RK Dentistry > RK529 Oral Surgery-General Works |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Dentistry > Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Diagnosis |
| Depositing User: | Dr Pram Kumar Subramaniam |
| Date Deposited: | 06 May 2026 16:02 |
| Last Modified: | 06 May 2026 16:02 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-04-Q3052 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/128624 |
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