RICHMOND, British Columbia — London Drugs has partnered with LED Dental Inc. in a pilot program to provide free oral cancer screenings.

In the pilot, LED Dental is providing its VELscope Vx Enhanced Oral Assessment System for screenings at 12 London Drugs pharmacies in the lower mainland area of British Columbia. The first screenings were held this week, and more will be conducted in May.

For the screening, a dental professional uses the VELscope Vx handheld scope to help detect for oral tissue abnormalities. The screening aids in the early identification of lesions potentially at risk for oral pre-cancer as well as lesions that may be signs of other mucosal diseases or systemic diseases. Patients who enroll in the oral health screening fill out an evaluation form that asks about tobacco use and other questions. Once the screening is completed, an evaluation summary is provided to the patient and, if required, the patient will be advised to see an oral or health professional for further assessment.

Abnormal areas discovered during screening in which a follow-up is recommended are documented on a form and provided to customers to take to their dentist or health care provider.

London Drugs said that if the pilot proves successful, it will expand the availability of the oral cancer screening program. The drug chain, which has 78 stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, noted that the pre-cancer screening is a significant opportunity to expand its smoking cessation program.

“We continue to see the pharmacy expanding its role in the health of Canadians,” John Tse, vice president of pharmacy at London Drugs, said in a statement. “This is a first ever for a pharmacy in Canada, and we appreciate the support of LED Dental to help us build the pilot program.”

The pilot program has been endorsed by the BC Oral Cancer Prevention Program (BC OCPP) and developed with oral medicine and pathology specialist Dr. Samson Ng of the University of British Columbia.

“We are pleased to be able to provide VELscope Vx Systems to London Drugs and have the VELscope Vx play an important role in oral cancer screening for the general public,” stated David Gane, chief executive officer of LED Medical. “Our goal through this program is to assist London Drugs in contributing to a reduced incidence of oral cancer in Canada through early detection.”

The program also helps to respond to the rising demand for screening for oral cancer, which has climbed recently because of an aging population, a growing awareness of oral cancer and the importance of early detection, according to LED Dental. Statistics from SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute) indicate that 65% of oral cancer is discovered in the later stages when the survival rate is only 54%, whereas the 31% of cases found in the early stages have an 83% survival rate. Currently, 37% of patients diagnosed with oral cancer die within five years of their diagnosis.

“This is the first time we are working with colleagues outside the dental field to find ways to combat the minimally known, but deadly, oral cancer,” Ng commented.