Targeting Stage Zero: ICanCare’s Integrated Vision Resonates at 7th NCTOH 2026
At the 7th National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH 2026), organized by the Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS Rae Bareli, an important message echoed strongly across the plenary hall:
The session brought together public health leaders, clinicians, tobacco control experts, and community champions to address one central truth:
Tobacco is not merely a habit — it is a disease.
And oral cancer cannot be fought only in hospitals.
A Powerful Plenary on Day 2
The Day 2 Plenary Session (31 January 2026 | 2:15–3:15 PM) titled
“Targeting Stage Zero – Integrated Approach for the King of All Cancers”
emerged as one of the most impactful sessions of the conference.
The session was chaired by Dr. Ranjeeta Kumari and Dr. Deepa Bisht, and expertly moderated by Prof. Dr. Pawan Gupta, Senior Director – Surgical Oncology, MAX Healthcare NCR and Founder of ICanCare.
ICanCare Leadership on the National Platform
The plenary brought together the core ICanCare leadership working at the intersection of prevention, tobacco cessation, early detection, and community empowerment:
- Prof. Dr. Pawan Gupta – Senior Director – Surgical Oncology, MAX Healthcare NCR and Founder of ICanCare.
(Cancer Surgeon, Oral Oncology & Stage Zero Prevention Advocate), - Dt. Sonal Bhatia –
Director, ICanCare Women Health Initiative
National Lead – Tobacco MARSHAL Program
National Chairman – Addiction Prevention - Dr. Supriya Wadhwa –
Senior Consultant – Tobacco Cessation Specialist, ICanCare MAX Department of Biophotonics, Vaishali
Ayurveda Expert with 16+ years of clinical experience - Dr. Pravesh –
PhD (Electronics & Communication Engineering)
KIET University, Ghaziabad
Consultant to ICanCare -Contributing technological insights toward scalable healthcare delivery
The Core Message: Mission Stage Zero
The session clearly articulated MISSION STAGE ZERO — A War Against Oral Cancer, a concept that reframes cancer control by shifting the focus:
➡️ From late-stage treatment to early-stage prevention
➡️ From hospital-centric care to community-led action
➡️ From isolated clinicians to an empowered society
Prof. Dr. Pawan Gupta emphasized that oral cancer — often referred to as the king of cancers due to its high burden in India — is one of the few cancers that is visible, detectable, and preventable if addressed at the right time.
“Stage Zero is not a theory.
It is the window where cancer can be stopped before it is born.”
If oral cancer is to be defeated, the battle must begin at Stage Zero — before cancer begins.
Why “Stage Zero” Matters
Oral cancer remains one of the most common cancers in India, largely driven by:
- Smokeless tobacco
- Gutkha and pan masala
- Areca nut consumption
- Delayed diagnosis
Despite the oral cavity being easily accessible for examination, over 70–80% of patients still present in advanced stages, when cure becomes difficult, expensive, and life-altering.
This gap is exactly where MISSION STAGE ZERO, promoted by ICanCare, intervenes.
Stage Zero represents the window where:
- Oral Potentially Malignant Lesions (OPML) are present
- Disease is fully preventable
- Treatment outcomes approach near 100% success
Tobacco as a Medical Disease
A major highlight of the discussion was the strong scientific consensus presented by the panel:
- Tobacco addiction is a chronic relapsing medical disease
- Willpower alone is insufficient
- Structured protocols, behavioral counselling, pharmacotherapy, and long-term follow-up are essential
Dr. Supriya Wadhwa elaborated on protocol-based tobacco cessation, demonstrating how integrated counselling models significantly improve quit success when compared to isolated advice.
The Role of Society: Tobacco MARSHAL Movement
A defining feature of the ICanCare model is the Tobacco MARSHAL Program, presented by Dt. Sonal Bhatia.
The concept introduces a new public health cadre:
- Citizens trained to identify tobacco use early
- Community leaders who guide users toward quitting
- First-line identifiers of oral lesions
- Connectors between society and certified medical experts
This model transforms every responsible citizen into a preventive health force, making cancer prevention a shared responsibility — not limited to hospitals.
New Armamentarium for the Periphery
The plenary strongly highlighted the need for new tools that can work beyond tertiary centers, including:
- Community-based oral screening
- Digital triage systems
- WhatsApp-based early lesion evaluation – 9773856664
- Structured referral pathways
- Long-term digital follow-up
These innovations enable Stage Zero interventions at the periphery, where most high-risk populations reside.
The ICanCare Biophotonic Model
One of the most impactful moments of the session was the presentation by Dr. Pravesh, Consultant to ICanCare, who introduced the ICanCare Biophotonic Model — a next-generation preventive and early-intervention framework.
The Biophotonic Model integrates:
- Photodiagnostics – early visualization of abnormal mucosal changes
- Photobiomodulation (PBM) – cellular-level healing and inflammation control
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) – targeted destruction of dysplastic cells
- Photo-surgical concepts – precision intervention where required
This model is being developed specifically to allow safe, standardized, and scalable treatment of OPML and early disease at the periphery — not limited to tertiary cancer centers.
The goal:
Bring advanced cancer-preventive science closer to the community.
The presentation highlighted how biophotonics can become a powerful tool in Stage Zero care — bridging the gap between screening and cancer surgery.
A Well-Acknowledged Session
The plenary session received strong appreciation from the chairpersons and dignitaries on the dais, as well as delegates from across India. The clarity of the message, practicality of the model, and scalability of Mission Stage Zero were widely acknowledged.
The takeaway was unambiguous:
If India wishes to control oral cancer, Stage Zero must become the national focus.
Moving Forward
ICanCare continues to champion this integrated approach — bringing together:
- Clinicians
- Public health systems
- Community leaders
- Women-led movements
- Youth volunteers
- Digital health solutions
Because cancer prevention cannot wait for symptoms. It must begin before disease begins.
The appreciation received from chairpersons, delegates, and fellow experts reaffirmed a shared belief:
The future of cancer control lies not only in curing cancer —
but in preventing it before it begins.
ICanCare remains committed to building this future through:
- Science-driven prevention
- Technology-enabled early detection
- Community empowerment
- Biophotonic innovation
Because when Stage Zero is addressed — cancer never gets the chance to begin.
A National Call to Action
The plenary session concluded with a strong collective agreement:
- Oral cancer prevention must move beyond awareness slogans
- Early lesions must be treated, not observed
- Tobacco must be managed as a disease
- New technologies must reach the grassroots
MISSION STAGE ZERO offers India a structured, scalable, and science-backed roadmap — one that begins long before cancer develops.
📌 Connect with ICanCare
📲 WhatsApp Oral Lesion Screening: 9773856664
🎓 Become a Certified Tobacco MARSHAL: https://training.icancare.com
🌐 Website: www.icancare.com
MISSION STAGE ZERO is not just a concept.
It is a national responsibility.
And the journey has begun.
