Oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OCC & OPC) is often overlooked in public health discussions, yet its economic burden is staggering. When compared to more widely discussed cancers like colorectal, breast, and lung cancer, oral cancer’s cost per case is disproportionately high. This underscores the preventable nature of oral cancer and its financial toll on patients, employers, and the broader healthcare system.
Using GDP per capita as a reference point to measure the relative economic burden, oral cancer demonstrates a startlingly high cost:
While colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., shows the highest burden per capita, oral cancer isn’t far behind. Despite its lower prevalence, its cost per case is disproportionately high. This reflects several factors, including extensive treatments, late-stage diagnoses, and the complex management required for these cases.
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Oral cancer often progresses due to undiagnosed or untreated periodontal disease, poor oral hygiene, and other preventable risk factors like tobacco and alcohol use. Unlike colorectal cancer, which benefits from well-established screening protocols like colonoscopies, oral cancer lacks universal preventive systems within mainstream primary care. Screening is typically limited to dental practitioners or ENTs during routine visits, leaving many cases undiagnosed until they reach advanced stages—when treatment becomes far more expensive and less effective.
Improved access to routine dental care and increased utilization of oral cancer screenings could significantly reduce incidence rates and treatment costs. Yet, dental care remains financially out of reach for many Americans, with 40% of dental expenditures coming from out-of-pocket payments (compared to just 10.6% for medical care). This financial barrier exacerbates disparities and increases the likelihood of delayed diagnoses and poor outcomes.
Oral cancer also has significant implications for employers:
$45 billion in productivity is lost by US employers annually due to poor oral health.
- World Economic Forum
While employers are often focused on health benefits that reduce absenteeism and support their workforce’s well-being, oral health remains an under-addressed area. Innovative approaches like direct contracting models, portable dental wallets, and employer-sponsored dental ICHRAs could make a meaningful difference by reducing cost barriers and enabling routine preventive care.
Oral cancer’s economic burden as a percentage of GDP per capita highlights its hidden costs and the need for systemic change. By addressing gaps in awareness, prevention, and access to care, we can alleviate the financial and human toll of this preventable disease. Employers, policymakers, and healthcare leaders have an opportunity to reimagine how we approach oral health—improving outcomes while creating a healthier, more productive future for everyone.
To understand the economic burden of oral cancer compared to other cancers, we calculated the cost per case and its percentage relative to U.S. GDP per capita for 2022.
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