A few months ago, I treated a 23-year-old college student from Delhi, who had never smoked or consumed tobacco, for oral cancer. She came to us with what appeared to be a small ulcer on the side of her tongue, something she believed had been caused by accidentally biting herself during a hurried meal. Since it caused only mild discomfort initially, she ignored it for nearly six weeks, assuming it would heal on its own. A biopsy confirmed what she least expected: early-stage cancer of the tongue. During consultation, we found out that her meals were irregular; she often skipped them because of academic pressures. She had replaced fresh fruits and balanced home-cooked food with packaged snacks, sugary beverages and long gaps without proper nutrition. Her lifestyle was no different from other urban young adults. She came to see us when the ulcer persisted, became painful, began interfering with her speech, and eventually prompted her to seek medical help. The difference early diagnosis can make Fortunately, because the disease was diagnosed at an early stage, …