2009 – Page 39 – Oral Cancer News

Spit tobacco is not a quit-smoking solution

Source: News-record.com Author: Tead Eaves What do you think? Dr. Brad Rodu recommends spit tobacco use as a method to help with smoking cessation ("Smokers need the facts on alternatives," Ideas, April 19). This strategy, known as harm reduction, encourages spit tobacco as an alternative to cigarettes because of lower risks for severe health consequences. Although smoking cessation is very important, spit tobacco is not a safe alternative. There are numerous diseases and illnesses that have been scientifically linked to spit tobacco, including gingivitis, tooth decay, cardiovascular disease and oral, esophageal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, stomach and pancreatic cancer. The most dangerous of these health issues is oral cancer, which has a mortality rate of 54 percent within five years of diagnosis. The risk for developing oral cancer from spit tobacco has been found to be 14 times greater than the risk in nonusers. Besides the health risks associated with the use of spit tobacco, there are other concerns with harm reduction. There could be an increase in use among adolescents who think "smokeless is harmless" when it comes to spit tobacco, an overall increase in the use of tobacco by nonusers, and an increase in sales of high-nicotine products that raise the risk for addiction. In his research, Dr. Rodu has often discussed the effectiveness of harm-reduction programs in Sweden. While Swedish studies have indeed demonstrated decreased smoking levels through the use of spit tobacco, there are several differences between the two countries that make it difficult to compare the United [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-04-27T16:40:12-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Too Hot for Teacher?

Calendar raises money and eyebrows Source: Fox 35 News Author: Holly Bristow COCOA BEACH, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - On campus, he teaches math at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High. Off campus, he’s known in some circles as “Mr. August.” Patrick Kile is the driving force behind a calendar which features fellow teachers – some scantily-clad – all for a charity project. Money raised from calendar sales goes to cancer research. It’s a fundraiser for his “Relay for Life” team and all profits are going to the the American Cancer Society, but do students really need to see skin from their teachers? While it’s getting some good reviews, shots like Mr. June (pictured) are making some waves, as six of the teachers are shirtless. “Coach Mortar coaches wrestling and works with weightlifting,” said Kile. “He also teaches history.” “They're teachers! You've got young impressionable teenage girls,” said one parent lab.woodward.edu. “They don't need that. They need role models, not sexy muscles.” Kile, 33, teaches Geometry and helps coach Girl’s Soccer. “We just wanted something ‘outside the box,’ unique and fun and different, that would help open some eyeballs and raise some money,” said Kile, who is a cancer survivor himself. “Back in 2005, I was diagnosed with tongue cancer that spread to my neck.” Now that he's in remission, Kile is trying to help other cancer victims. “It’s for a good cause. I went to the school board and spoke with the ethics director of human resources and he thought [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-04-28T09:17:06-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

The oral cancer battle

Source: www.ladowntownnews.com Author: Beth Dunham As people look for ways to cut corners and save money in this time of economic uncertainty, healthcare sometimes takes a back seat to other expenses — putting lives at risk. A visit to the dentist is crucial and could mean the difference between life and death; someone in the United States dies of oral cancer nearly every hour, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Early detection is crucial in the fight against oral cancer, an aggressive, deadly disease that hasn’t seen the same improvements in survival rates as other cancers, said Parish Sedghizadeh of the USC School of Dentistry. “Oral cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among cancers,” said Sedghizadeh, assistant professor of clinical dentistry at USC. “It’s usually not noticed until the later stages, when a recovery is less likely. People have heard of oral cancer, but they don’t know what it looks like.” The disease rarely causes pain or other noticeable symptoms until it reaches a very advanced stage, he said. And while many people stay vigilant for the symptoms of more common cancers, dental care access challenges and a lack of oral cancer education means that most patients don’t know the early signs of oral cancer. “Oral cancer will often start as a small red or white plaque or sore that doesn’t go away with time, unlike other normal mouth, tongue, or lip sores that usually heal within a week or so,” Sedghizadeh said. Even if the disease is [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-04-27T05:43:46-07:00April, 2009|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Diet, nutrition, and cancer — don’t trust any single study

Source: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 100th Annual Meeting Author: Zosia Chustecka Numerous studies on diet and cancer were presented here at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 100th Annual Meeting, but several of the findings that were highlighted in AACR press releases — and thus are likely to be picked up by the lay media — run counter to the accumulated body of evidence, and some of the comments based on these studies are untrue or premature. So said Walter Willet, MD, DrPH, from the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, Massachusetts, in an exclusive interview with Medscape Oncology. "No conclusions should be made on the basis of a single study," he said. Dr. Willett presented an overview entitled "Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer: The Search for Truth," in which he reviewed many of the associations that have been suggested by epidemiologic studies. These include consumption of red meat, meat cooked at a high temperature, a high-fat diet, and alcohol all increasing the risk, and fruit and vegetables decreasing the risk. However, much of the evidence for these links is rather weak, he said; the most robust evidence supports a link between obesity and an increased risk for cancer. "The estimate that diet contributes to around 30% to 35% of cancers is still reasonable," Dr. Willet said, "but much of this is related to being overweight and inactive." "At this point in time, being overweight is second only to smoking as a clear [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-04-26T20:27:00-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

House bill curbs advertising, increases taxes on smokeless tobacco

Source: The Clackamas Review Author: News Team A vending display for Snus, a smokeless, spitless tobacco Camel first marketed in Portland and Austin, Texas. A new house bill would limit advertising for such products while increasing taxes on them. JIM CLARK / PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP The bill also bans the practice of handing out samples The Oregon House today passed a bill that would require all smokeless tobacco products to adhere to federally mandated marketing restrictions placed on older existing brands in an effort to curb youth advertising campaigns. The legislation would also increase the tax on such products. The bill, co-sponsored by House Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone, came about partially as a response to the proliferation of smokeless tobacco products critics said targeted young customers. In 2006, Camel used the Portland region and Austin, Texas as test markets for its Snus smokeless tobacco. Smoking cessation advocates cried foul, saying the colorful ads with their rhyming slogans were designed to attract young people. The bill also prevents companies from handing out free samples of smokeless tobacco, something Rep. Carloyn Tomei, D-Milwaukie, said was happening everywhere from the streets of Portland to rodeos and fairs in eastern Oregon, particularly since Washington already has a ban. She introduced a similar bill earlier this year. “Oregon has become the place where they have campaigns for smokeless tobacco,” she said. “They’re handing out free Snus samples, and to whom did they hand it out? Not people my age; it’s the young ones.” The bill would [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-04-23T12:49:25-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Cancer risk of nicotine gum and lozenges higher than thought

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk Author: Mark Henderson Nicotine chewing gum, lozenges and inhalers designed to help people to give up smoking may have the potential to cause cancer, research has suggested. Scientists have discovered a link between mouth cancer and exposure to nicotine, which may indicate that using oral nicotine replacement therapies for long periods could contribute to a raised risk of the disease. A study funded by the Medical Research Council, led by Muy-Teck Teh, of Queen Mary, University of London, has found that the effects of a genetic mutation that is common in mouth cancer can be worsened by nicotine in the levels that are typically found in smoking cessation products. The results raise the prospect that nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco, may be more carcinogenic than had previously been appreciated. “Although we acknowledge the importance of encouraging people to quit smoking, our research suggests nicotine found in lozenges and chewing gums may increase the risk of mouth cancer,” Dr Teh said. “Smoking is of course far more dangerous, and people who are using nicotine replacement to give up should continue to use it and consult their general practitioners if they are concerned. The important message is not to overuse it, and to follow advice on the packet.” Most nicotine replacement products have labels advising people to cut down after three months of use and to stop completely after six months. Mouth cancer affects nearly 5,000 people each year in Britain and is usually linked to smoking, chewing tobacco [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-04-22T13:47:53-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Perioperative chemotherapy in patients with oral cancer

Source: Medline Authors: Rao RS, Parikh DM, Parikh HK, Bhansali MB, Deshmane VH, Fakih AR In the final report of a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial, we report the results of using adjuvant perioperative chemotherapy in patients with oral cancer. Our study is based on the hypothesis of Goldie and Coldman. A total of 135 patients with alveolobuccal carcinoma, classified as clinically stage III and IV, were entered on the protocol. After a curative resection, they were randomized. The patients in the test arm of the study received methotrexate 50 mg/m2 on the 3rd, 10th, and 17th postoperative days. The patients in the control arm underwent observation. This analysis at 24 months showed a disease-free survival rate of 61% in the test arm versus 37% in the control arm, which is statistically highly significant (P < 0.01). Analysis of the recurrence pattern showed that recurrence at the primary site was dramatically reduced during the first 6 postoperative months (P = 0.002). Our study provided further clinical evidence in support of the concepts of Goldie and Coldman that the timing of chemotherapeutic drugs is critical for a successful end result.

Charlotte Parker2009-04-23T12:47:16-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Penn Dental School walks for oral cancer

Source: media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com Author: Jenny Chung Diagnosed as the cause of death for over 8,000 Americans annually, oral cancer is a disease that rarely garners the attention it deserves. But this year, Penn Dental School students are raising awareness with the first Oral Cancer Walk Philadelphia. Organized by the Oral Cancer Awareness Society, the walk is to be held tomorrow - regardless of weather conditions - beginning at 10 a.m. Participants will follow a 3.1-mile circular route that starts and finishes at the University's School of Dental Medicine at 240 S. 40th St. All participants are required to raise a minimum of $20 to benefit the Oral Cancer Foundation, while oral cancer survivors are invited to walk for free as honored guests. Refreshments and live entertainment will be provided along the Walk free of charge until 2 p.m. Complimentary oral screenings will also be offered from 10 a.m. onward. OCAS was founded last year by Penn Dental students Ann Layvey and Natalie Powell, who were "inspired to organize a charity event of their own" after attending a Penn Law fundraiser last year, according to the Web site. The Walk was coordinated through the combined efforts of over 40 students in five different subcommittees and boasts a logo designed by Penn Dental student Susana Porras. Thus far, the group has raised nearly $10,000 for the Oral Cancer Foundation from corporate sponsors and various organizations affiliated with the dental school. According to Oral Cancer Walk Philadelphia Head of Media Relations Michelle Han, the [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-04-17T12:35:28-07:00April, 2009|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Prognostic factors for survival after salvage reirradiation of head and neck cancer

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 27, No 12 (April 20), 2009: pp. 1983-1991 Authors: Tawee Tanvetyanon et al. Purpose: Patients who develop recurrent or new primary head and neck cancer in a previously irradiated site have poor prognosis. Reirradiation is a treatment option, although it is associated with substantial toxicities. We investigated potential prognostic factors, including comorbidity and pre-existing organ dysfunction, for survival after reirradiation. Methods: Institutional electronic records of patients treated with reirradiation between January 1998 and 2008 were reviewed. Comorbidity was assessed by Charlson index and Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27) grading. Organ dysfunction was defined as feeding tube dependency, functioning tracheostomy, or soft tissue defect. Results: There were 103 patients, including 46 patients who underwent salvage surgery before reirradiation. Median progression-free and overall survivals were 12.1 months (95% CI, 9.7 to 16.6) and 19.3 months (95% CI, 13.9 to 29.9), respectively. Significant comorbidity was present in 36% of patients by Charlson index and 24% by ACE-27. Baseline organ dysfunction was present in 37% of patients. Median overall survivals were 5.5 months among those with both organ dysfunction and comorbidity per Charlson index, and 4.9 months per ACE-27, compared with 59.6 and 44.2 months, respectively, among the patients with neither organ dysfunction nor comorbidity (P

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-04-17T12:31:32-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Effect of HPV-associated p16INK4A expression on response to radiotherapy and survival in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 27, No 12 (April 20), 2009: pp. 1992-1998 Authors: Pernille Lassen et al. Purpose: A subset of head and neck cancers is associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Viral infection is closely correlated with expression of p16INK4A in these tumors. We evaluated p16INK4A as a prognostic marker of treatment response and survival in a well-defined and prospectively collected cohort of patients treated solely with conventional radiotherapy in the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group (DAHANCA) 5 trial. Patients and Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of p16INK4A was analyzed in pretreatment paraffin-embedded tumor blocks from 156 patients treated with conventional primary radiotherapy alone. The influence of p16INK4A status on locoregional tumor control, disease-specific survival, and overall survival after radiotherapy was evaluated. Results: p16INK4A positivity was found in 35 tumors (22%). Tumor-positivity for p16INK4A was significantly correlated with improved locoregional tumor control (5-year actuarial values 58% v 28%; P = .0005), improved disease-specific survival (72% v 34%; P = .0006), and improved overall survival (62% v 26%; P = .0003). In multivariate analysis, p16INK4A remained a strong independent prognostic factor for locoregional failure (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.64), disease-specific death (HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.64), and overall death (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.68). Conclusion: Expression of p16INK4A has a major impact on treatment response and survival in patients with head and neck cancer treated with conventional radiotherapy. Authors: Pernille Lassen, Jesper G. Eriksen, Stephen Hamilton-Dutoit, Trine Tramm, Jan Alsner, Jens [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-04-17T12:04:53-07:00April, 2009|Oral Cancer News|