History of the Anti-Vaccine Movement – When Did the Anti-Vaccine Movement Really Start?

February 8th, 2018 By: Vincent Iannelli, MD Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com It is likely a surprise to many people that there has always been an anti-vaccine movement. It isn't something new that was created by Jenny McCarthy and Bob Sears. 18th Century Anti-Vaccine Movement In fact, the anti-vaccine movement essentially predates the first vaccine. Edward Jenner's first experiments with a smallpox vaccine began in 1796. Even before that, variolation as a technique to prevent smallpox was practiced for centuries in many parts of the world, including Africa, China, India, and the Ottoman Empire. In fact, Onesimus, his African slave, taught Cotton Mather about the technique in 1706. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu introduced inoculation to England, having learned about the practice in Turkey. As she encouraged others to inoculate and protect their children against smallpox, including the Royal Family, there was much debate. It is said that "Pro-inoculators tended to write in the cool and factual tones encouraged by the Royal Society, with frequent appeals to reason, the modern progress of science and the courtesy subsisting among gentlemen. Anti-inoculators purposely wrote like demagogues, using heated tones and lurid scare stories to promote paranoia." Were those the first vaccine debates? 19th Century Anti-Vaccine Movement Eventually, Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccine replaced variolation. Even though this was much safer than the previous practice and smallpox was still a big killer, there were still those who objected. Much of the resistance may have come because getting the smallpox vaccine in the UK in the 19th century was compulsory—you [...]

2018-06-04T10:08:53-07:00May, 2018|Oral Cancer News|

When Is Insurance Not Really Insurance? When You Need Pricey Dental Care.

May 21, 2018 By: David Tuller Source: https://khn.org I’m 61 years old and a San Francisco homeowner with an academic position at the University of California-Berkeley, which provides me with comprehensive health insurance. Yet, to afford the more than $50,000 in out-of-pocket expenses required for the restorative dental work I’ve needed in the past 20 years, I’ve had to rely on handouts — from my mom. This was how I learned all about the Great Divide between medicine and dentistry — especially in how treatment is paid for, or mostly not paid for, by insurers. Many Americans with serious dental illness find out the same way: sticker shock. For millions of Americans — blessed in some measure with good genes and good luck — dental insurance works pretty well, and they don’t think much about it. But people like me learn the hard way that dental insurance isn’t insurance at all — not in the sense of providing significant protection against unexpected or unaffordable costs. My dental coverage from UC-Berkeley, where I have been on the public health and journalism faculties, tops out at $1,500 a year — and that’s considered a decent plan. Dental policies are more like prepayment plans for a basic level of care. They generally provide full coverage for routine preventive services and charge a small copay for fillings. But coverage is reduced as treatment intensifies. Major work like a crown or a bridge is often covered only at 50 percent; implants generally aren’t covered at all. [...]

2018-05-21T09:32:46-07:00May, 2018|Oral Cancer News|

Eight-time GRAMMY® winner Ziggy Marley partners with the Oral Cancer Foundation

Source: ww.prnewswire.com Author: press release The Oral Cancer Foundation has a new relationship with eight-time GRAMMY® winner, Emmy winner, humanitarian, singer, songwriter and producer, Ziggy Marley. Mr. Marley has generously offered to allow CharityBuzz to auction off three (3) VIP events for two (2) on his REBELLION RISES TOUR. The winner(s) will enjoy this highly anticipated tour that only a select few get to experience up close and personal, meeting Mr. Marley. After the concert at a tour city of the winners choosing, a photo opportunity will be provided during their meet & greet with Ziggy Marley himself. The tour starts in America and travels to several European cities. Raising funds for the oral cancer issue via OCF, this auction will help support awareness campaigns, research, early discovery initiatives, and outreach that will help save lives. The auction begins today; May 20, 2018. Available tour dates are here: https://bit.ly/2dZPCcR (Dates may be subject to change). Grammy winning artist Ziggy Marley partners with the Oral Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of the disease, and funds for its many missions to reduce impact of oral cancers. (PRNewsfoto/Oral Cancer Foundation) Reggae icon Ziggy Marley will release his seventh full-length solo studio album, Rebellion Rises, on May 18th through Tuff Gong Worldwide. Fully written, recorded and produced by Marley, this passionate and indelible new collection of music encourages people to stand together in activism through love. Ziggy Marley has released many albums to much critical acclaim. His early immersion in music came at [...]

An AI oncologist to help cancer patients worldwide

Source: www.sciencedaily.com Author: staff, University of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center Comparison between predicted ground-truth clinical target volume (CTV1) (blue) and physician manual contours (red) for four oropharyngeal cancer patients. The primary and nodal gross tumor volume is included (green). From left to right, we illustrate a case from each site and nodal status (base of tongue node-negative, tonsil node-negative, base of tongue node-positive, and tonsil node-positive).Credit: Carlos E. Cardenas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Before performing radiation therapy, radiation oncologists first carefully review medical images of a patient to identify the gross tumor volume -- the observable portion of the disease. They then design patient-specific clinical target volumes that include surrounding tissues, since these regions can hide cancerous cells and provide pathways for metastasis. Known as contouring, this process establishes how much radiation a patient will receive and how it will be delivered. In the case of head and neck cancer, this is a particularly sensitive task due to the presence of vulnerable tissues in the vicinity. Though it may sound straightforward, contouring clinical target volumes is quite subjective. A recent study from Utrecht University found wide variability in how trained physicians contoured the same patient's computed tomography (CT) scan, leading some doctors to suggest high-risk clinical target volumes eight times larger than their colleagues. This inter-physician variability is a problem for patients, who may be over- or under-dosed based on the doctor they work with. It is also a problem for determining best practices, so [...]

Supportive care for patients with head and neck cancer

Source: www.oncnursingnews.com Author: Melissa A. Grier, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC Supporting a patient during cancer treatment is a challenge. From symptom management to psychosocial considerations, each patient’s needs vary and must be reevaluated frequently. This is especially true for patients with head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancers often result in serious quality of life issues. Surgical resection of the affected area can cause disfigurement that not only affects function (eating, drinking, speaking, etc) but also leads to self-image concerns and depression. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may cause a variety of unpleasant adverse effects, including burns, xerostomia, dental caries, and mucositis. Below are some considerations to help guide nursing care for this patient population. CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend early involvement of a dentist, a dietitian, and a speech therapist to help address pre- and posttreatment concerns and preserve quality of life for people with head and neck cancer. The benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration for these complex cases are many but may also result in confusion and information overload for your patient. As the healthcare team provides care, you can help explain the rationale for interventions and assist them with keeping track of recommendations. Additionally, you have a team of experts you can call on when specific issues present themselves during treatment. KEEP AN EYE OUT A lot goes on in the life of a patient with head and neck cancer, which means everyday activities like oral and skin care may fall a little lower on [...]

Restaging raises hope against HPV oral cancer

Source: atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com Author: Cady Schulman Jason Mendelsohn was diagnosed with Stage 4 tonsil cancer from HPV in 2014 after finding just one bump on his neck. He survived thanks to a variety of treatments, including a radical tonsillectomy and neck dissection to remove 42 lymph nodes, seven weeks of chemotherapy, radiation and a feeding tube. But if Mendelsohn’s cancer had been discovered today, just four years later, it would have been classified as Stage 1. That’s because HPV-related oral cancers now have a high survival rate through a better response to treatment, said Meryl Kaufman, a speech pathologist specializing in head and neck cancer management who worked for Emory University’s department of head and neck surgery for 10 years. “Cancer staging is taking into account the HPV-related cancers,” said Kaufman, who now owns her own practice. “It was kind of all lumped together. The survival rates for people who have HPV-related cancers are much higher than the typical head and neck cancers associated with smoking and drinking.” For Mendelsohn, finding out that patients with HPV-related cancers likely face easier treatments and higher success rates made him extremely happy. “If I was diagnosed and I heard Stage 1 instead of Stage 4, while it’s still cancer, it would make me feel like I could beat it,” said Mendelsohn, who made a video for his children a month after his diagnosis with advice for their lives after he was gone. “When I hear Stage 4 to Stage 1, I think people have [...]

Flexible robotic surgery opens new paths in cancer treatment

Source: newsok.com Author: staff Robotic surgery is continuing to expand and provide patients with a variety of less invasive treatment options – especially when it comes to cancer treatment. Dr. Brad Mons, a head and neck surgeon at Cancer Treatment Centers of America®in Tulsa, said the Flex Robotic® System, which the hospital added last year, is an especially significant breakthrough for people diagnosed with head and neck cancer. “With this system, we can get to the small areas of the mouth and pharynx more easily to remove tumors in the region,” Mons said. “This affords us the ability to be much less invasive in head and neck cancer surgeries.” Robotic surgery is continuing to expand and provide patients with a variety of less invasive treatment options. Photo provided by CTCA. Currently only available at a small number of hospitals in the United States and designed to overcome line-of-sight limitations, the Flex Robotic System utilizes a uniquely flexible robotic endoscope to give surgeons the ability to navigate a path through challenging areas of the mouth, throat, rectum and colon. For patients, this means potentially faster recovery time and lower risk of complications or side effects. Because the Flex Robotic System operates through natural openings rather than requiring large incisions in the body, potential benefits include shorter hospital stays, reduced post-surgical pain, lower risk of infection and complications, less blood loss (and fewer transfusions) and scarring and faster return to normal activities. For throat cancer patients, the technology also means [...]

High carbohydrate diet may increase mortality risk in certain cancers

Source: www.specialtypharmacytimes.com Author: Gina Kokosky Consuming simple carbohydrates may increase risk of recurrence among patients with head and neck cancer, according to a study published by the International Journal of Cancer. New findings suggest that a patient’s diet could have a significant impact on their ability to combat cancer. The authors also suggest that patients who moderately consume fats and starches after treatment, such as whole grains, potatoes, and legumes, are less likely to have a recurrence of head and neck cancer, according to the study. The study followed more than 400 patients for 26 months after their initial diagnoses of squamous cell carcinoma on the head or neck. Most of the patients were treated for oral cancer or oropharyngeal cancer, including cancers of the tonsils, tongue, and surrounding tissue, according to the study. Patients were most often diagnosed in stage 3 or 4 of cancer at an average age of 61 years old. During the study, cancer recurred 17% of the time, resulting in 42 deaths. Another 70 patients died from other causes during the study. The researchers examined all food, drink, and dietary supplements consumed by the participants for 1 year prior to treatment and 1 year after treatment, according to the authors. The authors found that those who consumed the least amount of simple carbohydrates, such as refined grains, desserts, and sweetened beverages, were having 1.3 servings per day, while those who consumed the most were consuming 4.4 servings of simple carbohydrates. Patients who consumed a high [...]

Doctors paying for sons to have cancer jab

Source: www.bbc.com Author: Anna Collinson, Reporter, Victoria Derbyshire programme Doctors and health professionals are regularly paying hundreds of pounds for their teenage sons to receive a vaccination against cancer that girls already receive for free on the NHS, the Victoria Derbyshire programme has been told. Is boys' health being put at risk? "Had the HPV vaccine been available when I was a boy, I believe I would not have developed throat cancer more than 30 years later," said Jamie Rae, 53. "I'm basing this on the overwhelming majority of research I have seen over the years and countless experts I have spoken to. "That's why I'm desperate for boys to be able to receive it." HPV is the name given to a large group of viruses. It is very common and can be caught through any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it. Doctors say 90% of HPV infections go away by themselves - but sometimes infections can lead to a variety of serious problems. For boys, this includes cancer of the anus, penis, mouth and throat. Since 2008, girls aged 12 to 18 across the UK have been offered HPV vaccinations as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. It is currently not offered to boys of the same age, but it can be done privately, costing several hundred pounds. Mr Rae founded the Throat Cancer Foundation after the treatment he received in 2010. He said at the time there was little information on HPV [...]

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