About Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A has created 2444 blog entries.

Test that looks at your spit to tell if you have mouth or throat cancer caused by HPV ‘could save thousands of lives if rolled out for doctors to use’

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk Author: Connor Boyd, Health Reporter A saliva test that diagnoses mouth and throat cancer caused by HPV could save thousands of lives each year, a study suggests. Scientists at Duke University in North Carolina discovered the test was 80 per cent accurate at spotting the killer diseases. Doctors say it is able to detect the cancers early on, giving patients much higher hopes of surviving their battle. Before it can be used in hospitals around the world, further trials will be needed to confirm the technology works. But the researchers are hopeful, claiming the cheaper test - which gives results in as little as 10 minutes - has significant 'potential'. Rates of oral cancers are soaring in the Western world, with the number of patients diagnosed in the UK having doubled in a generation. US doctors have also seen a similar spike in the diseases, which can be caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). The infection – spread through oral sex, as well as anal and vaginal intercourse – is thought to cause around 70 per cent of all cases. Other risk factors include drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over long periods of time and smoking cigarettes. Professor Tony Jun Huang, study co-author, said there are around 115,000 cases of oropharyngeal cancers each year across the world. He said it is 'one of the fastest-rising cancers in Western countries due to increasing HPV-related incidence, especially in younger patients'. Orophayngeal cancer starts in the oropharynx, the back of the [...]

2019-12-14T11:12:24-07:00December, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Acupuncture prevents radiation induced dry mouth

Source: www.healthcmi.com/ Author: staff Acupuncture reduces the frequency and severity of xerostomia (dry mouth). University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) and Fudan University Cancer Center (Shanghai) researchers conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial. The phase-three patient and assessor blinded investigation of acupuncture’s effects on head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation therapy demonstrated groundbreaking results. The researchers concluded that acupuncture “resulted in significantly fewer and less severe RIX [radiation-induced xerostomia] symptoms 1 year after treatment vs SCC [standard care control].” [1] Salivary glands may be temporarily or permanently damaged by radiation therapy. There is a high-incidence of RIX, which may lead to complications including difficult or painful swallowing, impairment of the sense of taste (dysgeusia), and dental problems. Other RIX complications may include insomnia and difficulty speaking. The study compared true acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and standard care control groups. True acupuncture produced significantly greater positive patient outcomes than the other groups. Outcome measures were based on a questionnaire, salivary flow, incidence of xerostomia, salivary contents, and quality of life scores. One year after completion of all acupuncture treatments, the true acupuncture group maintained significantly higher patient outcome rates over the standard care and sham groups. All acupuncture treatments were provided by credentialed acupuncturists. The researchers note that their findings are consistent with several prior investigations. True acupuncture patients that received acupuncture three times per week during their six to seven week course of radiation therapy had significantly less dry mouth a year after completion of treatments than standard [...]

2019-12-13T10:14:28-07:00December, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Teams of microbes are at work in our bodies. Researchers have figured out what they’re up to

Source: phys.org Author: staff, Drexel University In the last decade, scientists have made tremendous progress in understanding that groups of bacteria and viruses that naturally coexist throughout the human body play an important role in some vital functions like digestion, metabolism and even fighting off diseases. But understanding just how they do it remains a question. Researchers from Drexel University are hoping to help answer that question through a clever combination of high-throughput genetic sequencing and natural language processing computer algorithms. Their research, which was recently published in the journal PLOS ONE, reports a new method of analyzing the codes found in RNA that can delineate human microbial communities and reveal how they operate. Much of the research on the human microbial environment—or microbiome—has focused on identifying all of the different microbe species. And the nascent development of treatments for microbiota-linked maladies operates under the idea that imbalances or deviations in the microbiome are the source of health problems, such as indigestion or Crohn's disease. But to properly correct these imbalances it's important for scientists to have a broader understanding of microbial communities as they exist—both in the afflicted areas and throughout the entire body. "We are really just beginning to scrape the surface of understanding the health effects of microbiota," said Gail Rosen, Ph.D., an associate professor in Drexel's College of Engineering, who was an author of the paper. "In many ways scientists have jumped into this work without having a full picture of what these microbial communities look [...]

2019-12-12T07:16:08-07:00December, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Five things your teeth and gums are telling you about your overall health

Source: www.yahoo.com Author: Deanna deBara They say you can tell a lot about a person by their smile—and that's especially true when it comes to understanding our health on a deeper level. "The health of your teeth and gums can give valuable insight into your overall health," says Dr. Samuel B. Low, D.D.S., M.S., M.Ed. Chief Dental Officer of BIOLASE. "If you are doing everything correctly with your oral health, including frequent dental visits and proper oral hygiene, and are still having issues with your teeth and gums, this is an indication there is something else going on." Overall, there is a lot going on in the mouth that can affect the body and there is a lot going on in the body that can affect what is going on in the mouth. If any of [the following] symptoms are present, it is important to see an oral health professional who can determine if they are indicative of a larger issue," continues Low. But how, exactly, are your teeth and gums connected to your system as a whole? Ahead, the symptoms to watch out for, including what those symptoms could actually mean beyond the context of your mouth. Bleeding Gums If you experience bleeding around the gum line when you brush or floss, consider it your mouth's way of telling you to pay attention—and to take better care of your oral hygiene. "Bleeding gums can be a sign of gingivitis or periodontal disease," says Dr. Jason Doublestein of 44 West [...]

2019-12-12T07:10:52-07:00December, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Tackling the complications from oral cancer and treatment

Source: www.medscape.com Author: Tara Haelle Complications from oral cancer and the toxic effects of treatment — including demineralization, caries, fibrosis, candidiasis, pain, sensitivity, and aesthetic concerns — can continue long after any evidence of cancer is apparent, experts reported at the World Dental Congress 2019. One of the major toxic effects is changes in saliva, said Joel Epstein, DMD, director of cancer dentistry at the Cedars Sinai Health System in Los Angeles and director of dental oncology at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California. Another problem area — one that is often ignored — is taste, he told Medscape Medical News. And toxic effects are common, he added, citing one study that showed that 16% of patients experienced dental toxicity in the year after undergoing radiotherapy. The rates increased to 36% after 3 years, 55% after 5 years, and 74% after 7 years. For patients undergoing cancer therapy, dentists should look at overall oral hygiene, decay prevention, lip lubrication, dental emergencies, and oral mucosal infections, Epstein told the audience during his presentation on the management of patients with oral cancer, both during and after treatment. Fortunately, there are a lot of things that dentists can help with, he pointed out. For example, fluoride can be used to promote mineralization and chlorhexidine rinse can be used to reduce cariogenic bacteria. And photobiomodulation therapy, or low-level laser light therapy, can be used for the prevention of mucositis, which can be particularly painful, he added. Pain related to oral [...]

2019-12-04T09:04:47-07:00December, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Late stage head and neck cancer in the U.S. sees increasing incidence

Source: www.cancernetwork.com Author: Hannah Slater A study released in Cancer indicates that there is an increasing incidence of late stage head and neck cancer (HNC) in the U.S., mostly due to an increasing incidence of oropharyngeal cancer, most likely due to HPV-related disease in patients diagnosed at stage IVC.1 Blacks, males, those who are underinsured or uninsured, and those who are unmarried tend to fare worse than others. The presented research highlights the need for continuous public health efforts toward the early detection of HNC. In this cohort of 57,118 patients with stage IV HNC, the age-adjusted rates for stage IV HNC significantly increased by 26.1% (6.11 per 100,000 person-years in 2004 to 7.70 per 100,000 person-years in 2015). Despite a decreasing overall incidence of stage IV HNC in black patients (adjusted OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.22-1.34), they along with males (adjusted OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 3.80-4.11) had significantly increased risks of being diagnosed with late-stage HNC. “In the absence of a mortality benefit for asymptomatic mass screenings, as per the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force oral cancer screening guideline, it is critical that there is sustained public awareness and education regarding the early detection of HNC, and prevention through cancer risk mitigation practices,” the researchers wrote. Although black males had the highest risk of being diagnosed, the most significant change in annual incidence patterns was driven by white males (annual percent changes, 3.13; P 50 years, with males [...]

2019-11-27T06:35:45-07:00November, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

How to encourage vaccination against HPV cancers? Drexel study suggests taking a cue from anti-vaxxers

Source: www.inquirer.com Author: Marie McCullough To persuade more people to get the cancer-preventing HPV vaccination, public health groups should emulate a tactic of the anti-vaccine movement, concludes a Drexel University study of Instagram posts. The researchers aren’t suggesting that vaccine proponents spread misinformation on social media, as vaccine foes do. But the study found that emotional, personal accounts with photos of youngsters — a staple of anti-vaccine content — get way more “likes” than the dispassionate, factual messages typical of pro-vaccine posts. “By studying what makes these messages so effective, we can improve fact-based, pro-vaccination messaging,” said senior author Philip M. Massey, a community health researcher at Drexel. The study, which analyzed 360 Instagram posts from April to August of last year, was conducted before Facebook — the owner of Instagram — announced this spring that it would curb anti-vaccine messages. But such content still abounds, because Facebook’s crackdown is limited to recommendations and ads. Before the crackdown, a majority of Facebook ads spreading vaccine misinformation were funded by just two groups, one led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s World Mercury Project, according to a study published this month in the journal Vaccine. Another study, in JAMA Pediatrics in September, found that 13 years after Merck’s Gardasil vaccine was hailed as a revolution in cancer prevention, most Americans still don’t know that HPV (human papillomavirus) is a family of sexually transmitted germs that can cause oral and genital cancers, and most doctors still aren’t promoting the shots. The immunization is [...]

2019-11-27T06:30:20-07:00November, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Reducing RT toxicity in head and neck cancer: recent research context

Source: www.medpagetoday.com Author: Kristin Jenkins, contributing writer, MedPage Today In patients with head and neck malignancies, studies show that the significant acute and long-term toxicities and poor quality of life (QOL) associated with postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) can be improved by selectively reducing larger radiotherapy volumes. This includes treating just one side of the neck. In patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), however, locoregional failure rates with the omission of PORT to the pathologically uninvolved neck (PN0) have been less clear. As a result, PORT has historically been delivered to the PN0 neck, with several studies showing high rates of regional control ranging from 95% to 100%. Notably, consensus clinical practice guidelines continue to recommend the use of bilateral irradiation of node-negative necks. However, results from a prospective phase II study in 72 patients with primary HNSCC and high-risk pathology features now suggest that PORT to the PNo neck can be eliminated without sacrificing excellent disease control or QOL. At a median follow-up of 53 months, absolute regional control in the unirradiated neck was 97%, even though 67 patients (93%) had stage III/IV disease and 71% of tumors involved or crossed midline. No patient received contralateral neck PORT, and 17 patients (24%) were treated for the primary neck tumor only, said Wade Thorstad, MD, of Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues. The 5-year rates of local control, regional control, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were 84%, 93%, 60%, and 64%, respectively, they reported [...]

2019-11-21T12:57:43-07:00November, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Studies confirm HPV shot is safe

Source: www.webmd.com Author: Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter The HPV vaccine gives parents a chance to prevent their children from developing some types of cancer, and two new studies reaffirm what past research has found -- the vaccine is safe. The two studies included millions of doses of Gardasil 9 vaccine, the only vaccine currently used in the United States for the prevention of HPV-related cancers. "The data from our study were very reassuring. We saw nothing unexpected or surprising. With Gardasil 9, we can now prevent a large portion of cervical, oropharyngeal [mouth, tongue and throat] and other cancers," said one of the studies' lead author, Dr. James Donahue. He's an epidemiologist with the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Wisconsin. The studies and an accompanying editorial were published Nov. 18 in the journal Pediatrics. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus. It's estimated that 79 million people in the United States are already infected with HPV. Around 14 million new infections with HPV occur every year. About half of those are teens and young adults, according to the editorial. Sometimes these infections get better on their own, but many do not. HPV is responsible for more than 33,000 cancers each year -- 20,000 in women and 13,000 in men. Routine use of the Gardasil 9 vaccine could prevent about 90% of these cancers, the editorial said. Yet editorial author Dr. H. Cody Meissner, from Tufts University Medical Center in Boston, noted that the rates of immunization with the HPV [...]

2019-11-19T14:17:53-07:00November, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More

Survivorship clinic helps patients with what comes after head and neck cancer

Source: www.pittwire.pitt.edu/ Author: Gavin Jenkins, excerpted from the fall 2019 issue of Pitt Med magazine Jonas Johnson presses his hand on Edward Christopher’s neck. The examination room at the UPMC Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Clinic is chilly on this June morning as Johnson, chair of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Otolaryngology, glides his fingers along the left side of Christopher’s throat. “Your skin is stiff,” Johnson says. “Scar tissue doesn’t go away.” Five years ago, Christopher was diagnosed with human papillomavirus (HPV) positive cancer on the base of his tongue, left tonsil and the lymph nodes on the left side of his neck. After undergoing surgery to remove the tumors, he received radiation treatment and chemotherapy, followed by another procedure to remove his lymph nodes. When he completed the treatment, he posted a picture on Facebook holding a sign that read “cancer free!” That night, he and his family celebrated with dinner at an Italian restaurant. Christopher felt lucky to be alive and grateful to Pitt doctors. He had no idea how difficult the years to come would be. He credits Marci Lee Nilsen, a nurse who is an assistant professor in Pitt’s School of Nursing, with opening his eyes. In 2016, Johnson and Nilsen created the Survivorship Clinic to help patients like Christopher improve their quality of life after beating head and neck cancer. Most patients grapple with dysphagia—difficulty swallowing—and trismus, commonly known as lockjaw. They might experience a loss of taste, tooth decay, dry mouth and [...]

2019-11-19T14:11:06-07:00November, 2019|Oral Cancer News|
Read More
© - The Oral Cancer Foundation - Head & Neck Cancer IRS 501(c)3 Charity - 3419 Via Lido #205, Newport Beach, CA 92663 | Disclaimer / Privacy Policy
Go to Top