Oral Cancer News – Page 229 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

How secondhand cigarette smoke changes your genes

Source: Time Magazine Author: Alice Park As if the growing number of smoking bans in restaurants, airplanes and other public places isn't sending a strong enough message, researchers now have the first biological data confirming the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Scientists led by Dr. Ronald Crystal at Weill Cornell Medical College documented changes in genetic activity among nonsmokers triggered by exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke. Public-health bans on smoking have been fueled by strong population-based data that links exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke and a higher incidence of lung diseases such as emphysema and even lung cancer, but do not establish a biological cause for the correlation. Now, for the first time, researchers can point to one possible cause: the passive recipient's genes are actually being affected. Crystal's team devised a study in which 121 volunteers — some of whom smoked and some of whom had never smoked — agreed to have samples of their airway cells studied for genetic activity. The subjects also provided urine so the researchers could measure the amount of nicotine and its metabolites, like cotinine, for an objective record of their exposure to cigarette smoke. Airway cells that line the bronchus, from the trachea all the way to the tiny alveoli deep in the lungs, are the first cells that confront cigarette smoke, whether it is inhaled directly from a cigarette or secondhand from the environment. Crystal's group hypothesized that any deterioration in lung function associated with cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-08-29T07:36:37-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

European Commission amends licence for Cervarix

Source: www.pharmpro.com Author: press release GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) confirmed today that the European Commission has granted Marketing Authorisation to amend the licence for its cervical cancer vaccine, Cervarix®. The approval from the European Commission is important as it recognises the extent of cervical cancer protection demonstrated by Cervarix®, which was not highlighted by the previous indication. The licence amendment is supported by data from the largest efficacy trial of a cervical cancer vaccine conducted to date, the PATRICIA study, and acknowledges that Cervarix® has shown efficacy beyond HPV 16 and 18, the two virus types contained in the vaccine. The summary of product characteristics (SPC) for Cervarix® will be updated to include the prevention of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer causally related to certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and will reflect data showing efficacy against the two vaccine types contained in the vaccine (HPV 16 and 18) and the three next most common cancer-causing virus types (HPV 31, 33 and 45).* Together these five HPV types (16, 18, 31, 33 and 45) account for 80 percent of all cervical cancers. Note: 1. Vaccine efficacy is different for each of the HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45, and varies in different cohorts and endpoints.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-25T05:27:36-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

New procedure for head and neck cancer transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)

Source: www.healthcanal.com Author: staff Head and neck cancer can have a significant impact on a patient’s appearance after traditional open surgery, not only due to scarring but by altering the ability to eat and speak. However, surgeons at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine are using a different approach that avoids cutting a patient’s face and neck, instead using a face’s existing openings. Called transoral laser microsurgery (TLM), it’s a minimally invasive technique that Bruce Haughey, MD, director of head and neck cancer surgery at Siteman, has perfected over the last decade and is now teaching surgeons around the country. (For more information, watch this news story about TLM.) “It’s an efficient way to manage head and neck cancer by avoiding external incisions and perhaps more importantly, avoiding the dismantling the face’s musculoskeletal structure,” says Dr. Haughey. It’s estimated there are about 29,000 new cases of head and neck cancer diagnosed annually in the United States. The treatment of head and neck cancers has a dual focus: eliminating the cancers that affect the mouth, throat, voice box, upper swallowing passage or skull base and providing the latest reconstructive procedures to restore patients’ appearance and ability to communicate and swallow. “Traditionally, these areas have been approached by very wide operations where large incisions are made on the face and neck,” says Dr. Haughey. “Because this is cancer surgery, these are large operations with safety margins to make sure that cancer is removed.” Dr. Haughey [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-22T12:36:16-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Should boys also get vaccinated for HPV?

Source: www.npr.org Author: Brenda Wilson Many adolescents are having back-to-school visits with their doctors. That usually means shots — including, for some, the HPV vaccine. It's mainly given to adolescent girls to protect against the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer. But there's a debate among scientists about whether to immunize boys as well. 'Herd Immunity' If this were a high school debate, it would go something like this: Be it resolved that all adolescent girls and boys should be vaccinated against HPV before they are sexually active, since more than half of all sexually active men and women will get HPV at some point in their lives. In the affirmative, there's Dr. Doug Lowy, co-inventor of the HPV vaccine who works at the National Cancer Institute. He says that since just 11 percent of girls now get all three doses of the vaccine and less than half get even one dose, rates of HPV in the U.S. are unlikely to come down very much. So, he says, let's offer the vaccine to boys as well. "When the percentage of girls getting vaccinated are in the 30 to 40 percent range, vaccinating boys is suggested to have a substantial enhancing impact on trying to protect those girls who are not vaccinated," Lowy says. He says it would provide "herd immunity." Boys don't get cervical cancer, but they can transmit HPV. So vaccinating boys would reduce the amount of HPV circulating in the population. Practical Dilemmas Speaking for the opposing side, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-22T12:21:20-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

New tobacco policy likely to help check smoking among teenagers

Source: topnews.net.nz Author: Ketan Mukherjee In England, the legal age limit for purchasing cigarettes has been increased from 16 to 18 years. Because of this, the number of youngsters who start smoking at a very early age has decreased significantly. Researchers at University College London interviewed as many as 1,000 people aged 16-17 before and after the age limit was changed in the month of October in 2007. It was found that previous to October 2007, 24% of teenagers said that they smoked regularly. After the implementation of the new policy, the number reduced to 17%. The percentage of those above 18 years of age remained the same. It is worth mentioning that 8 out of every 10 smokers acquired this habit before they reached 19 years of age and diseases like mouth cancer and other problems related to tobacco are increasing rapidly. Researchers believe that the new tobacco law will certainly bring down the number of teenagers who want to go for smoking. According to Jenny Fidler, one of the researchers of the study, "The new law looks to have helped reduce smoking prevalence among younger age groups". He further added that the new law is for the betterment of the young generation of the country. He also said that new law will certainly clamp down on those teenagers who start smoking before 19 years.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-22T12:08:59-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Baker serves great desserts despite not tasting them

Source: Livingston Daily Author: Frank Konkel The Argentine Township woman loves the way chaotic mountains of ingredients meld together to form a singular creation. In the sugary-sweet science of baking desserts, she is a master, wielding her two chief weapons, chocolate and peanut butter, like a wizard waves a wand. At family functions, people fight over whichever dish she brings to pass. Her nephew, committed to play college football this year for the University of Indiana, isn't worried about taking hits from 300-pound linemen. He's worried about how his aunt is going to ship him care packages full of cupcakes across state lines. Dave Johnson, her husband of six years, recalls thinking, "Oh, my God, can she ever cook," after the couple's first dinner date back in 2002. He's fought a losing battle with his waistline ever since. "I've been told by many people that they're the best thing they've ever eaten," Tami Johnson said, without a hint of boasting in her voice. Thing is, she can't taste the delectable desserts she makes. At least not her cupcakes. Not anymore. Last July, the 43-year-old had her tongue removed by doctors in an effort to rid her of the oral cancer she was diagnosed with June 19, 2009. For the following three months, she underwent two rounds of chemotherapy and 35 rounds of radiation treatment. Doctors were forced to remove 112 lymph nodes from her head and neck, two of which tested positive for cancer. The oral cancer and subsequent treatments taxed [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-08-22T21:01:57-07:00August, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Despite risks, an addictive treat fuels a Chinese city

Source: The New York Times Author: Dan Levin XIANGTAN, China — If the residents of this city seem a bit lively on even the hottest days or most frigid nights, check their mouths. That minty scent and cracking sound come from a fragrant pick-me-up that men, women and even children chew from breakfast until bedtime. The source of their euphoria is “binglang,” the dried fruit of the areca palm, sometimes referred to as betel nut, which sets the nervous system buzzing and warms the body, especially after a large banquet. “It helps with digestion and sobers you up,” said Xie Shuo, a cellphone repairman who added he consumed 100 pods a day. He smiled to reveal blackened gums and stained teeth, one of the less attractive side effects of chewing the fruit. “I’m addicted to binglang, but I really love it so it’s not a problem,” he said. That is a sentiment shared by many of Xiangtan’s one million residents, whose fondness for the treat has fueled the city’s prosperity. The city, in Hunan Province, is China’s leading commercial producer of binglang. Its manufacturers import the fresh ingredients, mostly from the island province of Hainan, and sell the dried husks across Hunan — and to a lesser extent elsewhere. The $1.18 billion industry employs more than 100,000 people in Xiangtan County. No wonder the city government has asked for the area’s seven factories and nearly 50 workshops to increase production to keep the local economy humming through the global financial [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-08-22T12:37:31-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Oral cancer rates up 280%; betel nut key driver: study

Source: The China Post Author: Staff TAIPEI -- Taiwan's rate of oral cancer — one of the island's top 10 causes of death — has nearly quadrupled in the past 40 years, health experts warned recently, blaming among others the habit of chewing betel nut. A study published by Dr. Liao Yung-po, associate professor of public health at Chung Shan Medical University, showed an increase of 280 percent in oral cancer deaths, with men four times as likely to die of the disease as women. “The death toll for oral cancer in males has been increasing at such an alarming rate that relevant authorities must take note of this situation,” Liao said of his study report, citing statistics compiled by the Department of Health over the past four decades. From 2001 to 2009, the death toll in males was 13.31 per annum for every 100,000 men, up from 3.08 per annum in the period 1971 to 1980, an increase of 330 percent. The overall figures for women were lower, but showed a similar increase, reaching 3.08 per 100,000 women between 2001 and 2009, up from 1.18 in the earlier period, an increase of 160 percent. According to Liao's study, more than 95 percent of oral cavity cancers are squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer for which “the possible causes include betel nut chewing, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption,” he said. “Approximately 85 percent of the patients with oral cancer in Taiwan are regular users of betel nuts,” he added.

Charlotte Parker2010-08-20T11:29:17-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Hollywood star’s diagnosis highlights high risk of mouth cancer

Source: www.dentalhealth.org.uk Author: press release THE British Dental Health Foundation, which runs UK Mouth Cancer Action Month each November, is calling for more attention to be paid to mouth cancers reminding people that there is a death from mouth cancer on average every five hours in the UK. Oral health experts and the Foundation are advising the public to regularly check their mouths after news broke this week of actor Michael Douglas being diagnosed with oral cancer. The Academy Award winner has recently been diagnosed with a tumour in his throat, and now faces an eight–week cause of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This high profile case has brought oral cancers into the lime light, and oral health experts are keen to make the public more aware of the key risk factors and early warning signs. Douglas quit smoking in 2006, after a long ‘half a packet a day’ habit. Yet, the possibility of developing oral cancer remains higher for ex–smokers than non–smokers for 20 years after quitting. Tobacco is considered to be the main cause of mouth cancer, with three in four cases being linked to smoking. Drinking in excess is also a known factor, with those who both smoke and drink to excess being up 30 times more likely to be at risk. The Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said: “It is crucial the public know about the risk factors and early symptoms as early detection can save lives. Survival rates can increase from [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2010-08-19T19:03:52-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Michael Douglas diagnosed with throat cancer

Source: USA Today Author: Staff Michael Douglas has throat cancer. His spokesperson tells People.com that the actor, 65, has discovered a tumor and will under go eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, and his doctors expect the Wall Street star to make a full recovery. "I am very optimistic," Douglas said in a statement. When we tried to find out more about the diagnosis or about Douglas' history of smoking, the actor's publicist, Allen Burry, declined to comment. In 2006, Michael and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is 40 now, were both trying to quit their half-pack a day cigarette habit, reported the Daily Mail. Although Douglas, whose voice does the introduction on NBC's Nightly News, released few details about his tumor, including its exact location, it sounds like of two kinds of tumors: the larynx, or voice box; or the oropharynx, near the tonsils, Robert Haddad, acting head of the head and neck cancer program at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute tells USA TODAY's Liz Szabo. The rigorous treatment regimen suggests the cancer is "advanced," Haddad says, and has spread beyond the throat to the lymph nodes. Although the treatment is very tough, it can cure 50% of 80% of patients, depending on the location and other details of the tumor, says Haddad, who has no direct knowledge of the case. Larynx cancers are usually related to smoking and heavy drinking, Haddad says. Cancers around the tonsils are often caused by a virus called HPV, which also causes cervical cancers. Doctors [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-08-16T16:00:31-07:00August, 2010|Oral Cancer News|