Oral Cancer News – Page 293 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

Carotid artery resection and reconstruction with superficial femoral artery transplantation: a case report

Source: 7thspace.com Author: staff Introduction: Managing advanced head and neck cancer is often a difficult task, particularly when massive invasion of the carotid artery is present. However, en bloc resection can be a curative procedure, and reconstruction of the carotid artery limits the risk for stroke. The aim of this study was to describe the interest, indication, potential risks, and methods by which we carried out resections as well as reconstructions of the carotid artery using superficial femoral artery transplantation. Subjects and Methods: We presented one case of en bloc resection of the carotid artery with reconstruction with superficial femoral artery transplantation. Results: Postoperative care was uneventful. The patient did not suffer from neurological deficiency. After three years of follow-up, the patient survived without any cancer recurrence. Conclusions: The occurrence of massive cancer invasion into the carotid artery should not be a contraindication for surgery. En bloc resection of the carotid artery with revascularization using the superficial femoral artery allows for appropriate control of the cancer, and carries an acceptable level of neurological risk. Authors: Yoann PonsElsa Ukkola-PonsPhilippe ClementBernard BarangerClaude Conessa Source: Head &Neck Oncology 2009, 1:19

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-18T14:39:50-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Preoperative smoking cessation improves head and neck surgery outcomes

Source: Cancerpage.com Author: Staff NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Even a short period of 4 to 8 weeks of smoking cessation prior to surgery to treat upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma improves wound healing, according to a review of the literature. If the patient stays tobacco-free, the risk of cancer recurrence is substantially reduced. However, full cessation is required -- simply reducing the quantity of cigarettes smoked per day is of little benefit, Dr. Richard O. Wein from Tufts Medical Center, Boston, reports in the June Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Studies of the impact of smoking cessation on surgical outcomes within the field of otolaryngology are few and contradictory, Dr. Wein points out. For his review, he drew on studies of smokers operated on for non-otolaryngology conditions as well as for head and neck tumors. The "bottom line," he says, is that "although conflicting reports exist within the literature concerning the impact of short-term smoking cessation, it should be noted that the sheer number of articles reporting the negative impact of continued tobacco use on postoperative pulmonary function and wound healing far outweighs those minimizing this impact." Furthermore, multiple studies indicate increased risk of recurrence or the development of a second cancer in patients who continue to smoke after their index cancers are diagnosed. One study, for example, found that 40% of patients who kept smoking after being treated definitively for a malignant oral cavity tumor had a recurrence or developed a second malignant lesion. Overall costs of care, the author [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-19T07:38:56-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

New radiotherapy technique proven safe, less toxic for cancer patients, University Of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute study finds

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com Author: staff A new technique known as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is safe for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers and may improve their quality of life, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). Results of the phase I study were reported today in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Each year approximately 500,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are diagnosed worldwide. While treatment has improved with advances in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, more than half of patients will die from recurrent disease. Treatment options for patients with recurrent disease are limited, and for many, surgery may not be an option, according to principal investigator Dwight E. Heron, M.D., director, Radiation Oncology Services, UPMC Cancer Centers. "Chemotherapy alone can provide this patient population some palliation and pain relief, but it doesn't prolong survival," said Dr. Heron. "A few patients may be able to receive additional radiation treatments, but head and neck cancers, by their very nature, develop in very delicate areas of the body, which provide significant retreatment challenges." SBRT may offer these patients an alternative, noted Dr. Heron. "At the completion of our study, we found this treatment was tolerated very well. No maximum tolerated dose was reached, and no toxicities occurred that caused us to limit the dosing." SBRT is a relatively new technique using CyberKnife® technology, which delivers high doses of radiation with more precision than conventional techniques. The vast majority of patients [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-17T19:09:07-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Oral cancer survivor’s animal sanctuary being foreclosed

Source: The Press-Enterprise Author: JULISSA McKINNON After 21 years of sheltering crippled and slaughter-bound horses and other barnyard animals, Renee Duncan is losing her 12-acre rescue ranch to foreclosure. Now Duncan, a 63-year-old former emergency room nurse in remission from cancer, is scrambling to move dozens of rescued animals out of the gully in unincorporated Perris in southwest Riverside County long known as the Meadowbrook Animal Sanctuary and Haven. Until Duncan finds a permanent home, a neighbor is offering shelter to her and her 50-some horses, a couple of emus, two turkeys and dozens of goats, pigs and dogs. Though there are two people bidding on the ranch who say they would allow Duncan and her critters to stay as renters, Ocwen Bank, which is repossessing the ranch, has ordered Duncan to clear the property by 6 a.m. Monday. Eviction attorneys and brokers with Ocwen Bank declined to comment on the situation. Duncan said her nonprofit animal rescue is going under ironically because she always put her animals first. She said she began to run into financial trouble in 2005 after being diagnosed with throat and tongue cancer. She stopped working to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. Duncan refinanced the house three times to try to keep up with medical bills and animal care. As money grew tight, she always paid for animal feed and veterinary care, which amounts to about $3,000 a month, even if that meant not paying the mortgage. "I ended up with a $4,000-a-month payment at 12.5 [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-19T07:40:46-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Cancer patients turning to alternative remedies: become aware of dangers

Source: msnbc Author: Associated Press 60 percent seek natural ‘cures’ despite warnings from doctors TAMPA, Fla. - With much of her lower body consumed by cancer, Leslee Flasch finally faced the truth: The herbal supplements and special diet were not working. "I want this thing cut out from me. I want it out," she told her family. But it was too late. Her rectal cancer — potentially curable earlier on — had invaded bones, tissue, muscle, skin. The 53-year-old Florida woman could barely sit, and constantly bled and soiled herself. "It was terrible," one doctor said. "The pain must have been excruciating." Flasch had sought a natural cure. Instead, a deadly disease ran its natural course. And the herb peddlers who sold her hope in a bottle? "Whatever money she had left in life, they got most of it," said a sister, Sharon Flasch. "They prey on the sick public with the belief that this stuff can help them, whether they can or can't." Some people who try unproven remedies risk only money. But people with cancer can lose their only chance of beating the disease by skipping conventional treatment or by mixing in other therapies. Even harmless-sounding vitamins and "natural" supplements can interfere with cancer medicines or affect hormones that help cancer grow. Preying on insecurities Yet they are extremely popular with cancer patients, who crave control over their disease and want to do everything they can to be healthy — emotional needs that make them vulnerable to deceptive [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-16T12:13:51-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Zila warns of bankruptcy without more funding

Source: triangle.bizjournals.com Author: Angela Gonzales Zila Inc. continues to bleed red ink, but bandages have been put in place to help stem the flow. The Phoenix oral cancer diagnostics company released its fiscal third-quarter results Tuesday, showing a loss of $1.5 million on $5 million in revenue for the three months ended April 30. That compares with a $4.4 million loss on $6.8 million in revenue for the same period in 2008. For the first nine months of 2009, Zila lost nearly $30 million on revenue of $15.6 million, compared with $14 million in losses on $20 million in revenue. In its quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Zila said revenue has been negatively impacted by the economy and because of customer concern about its viability as an ongoing business. “Concerns about our financial viability have also contributed to an increased turnover in our field sales force and other key staff areas and have led to a reduction in our marketing effectiveness and our reach to new and existing customers,” the company said in its 10-Q. To stem the blood loss, Zila has continued salary reductions for a number of management personnel, reduced its field sales force by 15 percent, eliminated its employee stock purchase plan, furloughed certain manufacturing production personnel and reduced trade show expenditures. Still, the decline in revenue means Zila has been cutting into its cash reserves. As of April 30, the company had $3.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared with $2.5 [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-15T20:25:07-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Important cancer study finds alarming black-white disparities

Source: www.greenvilleonline.com Author: editorial A recent report identified alarming disparities in cancer rates in black and white South Carolinians. By helping to diagnose the scope of the problem, the study eventually may lead to better cancer prevention. Black South Carolinians get cancer more often than white South Carolinians, researchers at the University of South Carolina found. In addition, blacks who get cancer are more likely to die — even from cancers they get less often than whites. “This study is alarming,” said Dr. James Hebert, lead author and professor at USC's School of Public Health. “It shows health disparities in a visual, graphic way.” The study is one of the nation's first to track the ratio of deaths based on the incidence of specific cancers. For instance, the mortality rate for blacks in South Carolina with prostate, oral and breast cancers is almost double the rate for whites. Even though blacks smoke less than whites, statistics on oral cancer show that African Americans have a higher mortality rate throughout most of the state. The research was deemed significant enough to appear in the June issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cancer. Although the study was conducted in South Carolina, it can be replicated in other states and regions, helping public health officials better understand the extent of the problem and aiding in targeting resources. Though the study has national ramifications, it's particularly important in identifying problems here in South Carolina. The cancer disparities between blacks and whites is greater in the [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-15T20:17:53-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16, 18) recombinant vaccine in women aged 24-45 years: a randomised, double-blind trial

Source: The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9679, Pages 1949 - 1957, 6 June 2009 Author: Prof Nubia Muñoz MD et al. Background Although the peak incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection occurs in most populations within 5—10 years of first sexual experience, all women remain at risk for acquisition of HPV infections. We tested the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the quadrivalent HPV (types 6, 11, 16, 18) L1 virus-like-particle vaccine in women aged 24—45 years. Methods Women aged 24—45 years with no history of genital warts or cervical disease were enrolled from community health centres, academic health centres, and primary health-care providers into an ongoing multicentre, parallel, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Participants were allocated by computer-generated schedule to receive quadrivalent HPV vaccine (n=1911) or placebo (n=1908) at day 1, and months 2 and 6. All study site investigators and personnel, study participants, monitors, and central laboratory personnel were blinded to treatment allocation. Coprimary efficacy endpoints were 6 months' or more duration of infection and cervical and external genital disease due to HPV 6, 11, 16, 18; and due to HPV 16 and 18 alone. Primary efficacy analyses were done in a per-protocol population, but intention-to-treat analyses were also undertaken. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00090220. Findings 1910 women received at least one dose of vaccine and 1907 at least one dose of placebo. In the per-protocol population, efficacy against the first coprimary endpoint (disease or infection related to HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18) was 90·5% (95% [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2009-06-15T20:04:19-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Researchers confirm link between HPV and head and neck cancer but survey shows public ignorance on role of oral sex

Source: Medicalnewstoday.com Author: Olwen Glynn Owen Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative agent in squamous cell cancers of head and neck (HNSCC) a new meta-analysis presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) confirms; but a separate European survey at the same meeting reveals the public is woefully ignorant about it and possible ways to avoid it. Lack of public awareness about the possible link between HPV-related head and neck cancer and oral sex with multiple partners presents a case for making vaccinations against HPV more widely available to boys as well as girls before they become sexually active, commented leading expert Professor Jean-Louis Lefebvre of Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France. Researchers led by Farshid Dayyani at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, looked at a total of almost 7000 patients who developed head and neck cancer over the past 20 years to gauge the prevalence of HPV - a possible causative agent. They included studies which had tested for the virus in serum or in tumour tissue by PCR and found almost a quarter of patients (24.2%) had HPV positive tumours. Of these the vast majority (86.8%) were positive for HPV 16, the virus also associated with cervical cancer. Overall, the researchers concluded that being HPV positive increased the risk of developing head and neck cancer by 40 per cent. But being HPV16 positive increased the risk more than fourfold (4.47 times higher) compared to HPV16 negative patients. However, people with HPV-associated head and neck cancer lived [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-19T07:40:26-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|

Up in smoke: health insurers hold billions in tobacco stocks

Source: Southernstudies.org Author: Desiree Evans A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that major U.S., Canadian and British life and health insurance companies are investing billions of dollars in tobacco company stock. Researchers first revealed that health and life insurance companies had major investments in tobacco companies in 1995 in an article in the British medical journal Lancet. More than 10 years later, insurance companies are still deeply invested in "big" tobacco, despite the national calls upon them to divest. "Despite calls upon the insurance industry to get out of the tobacco business by physicians and others, insurers continue to put their profits above people's health," said Wesley Boyd, the new report's lead author and a faculty member of Harvard Medical School. "It's clear their top priority is making money, not safe-guarding people's well-being." The report found that seven health and life-insurance companies in both the United States and overseas have nearly $4.5 billion invested in companies whose affiliates produce cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco. "Although investing in tobacco while selling life or health insurance may seem self-defeating, insurance firms have figured out ways to profit from both," Boyd said. "Insurers exclude smokers from coverage or, more commonly, charge them higher premiums. Insurers profit -- and smokers lose -- twice over." The study highlights New Jersey-based Prudential Financial Inc., which sells life insurance and long-term disability coverage. With total tobacco holdings of $264.3 million, Prudential Financial is a major investor in three tobacco firms, including America's biggest cigarette [...]

Charlotte Parker2009-06-19T07:41:28-07:00June, 2009|Oral Cancer News|