Oral Cancer News – Page 328 – The Oral Cancer Foundation News Archive

The neglected epidemic and the Surgeon General’s report: a call to action for better oral health

Source: www.redorbit.com Author: Myron Allukian The first US surgeon general's report on oral health will be released soon. Oral diseases have been called a "neglected epidemic," 1-4 because, although they affect virtually the entire population, they have not been made a priority in our country. The surgeon general's report can help educate and sensitize policymakers and health leaders about the importance of oral health and the need to make oral health an integral component of all health programs. In the words of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, "You're not healthy without good oral health." We must seize this unprecedented opportunity to ensure that the mouth becomes reconnected to the rest of the body in health policies and programs. It makes no sense that children, diabetic persons, or senior citizens with an abscess on their leg can receive care through their health insurance or a health program, but if the abscess is in their mouth, they may not be covered. For vulnerable populations and the "have-nots," the barriers to dental care are even greater. Although we have made much progress in improving oral health since the 1970s as a result of fluoridation, fluorides, new technology, changing attitudes, and increased use of services, oral diseases are still a neglected epidemic. The facts speak for themselves. Seventy-eight percent of 17-year-olds have had tooth decay, with an average of 7 affected tooth surfaces (C. M. Vargas, unpublished estimates, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2000), and 98% of 40- to 44-year-olds have [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-09-02T08:12:45-07:00September, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Make oral cancer exams a priority

Source: www.dentaleconomics.com Author: Louis Malcmacher Oral cancer. These are two words that every dentist hopes he or she will never have to say to a patient. Oral cancer kills one American every hour of every single day. There have even been a number of famous people that have become victims of oral cancer. They include Babe Ruth, Sigmund Freud, Bill Blass, and Jack Klugman. As dental professionals, we know that when a lesion is found in the mouth that may be squamous cell carcinoma, there is a 50% to 70% chance that the patient may not live past the next five years. When you look at other cancer awareness programs, some organizations have done an outstanding job at creating a very high awareness for certain types of cancer. Every woman knows how to do a breast cancer self-exam and have routine mammograms, and everyone over the age of 50 knows it's time for a colonoscopy. These types of self-exams and screenings have helped save many lives. An established self-exam for oral cancer would be a huge help in finding abnormalities or incipient oral cancer lesions early. This kind of self-exam, much like a breast or skin exam, is easy to do, does not require any special equipment, and will help familiarize people with their own mouths. The primary benefit is early detection of any unusual lesions in the patients' mouths, and the secondary benefit is consumers becoming more familiar with their mouths, which encourages them to receive treatment for oral [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-09-02T16:54:24-07:00September, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Piramal Life to start phase-2 trial for cancer molecule

Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com Author: staff Piramal Life Sciences, which has developed a Cancer molecule P276 for treatment of head and neck cancer, will shortly begin Phase 2 clinical trials in India. “This week, we will start the Phase 2 clinical trial of our head and neck cancer molecule following the Drug Controller's approval,” Piramal Life Sciences Executive Director, Ms Swati Piramal said. The molecule has undergone successful Phase 1 clinical trial in Canada. Phase 1 trial is the first stage of testing in humans. This phase includes trials designed to assess the safety and tolerability of a drug. Phase-2 trials are performed on a larger group and are designed to asses how well the drug works as well as to continue Phase 1 safety assessments on a larger group of volunteers and patients. “We have been ready since February to start Phase 2 trial, but the go ahead came just now,” Ms Piramal said. In developed countries, approvals come in 28 days, she said, adding that in India, it has taken six months.

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-09-02T06:57:29-07:00September, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Radiation treatment breaks and ulcerative mucositis in head and neck cancer

Source: The Oncologist, Vol. 13, No. 8, 886-898, August 2008 Authors: Gregory Russo et al. Unplanned radiation treatment breaks and prolongation of the radiation treatment time are associated with lower survival and locoregional control rates when radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy is used in the curative treatment of head and neck cancer. Treatment of head and neck cancer is intense, involving high-dose, continuous radiotherapy, and often adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy. As the intensity of treatment regimens has escalated in recent years, clinical outcomes generally have improved. However, more intensive therapy also increases the incidence of treatment-related toxicities, particularly those impacting the mucosal lining of the oral cavity, pharynx, and cervical esophagus, and results in varying degrees of ulcerative mucositis. Ulcerative mucositis is a root cause of unscheduled radiation treatment breaks, which prolongs the total radiation treatment time. Alterations in radiotherapy and chemotherapy, including the use of continuous (i.e., 7 days/week) radiotherapy to ensure constant negative proliferative pressure, may improve efficacy outcomes. However, these approaches also increase the incidence of ulcerative mucositis, thereby increasing the incidence of unplanned radiation treatment breaks. Conversely, the reduction of ulcerative mucositis to minimize unplanned breaks in radiotherapy may enhance not only tolerability, but also efficacy outcomes. Several strategies to prevent ulcerative mucositis in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer have been evaluated, but none have demonstrated strong efficacy. Continued investigation is needed to identify superior radiation treatment regimens, technology, and supportive care that reduce unplanned radiation treatment breaks with the goal of improving clinical outcomes in [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-09-01T09:36:49-07:00September, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

FDA control of tobacco may reshape industry

Source: money.cnn.com Author: Associated Press If legislation passes to give the Food and Drug Administration the authority the regulate the tobacco industry, it could reshape the industry's competitive landscape, Fitch Ratings said in a new report Thursday. The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed the legislation in July, but it requires approval by the Senate and President Bush. Bush's administration has said he will veto the bill. The bill would empower federal public health authorities to regulate tobacco for the first time. Fitch said it does not expect the law to be put into practice this year but said that if a Democrat is elected to the White House, the eventual passage of the bill is "highly probable." Analysts have said Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris USA stands to benefit if the FDA receives the authority to regulate the tobacco industry. Experts have said the measure _ which is favored by PMUSA-owner Altria _ would benefit Altria because the greater restrictions could solidify its position as the market leader and owner of the Marlboro brand. Fitch believes more rules on how to advertise and promote cigarettes would reduce competition and benefit the companies with bigger market shares. The nation's second-biggest cigarette maker, Reynolds American Inc.'s R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., has said it opposes the bill. Altria, Reynolds and others are already expanding the number of non-cigarette products they sell, such as cigars, pouchlike snus and snuff. Fitch Senior Director Wesley Moultrie II said any such law could lead to further consolidation as smaller [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-08-31T20:27:46-07:00August, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Zapping oral cancer

Source: www.ktbs.com Author: staff Background: According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, this year, oral cancer will cause more than 8,000 deaths, killing roughly one person every hour. This deadly cancer often starts as a discolored area in the mouth called leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is a precancerous lesion that forms on the tongue or inside of the cheek in response to a persistent irritation. Irritation can be caused by dentures, fillings, crowns, smoking or chewing tobacco. The condition normally shows up as a white or red patch in the mouth. When leukoplakia is caused by tobacco use, it is called smoker's keratosis. These patches also sometimes appear on female genitalia, although the cause is unknown. A condition called hairy leukoplakia sometimes affects individuals with weakened immune systems, especially those with HIV or AIDS. This form of leukoplakia shows up as fuzzy, white patches that resemble folds or ridges on the sides of the tongue. Prevention: Since leukoplakia is most often caused by smoking or chewing tobacco, avoiding these habits drastically reduces your chances of developing the condition -- and the oral cancer that often follows it. Sun exposure and alcohol use also put you at a higher risk for developing oral cancer. Some studies suggest a diet high in fruits and vegetable help prevent leukoplakia. Catching leukoplakia early is another solid defense against developing oral cancer. See your physician if you notice a red or white spot or sore inside your mouth, on your tongue, on the inside of your cheek or [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-08-29T07:16:35-07:00August, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Laser Microscalpel to Target Cancers Individually

Source: The Future of Things (thefutureofthings.com) Author: Anni Shaer Levitt A group from Texas University, Austin led by Adela Ben-Yakir, has recently patented a new technology that can be used to target one cancer cell at a time. This laser "microscalpel" would make it possible for a surgeon to weed out the cancer-effected cells without harming the healthy tissue surrounding them. This could greatly help the fight against cancer and improve the quality of life of cancer patients. A femtosecond laser is a laser which emits optical pulses with an extremely short duration, known as of femtoseconds (1 femtosecond equals 10 in the -15 seconds). The femtosecond laser used for this treatment produces brief, high energy light pulses that cut through the target cell. The laser heat does not spread around to harm nearby healthy cells. There is hope in the medical community that this device could be used for accurate demolition of various types of unhealthy tissue. This would include small tumors of the vocal cords, cancer cells left behind after the removal of solid tumors, individual cancer cells scattered throughout the brain, or other tissue and plaque in arteries. Femtosecond lasers have been developed by several companies around the world but until recently have been heavy and cumbersome. Ben-Yakar's laboratory has created a microscope system that is capable of delivering femtosecond laser pulses up to 250 microns deep inside a tissue. This system has a tiny flexible probe that can focus light pulses to a spot smaller than [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-08-29T03:57:04-07:00August, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy in postoperative treatment of oral cavity cancers

Source: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, August 14, 2008 Author: Daniel R Gomez et al. Purpose: To present our single-institution experience of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for oral cavity cancer. Methods and Materials: Between September 2000 and December 2006, 35 patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity underwent surgery followed by postoperative IMRT. The sites included were buccal mucosa in 8, oral tongue in 11, floor of the mouth in 9, gingiva in 4, hard palate in 2, and retromolar trigone in 1. Most patients had Stage III-IV disease (80%). Ten patients (29%) also received concurrent postoperative chemotherapy with IMRT. The median prescribed radiation dose was 60 Gy. Results: The median follow-up for surviving patients was 28.1 months (range, 11.9-85.1). Treatment failure occurred in 11 cases as follows: local in 4, regional in 2, and distant metastases in 5. Of the 5 patients with distant metastases, 2 presented with dermal metastases. The 2- and 3-year estimates of locoregional progression-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 84% and 77%, 85% and 85%, 70% and 64%, and 74% and 74%, respectively. Acute Grade 2 or greater dermatitis, mucositis, and esophageal reactions were experienced by 54%, 66%, and 40% of the patients, respectively. Documented late complications included trismus (17%) and osteoradionecrosis (5%). Conclusion: IMRT as an adjuvant treatment after surgical resection for oral cavity tumors is feasible and effective, with promising results and acceptable toxicity. Authors: Daniel R Gomez, Joanne E Zhung, Jennifer Gomez, Kelvin [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-08-26T15:20:44-07:00August, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Burning incense increases risk of respiratory tract cancers

Source: ScienceDaily (www.sciencedaily.com) Author: staff Long term use of incense increases the risk of developing cancers of the respiratory tract, according to a new study. The new analysis, which the authors say is the first prospective investigation of incense and cancer risk, appears in the October 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Incense is an integral part of daily life in large parts of Asia. Researchers have shown that burning incense—which is made of plant materials mixed with oils—produces a mixture of possible carcinogens, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, carbonyls and benzene. Because incense smoke is inhaled, a number of studies have looked at the possible link between incense burning and lung cancer, but results have been inconsistent. In addition, the possible association of incense use and other respiratory tract cancers has not been analyzed. To investigate this, Dr. Jeppe Friborg of the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark and colleagues in Singapore and the U.S. studied the associations between exposure to incense and the whole spectrum of respiratory tract cancers in a large population in Singapore. The study involved 61,320 Singapore Chinese who were free of cancer and aged 45-74 years in 1993-1998. At that time, they completed a comprehensive interview on living conditions and dietary and lifestyle factors. The investigators followed these individuals through 2005, noting which participants developed cancer during that time. Dr. Friborg's team documented a total of 325 upper respiratory tract cancers (including nasal/sinus, tongue, mouth, laryngeal and other cancers) [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-08-25T18:36:04-07:00August, 2008|Oral Cancer News|

Vaccine controversy continues

Source: Reader's Digest (www.rd.com) Author: Julie Bain Between the relay races and table tennis triumphs last week, there was some news coverage about the HPV vaccine. A study came out last Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine that looked at the economic impact of vaccinating young girls and women from the types of HPV virus that can cause cervical cancer. Newsweek ran an informative Q and A with one of the study authors about who should get the vaccine and when. The New York Times did a big story, too, which I thought displayed a bit of bias in the disapproving tone of its headline: Researchers Question Wide Use of HPV Vaccines. I called Maura Gillison, MD, a researcher at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and one of the top experts on HPV, for her perspective. She said, “For those of us in the field, this study is not really new information. It is known that the HPV vaccine doesn’t have an impact on young women who have already been infected by the HPV types targeted by the vaccine (HPV6, 11, 16, and 18).” While it was possible to measure a girl’s previous exposure to HPV in the study lab, it’s not possible in a medical clinic, she says. That’s why it’s not as cost-effective to give the vaccine to women who are already sexually active. Still, she says, “only 4% of the 16- to 26-year-old women who were enrolled in the vaccine trials had evidence of exposure to [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2008-08-25T18:29:15-07:00August, 2008|Oral Cancer News|