Oral, Head and Neck Cancers Continue to Increase While Most U.S. Cancer Death Rates are on the Decline

Source: SHOTS (NPR's Health Blog) The rate at which Americans die from cancer continues to fall, according to the latest estimates from the American Cancer Society. As a result, nearly 900,000 cancer deaths were avoided between 1990 and 2007, the group figures. Survival gains have come as mortality rates have declined for some of the most common malignancies, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer in women and prostate cancer. Still, the ACS estimates there will nearly 1.6 million new cancers diagnosed this year, and about 572,000 deaths from the disease. The incidence of cancers hasn't budged much for men in recent years, after falling quite a bit during the first half of the last decade. Cancer incidence for women has been falling since 1998. The report was just published online by CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Lung cancer remains the biggest killer for both men and women. All told, about 160,000 people in the U.S. are expected to die from it this year. Starting in 1987, more women have died from lung cancer each year than breast cancer. One section of the report focuses on a persistent and, in some cases, widening gap in cancer death rates between people with the least education and those with the most. Educational attainment is often used in research as a proxy for socioeconomic status. American Cancer Society epidemiologist Elizabeth Ward, one of the report's authors, tells Shots, "People of a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to smoke and less likely to get [...]

2011-06-22T10:26:11-07:00June, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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OCF is sad to report the loss of Laura Ziskin to cancer. Ms. Ziskin was an accomplished producer, studio executive and activist / co founder of Stand Up 2 Cancer.

Source: Stand up to Cancer Acclaimed film producer and cancer activist Laura Ziskin died today at her home in Santa Monica at the age of 61. Ziskin, who lived with breast cancer for seven years, is survived by her husband, screenwriter Alvin Sargent, with whom she frequently collaborated; daughter, producer Julia Barry, and son-in-law, writer Eli Dansky. The family requests that donations be made to Stand Up To Cancer: (via http://su2c.org or by mail: Attn: Stand Up To Cancer, c/o The Entertainment Industry Foundation, 1201 West 5th Street., T-700, Los Angeles, CA, 90017.) Ziskin had a trail-blazing career as a producer and studio executive for 35 years. After her cancer diagnosis, Ziskin embraced an additional, unsought role as a cancer activist, joining with other women in the entertainment and media businesses (including Sherry Lansing, Katie Couric, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Ellen Ziffren, Pam Williams, Noreen Fraser, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Lisa Paulsen and Kathleen Lobb) to co-found Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). The group marshals the entertainment industry's resources to engage the public in supporting a new approach to cancer research geared toward getting new therapies to patients quickly. Earlier this year, Ziskin was awarded The Producers Guild of America's Visionary Award for her work as a film producer and her humanitarian efforts in the fight against cancer. Speaking of herself and the other SU2C co-founders, Ziskin said, "We realized we had the potential to make cancer the first-tier issue it needs to be and to impact how cancer [...]

2011-06-14T10:10:00-07:00June, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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High risk of developing ONJ for cancer patients on bisphosphonates

Source: Dr.Bicuspid.com Research has shown that cancer patients on bisphosphonates are at risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and that those on the intravenous form of the drug are at a higher risk compared with those on the oral drugs. However, a new study that looked at cancer patients on zoledronic acid (ZOL) and chemotherapy combined with the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab (BEV) who underwent a dental exam before starting treatment found that none of them developed ONJ (JADA, May 2011, Vol. 142:5, pp. 506-513). Researchers from the University of Siena in Italy investigated the incidence of and risk factors for ONJ in patients with metastases to the bone from solid tumors who received ZOL and BEV. Their study included 59 patients (34 with breast cancer and 25 with non-small cell lung cancer [NSCL]) who received 4 mg of ZOL intravenously every four weeks and 15 mg per kg of BEV every three weeks. The median time the participants received ZOL therapy was 18 months, while the median time participants received BEV therapy was 16 months. The researchers took several measures to reduce the study participants' risk of developing ONJ, including the following: Dental caries and periodontal disease were treated before starting study treatment. Mouth rinses with chlorhexidine and local antibiotic agents were administered before baseline oral hygiene. Recommendations were made for maintaining good oral hygiene. Teeth were extracted at least four weeks before starting ZOL and BEV therapy. Invasive dental procedures were avoided during treatment. If invasive dental [...]

2011-05-24T10:21:55-07:00May, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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Modest Drinking can Heighten your Risk for Cancer

Source: MedScape.org   April 14, 2011 — "A considerable proportion of the most common and most lethal cancers is attributable to former and current alcohol consumption," concludes a large European study published online April 8 in BMJ. The researchers attribute about 10% of all cancers in men and about 3% of all cancers in women to previous and current alcohol consumption. The estimates come from an analysis of data from the huge ongoing European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer (EPIC) and from representative data on alcohol consumption compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO). The risk increases even with drinking moderate amounts. "This research supports existing evidence that alcohol causes cancer and that the risk increases even with drinking moderate amounts," coauthor Naomi Allen, DPhil, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, United Kingdom, said in a statement. The original data in the EPIC study were collected from 1992 to 2000, so "the results from this study reflect the impact of people's drinking habits about 10 years ago," Dr. Allen noted. "People are drinking even more now than they were then, and this could lead to more people developing cancer because of alcohol in the future," she added. Data From 8 Countries The EPIC study, which is still ongoing, is one of the largest studies of diet and cancer ever conducted. It involved more than half a million people in Europe. For this analysis of alcohol and cancer, the researchers used EPIC data from 363,988 participants from 8 European countries — France, Italy, Spain, [...]

2011-04-26T10:06:35-07:00April, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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Global cancer statistics

Corresponding author: Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society The global burden of cancer continues to increase largely because of the aging and growth of the world population alongside an increasing adoption of cancer-causing behaviors, particularly smoking, in economically developing countries. Based on the GLOBOCAN 2008 estimates, about 12.7 million cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths are estimated to have occurred in 2008; of these, 56% of the cases and 64% of the deaths occurred in the economically developing world. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females, accounting for 23% of the total cancer cases and 14% of the cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the leading cancer site in males, comprising 17% of the total new cancer cases and 23% of the total cancer deaths. Breast cancer is now also the leading cause of cancer death among females in economically developing countries, a shift from the previous decade during which the most common cause of cancer death was cervical cancer. Further, the mortality burden for lung cancer among females in developing countries is as high as the burden for cervical cancer, with each accounting for 11% of the total female cancer deaths. Although overall cancer incidence rates in the developing world are half those seen in the developed world in both sexes, the overall cancer mortality rates are generally similar. Cancer survival tends to be poorer in developing countries, most likely because of a combination of a [...]

2011-03-10T10:27:12-07:00March, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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Fatal adverse events with Bevacizumab

Source: Medscape Today Treatment-Related Mortality With Bevacizumab in Cancer Patients: A Meta-analysis Study Summary Although bevacizumab has been shown to improve survival in patients with a variety of solid tumors when added to conventional chemotherapy, it has also been associated with life-threatening and fatal adverse events (FAEs), including bleeding, thromboembolism, and perforation. This improvement in survival has led to the assumption that FAEs are rare and do not significantly affect patients who are receiving treatment. In this large meta-analysis, Ranpura and colleagues identified 10,217 patients with various solid tumors from 16 randomized studies, as follows: Colorectal cancer (5 studies); Non-small cell lung cancer (4 studies); Breast cancer (3 studies); Renal cell cancer (2 studies); Pancreatic cancer (1 study); and Prostate cancer (1 study). A clear increase in FAEs was evident in patients who received bevacizumab compared with those who received standard chemotherapy alone (2.5% vs 1.7%; relative risk [RR] 1.46; P = .01). This association varied with chemotherapy agents but not with tumor type. In particular, FAEs occurred in patients receiving taxanes or platinum agents (RR 3.49; 3.3% vs 1%) but not with other specific agents. Types of FAEs included bleeding (23.5%), gastrointestinal perforation (7.1%), and pulmonary embolism and stroke (5.1% each). Most fatal bleeding events were pulmonary or gastrointestinal in origin. Viewpoint The benefit of bevacizumab is under increased scrutiny given the latest data in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In this large meta-analysis, Ranpura and colleagues documented a clear increase in the rate of FAEs (2.5%) in patients [...]

2011-03-03T22:45:53-07:00March, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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Global cancer statistics

Source: HighWire, Stanford University The global burden of cancer continues to increase largely because of the aging and growth of the world population alongside an increasing adoption of cancer-causing behaviors, particularly smoking, in economically developing countries. Based on the GLOBOCAN 2008 estimates, about 12.7 million cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths are estimated to have occurred in 2008; of these, 56% of the cases and 64% of the deaths occurred in the economically developing world. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females, accounting for 23% of the total cancer cases and 14% of the cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the leading cancer site in males, comprising 17% of the total new cancer cases and 23% of the total cancer deaths. Breast cancer is now also the leading cause of cancer death among females in economically developing countries, a shift from the previous decade during which the most common cause of cancer death was cervical cancer. Further, the mortality burden for lung cancer among females in developing countries is as high as the burden for cervical cancer, with each accounting for 11% of the total female cancer deaths. OCF Although overall cancer incidence rates in the developing world are half those seen in the developed world in both sexes, the overall cancer mortality rates are generally similar. Cancer survival tends to be poorer in developing countries, most likely because of a combination of a late stage at diagnosis and limited [...]

2011-02-16T11:19:17-07:00February, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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Dog Sniffing Out Cancer May Lead to Early Detection Test

Source: Medscape Today By: Zosia Chustecka The latest study demonstrating that dogs can sniff out cancer has confirmed the notion that a specific cancer smell does exist, and has added fuel to the idea of developing a test based on odor. Previous studies have reported on dogs that can detect lung and breast cancer from breath samples, and there has been anecdotal evidence suggesting that dogs can detect melanoma, bladder, and ovarian cancers. In this latest study, published online January 31 in Gut, a Labrador retriever was trained over several months to sniff out colorectal cancer in breath and watery stool samples. Hideto Sonoda, MD, and colleagues from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, report that this dog was then tested with samples obtained from colorectal cancer patients and from volunteers, some of whom had gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease. The dog correctly identified cancer in 33 of 36 breath tests and in 37 of 38 stool tests. This equates to 95% accuracy overall for the breath test and 98% accuracy overall for the stool test, the researchers report. The highest detection rates were among samples taken from patients with early-stage cancer, they add. Samples taken from smokers and from people with other gastrointestinal diseases, which might be expected to mask or interfere with cancer odors, did not appear to confuse the dog. "This study shows that a specific cancer scent does indeed exist," the researchers conclude. They are not suggesting using dogs in clinical practice, however. They [...]

2011-02-07T12:28:00-07:00February, 2011|Oral Cancer News|
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Real Cancer Drug Breakthrough Is Astronomical Prices

Source: Robert Langreth Blog In the wake of the FDA’s decision start the process to revoke Avastin’s approval in breast cancer last week, patients are puzzled and angry over how a drug once touted as a breakthrough  now can be branded as ineffective.  The controversy illustrates just how much the much-vaunted revolution in cancer therapy is driven by hype and high prices. Selling cancer drugs has become big business, with $52 billion in sales last year, according to IMS.  Some $6 billion of it goes right to Roche’s Avastin, the biggest selling of the new drugs. No wonder companies like Merck and Pfizer are  racing to develop new cancer drugs. But even as sales reach new heights, and prices keep going up–pretty much any cancer drug now costs $50,000 a year–the results from many trials are getting less and less impressive. Tarceva from Roche extends the life of pancreatic cancer patients by two weeks. Avastin has now failed to extend the lives of breast cancer patients in three giant trials. The hype about targeted cancer drugs has reached fever pitch thanks in part to baby boomers who don’t want to acknowledge their mortality; companies who need to sell hugely expensive drugs that can cost up to $100,000 a year; and science journalists eager for a positive story about a dread disease. The truth is that nobody wants to acknowledge the unpleasant fact that progress against most cancers has been grudgingly slow. Oncologists are in the business of providing hope to [...]

2010-12-21T13:56:53-07:00December, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
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Manual Drainage for Lymphedema Investigated in First-Ever RCT

Source: Medscape Today By: Zosia Chustecka December 11, 2010 (San Antonio, Texas) — Manual lymph drainage (MLD) in the form of massage was not effective in preventing arm lymphedema in patients with breast cancer who had undergone axillary lymph node dissection. The results come from a randomized clinical trial in 160 patients with breast cancer, reported here today at the 33rd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. "This is a very nice study," commented session moderator Hiram Cody, MD, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. "This has been a data-free zone, and this [study] is a very nice addition," he added. The results were presented by Nele Devoogdt, from University Hospitals Leuven, in Belgium, who undertook the study as part of her doctoral thesis. She was the recipient of a scholarship awarded by the American Association for Cancer Research Translational Research Scholars and funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Massage to Increase Lymph Drainage MLD is a kind of massage where the skin is stretched, Ms. Devoogdt explained. The theory is that it would help to prevent the development of lymphedema by increasing the resorption of lymph, increasing lymph transport, and creating collateral pathways to aid in lymph drainage. However, she pointed out that its effectiveness in preventing lymphedema has never been tested in a randomized controlled clinical trial. So this is what her group set out to investigate. They compared a program consisting of information and exercises therapy, with and without the addition [...]

2010-12-13T11:44:05-07:00December, 2010|Oral Cancer News|
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