early detection

Partnership to boost oral cancer early detection

Source: www.bitemagazine.com.au Author: staff Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) has partnered with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to ensure general practitioners across Australia have the tools they need to detect oral cancer early and save lives. A national online learning resource has been launched on the RACGP website to empower its members to identify individuals at risk of oral cancer, detect the disease earlier through screening and have important prevention conversations with patients. In Australia, there are more than 4000 new cases of head, neck and lip cancers diagnosed every year and the majority of these are oral cancers. In 2022, there were an estimated 2642 cases of lip and oral cancers with this figure expected to rise in the coming years. Largely due to delayed presentation or diagnosis, oral cancer carries low survival rates, which is why the Victorian Government’s 2016-20 Cancer Plan established the Oral Cancer Screening and Prevention Program to boost prevention and early detection of this disease. Funded by the Victorian Government, the program is led by DHSV in partnership with the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, the Australian Dental Association (Victorian Branch) and the Victorian Department of Health. DHSV launched the Oral Cancer Learning Hub in 202—a practical and evidence-based resource that supports oral health professionals to recognise and refer suspected oral cancers in early stages for faster investigation, diagnosis and treatment. “Because GPs are often the first stop for Victorians seeking medical help, phase two of the program supports GPs to [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-11-15T15:10:04-07:00November, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

The dental hygienist’s guide to pathology in patients with oral cancer

Source: www.dentistryiq.com Author: Sandra L. Benavides, RDH Dental hygienists are the unacknowledged heroes in oral health care, diligently working to protect their patients’ oral health. Besides removing plaque and polishing teeth, hygienists can identify early signs of potentially life-threatening conditions, including oral cancer. One of the most common cancers affecting humans across the globe is oral cancer, and early detection can significantly reduce morbidity.1 The key to successful treatment outcomes is early detection and intervention. The dental hygienist's keen eye, skilled hands, and understanding of oral anatomy equip them to identify oral pathology in patients with oral cancer. In 2023, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, “Close to 54,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 9,750 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 54,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years (approximately 57%). This is a number that has not significantly improved in decades.”2 Following is an overview of what to look for when examining oral cancer patients, how to differentiate typical from atypical findings, and steps to take when pathology is suspected. Understanding oral cancer There has historically been a high death rate associated with oral cancer, not because it is difficult to detect or diagnose, but because it is discovered late in its development. In its early stages, oral cancer can often go undetected by the patient as OC is frequently asymptomatic and likely to cause [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-09-22T06:39:46-07:00September, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Researchers develop noninvasive test to detect oral cancer

Source: www.dentalnewspk.com Author: DN Monitoring Desk Researchers at the University of Surrey have achieved a significant medical breakthrough by creating a non-invasive diagnostic test for oral cancer. Known as PANDORA, this pioneering test has shown exceptional accuracy in identifying patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and pre-cancerous oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). As per the groundbreaking study detailing the development of PANDORA, published in the esteemed Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine, with an impressive accuracy rate of over 92 percent, the proof-of-concept test has the potential to revolutionise oral cancer diagnosis. It says PANDORA also exhibits an outstanding accuracy rate of more than 80pc in detecting patients with OED, offering an opportunity for early intervention and preventive measures. The research team conducted their study by collecting cell samples from 40 individuals with OSCC and OED, as well as 79 individuals without cancer, including those with benign lesions. Using the state-of-the-art DEPtech 3DEP analyzer with a unique setup protocol, the researchers meticulously measured and analyzed the cells from the patients. Importantly, these samples can be easily collected at a dentist's office and sent for analysis, making PANDORA a convenient and accessible diagnostic tool for primary care settings. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a prevalent form of cancer that affects the cells lining the mouth and throat, often associated with lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor oral hygiene, and alcohol use. Symptoms may include persistent mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, and changes in speech. Early detection of OSCC significantly improves treatment outcomes, [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2023-08-01T10:33:11-07:00August, 2023|Oral Cancer News|

Biosensor allows rapid detection of oral cancer

Source: www.insideprecisionmedicine.com Author: staff A biosensor for oral cancer has been developed by researchers from the University of Florida and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. The device uses a rapid transistor-based system and is much faster and more convenient than current lab-based tests. Their study was published in Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B. “Oral squamous cell carcinomas are one of the most common lip and oral cavity cancer types,” said Minghan Xian, co-author and a researcher at the University of Florida. “It requires early detection via various medical technologies to improve the survival rate.” Oral cancers are the 16th most common type of cancer. Cancers of the lip and oral cavity are the most common, with more than 377,700 cases worldwide in 2020, according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. Since oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) occurs in one of the most accessible sites in the body, it can be easily treated if detected promptly. Oral cancers that remain localized and are 2 centimeters or smaller can be cured — five-year survival rates exceed 90%. “The standard of care for oral cancer detection is a biopsy, which is invasive, expensive and takes several weeks to obtain results. Since our sensor is a true point of care, we envision this technology to offer chairside assistance to dentists on whether or not a biopsy is warranted,” Co-author Josephine Esquivel-Upshaw, professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, told Inside Precision Medicine. Biosensors have long been [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2022-12-15T13:31:19-07:00December, 2022|Oral Cancer News|

How this surgery center is changing the way doctors communicate with patients

Source: foxbaltimore.com Author: WBFF staff Head and neck cancers have a variety of causes, including human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, alcohol and tobacco use, sun exposure, poor oral health, or occupational exposure to hazardous materials. Regardless of the cancer's cause, recovery often depends on how quickly a patient can begin treatment. The experience of starting treatment is of particular interest to Farzad Masroor, M.D., a surgeon at GBMC's Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center, and his team. "The head and neck areas are how we interface with the world," he said. "The mouth and throat are vital to talking and tasting, and when treatments focus on those areas, it will invariably affect a patient's quality of life." To help minimize the need for invasive treatments like surgery and radiation, Dr. Masroor and his colleagues prioritize early detection and care to yield the best possible outcomes. Although patients are encouraged to see their primary physicians or dermatologists before making an appointment with a surgeon, Dr. Masroor also recommends that patients refer themselves if they are concerned that cancer is present. "I would rather see my office filled with people who I can reassure about their health than have patients delay care and end up with something seriously wrong that requires a significant procedure," he said. Courtesy phone consultations with a head and neck surgeon at the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Center are available for patients in these instances. Though these are not designed to replace in-person visits, they allow patients [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2021-04-16T19:56:33-07:00April, 2021|Oral Cancer News|

University of Cincinnati researcher studies cancer-detecting mouthwash with help from ACS grant

Source: healthnews.uc.edu Author: staff Scott Langevin, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health and a member of both the Cincinnati Cancer Center (CCC) and UC Cancer Institute, was recently awarded $782,000 from the American Cancer Society to continue his research, which will hopefully assist in use of a certain oral rinse to catch recurrence of these types of cancers in their earliest stages. He originally received a National Cancer Institute K22 award to begin this study. "In 2017, mouth and throat cancer, otherwise known as oral and pharyngeal cancer, accounted for an estimated 49,670 new cancer diagnoses and 9,700 cancer-related deaths in the US, and the outcomes for patients with this cancer is relatively poor. About half of these patients will have cancer recurrence within 2 years of treatment,” Langevin says. "Earlier detection of recurrent tumors is associated with better clinical outcomes, so there is a clear need for new tests that can help facilitate early detection.” Langevin says that researchers in his lab previously identified a biomarker panel made up of 22 regions of DNA; based on the amount of a certain molecule attached to these regions—a process called DNA methylation—scientists could identify the presence of mouth and throat cancer with a high level of accuracy by using noninvasive oral rinse (mouthwash) samples. "With this project, we hope to evaluate the potential of this oral rinse methylation panel as a clinical tool for early detection of cancer recurrence following diagnosis and treatment,” he says. "This will hopefully [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2018-10-23T12:24:47-07:00October, 2018|Oral Cancer News|

New cancer test isn’t ready for prime time

Author: H Gilbert Welch Date: February 14, 2018 Source: http://www.cnn.com/2018/02/13/opinions/liquid-biopsy-opinion-welch/index.html (CNN)- A simple blood test to detect cancer early. How great is that? There has been enthusiasm about the so-called "liquid biopsy" for years. In mid-January, however, doctors learned more -- both about this vision and its problems. A widely reported study in the journal Science described a liquid biopsy test -- CancerSEEK -- which combined measuring eight tumor biomarkers with testing for pieces of DNA with cancer associated mutations in 16 genes. It's not one test; it's a battery of tests. And while collecting the blood may be simple, the subsequent analysis is extraordinarily complex. The task at hand is particularly challenging. We all have pieces of DNA in our blood. Distinguishing the tumor DNA from the background DNA requires finding the mutations specifically associated with cancer. Adding to the complexity, healthy individuals can have mutations. To avoid labeling innocuous mutations as cancerous requires a bunch of statistical fine-tuning. In other words, there are a lot of steps in a liquid biopsy and much potential for things to go awry. To their credit, the CancerSEEK investigators were very forthright that the study conditions were ideal for the test to accurately detect cancer. The liquid biopsy simply had to discriminate between patients with known cancer (the majority of whom had symptoms) and healthy individuals. And the statistical fine-tuning was tailored to the study participants -- with the knowledge of who had, and who did not have, cancer. Although the test was [...]

Charlotte Parker2018-02-14T11:36:19-07:00February, 2018|Oral Cancer News|

Forward Science and Oral Cancer Foundation partner in video to spread oral cancer awareness

Source: www.DentistryIQ.comAuthor: DentistryIQ Editors Click here to view Carol Layer's story, told by her daughter Rachel In an effort to increase awareness about the importance of annual oral cancer screenings, Forward Science, the creators of OralID, and the Oral Cancer Foundation have partnered to share the story of a family’s loss after a protracted and difficult battle with oral cancer. In a video narrated by the daughter of an oral cancer victim, the importance of regular/routine oral cancer screenings is stressed, and the daughter shares a first-hand view of why early detection is critical. To view the touching story of Carol Layer’s fight with oral cancer, told by her extraordinary daughter, Rachel, visit http://www.oralid.com/carolsfight. “Until there is a cure, the best solution is early discovery. Early detection can not only save people’s lives, but preserve the quality of life.” Rachel continues to compete in marathons and relay races in her mother’s memory, wearing “Carol’s Fight” on her shirt in every race. She emphasizes the importance of sharing her mom’s story with the world, with the hope of preventing future stories like her own. She said, “I certainly learned a lot about life and death and what it meant to be resilient through her, and I hope my mom’s story carries forward to people.” At 44 years old, Carol Layer had no traditional risk factors (alcohol or tobacco use) and was not a patient who was in the high-risk category for oral cancer. Carol found a lesion on the side of her tongue [...]

Charlotte Parker2015-12-10T17:36:58-07:00December, 2015|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Spreading awareness and saving lives — Oral Cancer Foundation’s Walk for Awareness may be coming to a city near you!

Source: www.prnewswire.com Author: press release Oral cancer has historically existed outside the awareness of much of the public, yet in the U.S. it claims one life every hour of every day of the year. This year alone, approximately 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer. This number is on the rise and The Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) needs help spreading awareness about this devastating disease. OCF is working in communities across the country to bring "Walk for Awareness" events to the public, and with them the opportunity to engage in a conversation that too few people are having. These events raise awareness of a disease that far too many Americans have never even heard of. Most events also incorporate free to the public oral cancer screenings, providing the opportunity to educate attendees about the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer while also instilling the importance of early detection and need for annual oral cancer screenings. To see if an OCF Walk for Awareness is taking place near you, visit oralcancer.org and click support to view an interactive map of the organization's upcoming events. OCF has been raising awareness and providing support in communities for 16 years in cities scattered across the US. Here are a just a few of the remaining Fall 2015 events: The 5th Annual Oral Cancer Foundation Walk/Fun Run for Awareness - Twin Cities, Minnesota, will take place this Sunday, September 27, 2015 at City of Eagan Community Center. For more details, to register and [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2015-10-13T20:24:31-07:00September, 2015|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

UC Davis will use dogs to sniff out cancer

Source: www.willitsnews.com Author: staff A university team of physicians, veterinarians and animal behaviorists has begun training a pair of very special canines to sniff out cancer. One of the 4-month-old puppies is Alfie, a Labradoodle. months old. UC Davis clinicians are hoping to advance cancer screenings with the innate olfactory skills of man’s best friend. A university team of physicians, veterinarians and animal behaviorists has begun training a pair of very special canines who may represent high-tech health care on four feet in the effort to better screen for cancer, especially at early stages of the disease. About 4-months old, the puppies Alfie (a Labradoodle) and Charlie (a German Shepherd) are undergoing a rigorous twelve-month training program to develop their abilities to identify the scent of cancer in samples of saliva, breath and urine. According to sensory scientists, the olfactory acuity of dogs enables them to detect odorant concentration levels at 1 to 2 parts per trillion, roughly 10,000 to 100,000 times that of a human. UCD physicians and researchers believe Alfie and Charlie have the potential to add an important diagnostic element to patient care. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and early detection of the disease gives patients the best chance of survival. “For the past number of years, we have been developing very high-end, expensive new tests to try and detect the presence of cancer,” said Ralph de Vere White, distinguished professor of urology and director of the UC [...]

Oral Cancer Foundation News Team - A2015-09-13T15:14:35-07:00September, 2015|Oral Cancer News|