oral cancer – Page 26 – Oral Cancer News

High-risk HPV in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer, and their children

Source: 7thSpace Author: Rajan SainiTan Association of High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) with oral cancer has been established recently. Detecting these viruses in oral cavity is important to prevent oral lesions related to them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HR-HPV in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer, and their children. A total of 70 women, previously diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 46 children of these women, born by vaginal delivery only, were selected for this study. Buccal swabs were collected from their oral cavity and HPV detection was carried out using Hybrid Capture 2 high-risk HPV (HC2 HR-HPV) detection system. Results: Out of 70 women with cervical cancer, four (5.71%) were found to be positive for HR-HPV in their oral cavity. No association of HR-HPV was found with sociodemographic profile, marital status, reproductive history, tobacco and alcohol usage, contraceptive pills usage, and presence of oral lesions (p>0.05). Among children, HR-HPV in the oral cavity was detected in only 1 of the 46 subjects examined (2.17%). Clinically healthy oral mucosa, without any oral lesions, was observed in all the HR-HPV positive subjects. Conclusion: The result of this study showed that there is low, if any, risk of HR-HPV infection in the oral cavity of women with cervical cancer. Further, our study suggests that there is very low risk for children of women with cervical cancer, to acquire and sustain HR-HPV in their oral cavity until childhood or adolescence. Author: Rajan SainiTan KhimSarah RahmanMazian IsmailThean [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-16T11:53:33-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

HPV-positive tumors increase chance of survival

Source: Dotmed Author: Heather Mayer For some time now, experts have suspected a link between the human papillomavirus and oral cancer. DOTmed News reported in April that HPV could be linked to a nearly one-quarter increase in mouth and throat cancers in the United States (see DM 12140). But now it's been shown that not only can HPV cause oral cancer, but it can increase a patient's chance of survival, according to a study from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The report, published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the presence of HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, is the most important predictor of survival for people with oropharyngeal cancer -- cancer of the back of the mouth. Lifetime smoking history and cancer stage follow HPV as survival predictors. "We believe HPV cancers are likely more susceptible to radiation treatment than tobacco tumors," says Brian Hill, founder and executive director of the Oral Cancer Foundation and cancer survivor. While historically, most oral cancers were caused by tobacco and alcohol, within the past couple of decades, HPV has become a key player in causing the cancer, explains Hill. He points out that the cells in the back of mouth are attractive to the virus. Lead researcher and neck cancer specialist Dr. Maura Gillison, conducted the retrospective study, analyzing the tumors and outcomes of 323 patients with stage 3 or 4 oropharyngeal cancer. Of these patients, 206 had HPV-positive tumors, and 117 tested negative [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-14T12:18:30-07:00June, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Nashville hygienists partner with Oral Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of a silent killer

Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation Author: Staff Locals join together for second annual Oral Cancer walk and free screening event NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the second year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to promote oral cancer awareness for a disease that affects so many, yet so few know about. Hundreds of Nashville locals gathered for the "Boot Scootin' for Oral Cancer Screening II" event that recently took place at Nashville's Centennial Park to raise disease awareness, and funds for the Non-Profit Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF). The walk was lead by NADHS president Nicki Raines, who encouraged the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term. Her committee worked countless hours to ensure that the event would top last year's successful effort. Nicki's team was able to generate a local buzz for the walk through posters displayed at area Starbucks and Panera Bread stores, and via news releases sent to all local media. Local merchants rallied to support the event. Attendees were treated to coffee donated by Starbucks, water donated by Kroger's, and donuts donated by Krispy Kreme. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart and other Nashville area merchants came together to show their support by donating products for the auction and raffle that took place after the walk. Nashville superstars George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Brooks and Dunn were represented through autographed memorabilia, which brought their fans to the raffle. [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-14T19:59:10-07:00June, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

New oral cancer data could prompt new treatments

Source: The Columbus Disbatch Author: Misti Crane Doctors are focusing increasingly on the role that human papilloma virus plays in oral cancer, and new research is prompting hope that treatments can be better tailored to patients. People with oral cancer have a better chance of surviving if the cancer is linked to HPV, according to a new study led by an Ohio State University researcher. Dr. Maura Gillison and her colleagues found that 82 percent of those with HPV-positive tumors in the back of their mouths survived at least three years, compared with 57percent of those with mouth tumors not tied to HPV. Their study included 323 oropharyngeal cancer patients. HPV, which is spread by sexual contact, is the virus that also causes cervical cancer. It can cause cancer of the mouth through oral sex. The research took into account other risk factors such as tobacco use. It was published online yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study should prompt more studies and advances in treatment, Gillison said. For example, it could be that patients with a better prognosis could have less radiation and suffer fewer side effects, she said. Side effects of treatment include trouble swallowing, dental problems, difficulty speaking and inflexibility in the neck. Gillison also presented new data yesterday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. The data showed a worse outcome for smokers who have HPV-positive cancers than for patients with the same type of cancer who don't smoke. The risk [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-09T10:00:14-07:00June, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

New report compares radiation approaches in head and neck cancer

Source: MedScape Today Author: Nick Mulcahy June 1, 2010 — Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for head and neck cancer leads to fewer cases of xerostomia, but has not yet been proven to be more successful than any other kind of radiation therapy in reducing tumors or improving survival, according to a new comparative-effectiveness review funded by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The review compares the effectiveness of 4 types of radiotherapy (IMRT, 3DCRT, 2DRT, and proton-beam therapy) in terms of tumor control, overall survival, adverse events, and quality-of-life issues. Many scientists consider IMRT to be theoretically better able to target cancerous cells while sparing healthy tissue than either 3DCRT or 2DRT, but more research is needed, the authors of the report point out. The report, entitled Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Radiotherapy Treatments for Head and Neck Cancer, is authored by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's Technology Evaluation Center Evidence-Based Practice Center. The late adverse effect of xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is less common than in the past because the use of IMRT has allowed radiation oncologists to spare most patients' salivary glands from radiation as part of treatment planning, an expert recently told Medscape Oncology. Sparing salivary glands has become standard among clinicians who use IMRT, said Avraham Eisbruch, MD, professor of radiation oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School and Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. Dr. Eisbruch's comments came in the context of his study on the use of IMRT [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-04T16:26:20-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Oral cancer doesn’t silence North Carolina man

Source: The Cherokee Scout Author: Lizz Harold Marble – Switching out one form of tobacco for another, Rick Miller, 44, learned how to quit smoking and dipping the hard way. Miller went to a doctor in March to see if an ulcer inside his mouth could be removed. He expected a round of antibiotics or oral surgery. He figured he would be back to dipping as usual after it was taken care of. “I really didn’t have any symptoms. I got an ulcer underneath my tongue. They thought it was all it was,” Miller said. Miller’s wife, Nicolia, did what most people do when they suspect they have an ailment. She went online and did an Internet search. After doing her own research, she was convinced it was mouth cancer, and Miller decided to see a specialist to see if their suspicions were correct. “Everything happened so fast after that,” Miller said. Informed by the specialist that he had oral cancer, he was immediately set up with a chemotherapy and radiation doctor. The father of four, two who are twin toddlers, had to undergo bouts of chemotherapy – including days where it was pumping into him everyday. From dipping to smoking Eight years ago, he stopped a 21-year smoking habit and began dipping tobacco. After more than 30 years of combined tobacco use, Miller has been forced to give up his addiction. “I gave up smoking and needed something to fill the void,” Miller said. He said he got a [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-06-03T15:55:07-07:00June, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

FDA tobacco chief says to industry: ‘Long way to go’

Source: Associated Press Staff: Michael Felberbaum WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The head of the government's tobacco regulator says the Food and Drug Administration's new power to regulate tobacco is a promising tool to reduce the toll of disease and death caused by tobacco use. "This is an opportunity for me to serve my country by preventing its men, women and children from suffering and dying from tobacco-related diseases," Dr. Lawrence Deyton, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products told attendees Monday at the Tobacco Merchants Association annual meeting in Williamsburg, Va. Deyton, who has held the job for about nine months, said his job is to address the "enormous toll of confusion, suffering and death caused by the current state of tobacco use in this country." "And frankly, we have a long way to go," he said. Deyton said his top priorities include stopping kids from picking up the habit, educating the public and applying standards based on science. While Deyton encouraged an open dialogue with the industry, he acknowledged that some believe regulation as a threat to the tobacco business and will "try and block FDA at every turn in implementing this law." For those who ignore the law, Deyton said, the FDA has multiple options to enforce compliance and the agency will "not hesitate to take these steps when warranted." The FDA's authority granted last June is the main area of discussion at the two-day gathering of tobacco manufacturers, growers and retailers. The agency is tasked with creating [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-05-25T13:27:43-07:00May, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Sexually transmitted virus leads to rise in oral cancer

Source: The Boston Channel Author: Staff Boston cancer specialists are trying to learn what’s behind an “epidemic” spike in oral cancer cases that they say is caused by the human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV. “What you're seeing here is a five-fold increase in the numbers that we would expect,” said Dr. Marshall R. Posner, of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. “So that, to me, is an epidemic.” NewsCenter 5’s Heather Unruh reported Thursday that most adults have been exposed to HPV. Doctors say it can be sexually transmitted, even through deep kissing. What doctors don’t know yet is why in some people, such a common virus develops into cancer. “Most people who get infected with HPV naturally clear the virus,” said DFCI’s Dr. Karen Anderson. Anderson and her team of researchers are trying to isolate who’s at risk for oral cancer from HPV, and why. “Because then,” Anderson said, “we can focus on more aggressive screening approaches for people who are at higher risk and start to look at more therapeutic interventions earlier on.” Posner said that at least 20,000 cases of oropharyngeal cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. Most patients are young. Three in four occur in men. Tony is one face among the statistics. Five days a week he psyches himself up for radiation to treat the cancer that grew at the base of his tongue, where it meets his throat. “What I say,” he said, “is, ‘It is not of me, or a [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-05-14T14:37:01-07:00May, 2010|Oral Cancer News|

Long Island friends honor their dads fight against cancer with inaugural walk on Father’s Day

Source: Long Island Exchange Author: Staff (Hicksville, N.Y.) Serena Ahne and Lisa Leone, of Long Island, are friends whose fathers are both cancer survivors; Fred Ahne, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008 and Fred Leone, who was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2003. Both girls looked for a way to educate others about the diseases from which their fathers suffered and the answer is the first annual Fred K’s Cancer Event, being held on June 20th in Cantiague Park in Hicksville, NY. Serena and Lisa, otherwise known as the Traveling Baseball Babes, due to their avid love of New York sports, will be joined by their fathers, family members, friends and supporters, on Father’s Day, as they walk in honor of their dads and all those who have fought oral and testicular cancer. All funds raised from this inaugural event will go to the Oral Cancer Foundation and the Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation, to help educate others about the importance of prevention and early detection through self-examinations and check-ups. The walk, which will include the two miles of the Cantiague Park’s Fitness Trail in Hicksville, NY, will take place on June 20th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with registration beginning at 8:00 AM. Participants are encouraged to fundraise before the day of the event, by gathering others to sponsor them in the walk, to help Lisa and Serena reach their fundraising goal of $2,000. Approximately 35,000 people in the U.S. will be newly diagnosed with oral [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-05-14T14:36:22-07:00May, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|

Boot scootin’ for oral cancer screening…again!

Source: The Oral Cancer Foundation Author: John Pohl Nashville Hygienists Walk to Promote Oral Cancer Detection For the second straight year, the Nashville Area Dental Hygienists’ Society (NADHS) has organized a successful walk to raise both oral cancer awareness and funding for the Oral Cancer Foundation. Despite grey skies and cold temperatures, the $7,700 raised by “Boot Scootin’ for Oral Cancer Screening II” represented more than a 20% increase over the inaugural event’s results. The walk took place took place the morning of Saturday, March 13 at Nashville’s Centennial Park. Outgoing NADHS president Nicki Raines, who had convinced the organization to embrace the cause of oral cancer detection when she began her two-year presidential term, and her 6-person committee worked countless hours to ensure that the event would top last year’s efforts. Before the walk, participants were treated to three inspiring speakers. Two are oral cancer survivors: Kathi Gill, a Georgia resident who attended but did not speak at the 2009 walk, and ShayLynn Grant, a 24-year-old from Kentucky. The third speaker was Cydney Miller, Mrs. Tennessee International, who is a staunch advocate of early cancer detection. As with last year’s event, Nashville area merchants outdid themselves with their display of southern hospitality. Auction and raffle items donated include bags of groceries from Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, gift cards from Wal-Mart, fine wines from anonymous donors, and autographed memorabilia by such Nashville area superstars as George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Brooks and Dunn (whose “Boot Scoot Boogie” [...]

Charlotte Parker2010-05-09T09:57:11-07:00May, 2010|OCF In The News, Oral Cancer News|