Oral Cancer Survivors
According to MD Anderson, a leading cancer treatment hospital,
Thanks to earlier detection, improved treatments and the supportive care of family and friends, there are now more than 10 million cancer survivors in the United States. One out of every six people over 65 is a cancer survivor, and 1.4 million were diagnosed more than 20 years ago.
Some survivors may live with cancer as a chronic disease requiring periodic treatments, while others may go into long-term remission. Many will lead normal lives with few side effects, if any. In fact, two-thirds of survivors report that cancer has not had a significant long-term impact on their lives.
Early detection is the best way to survive cancer. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
Oral cancer survival rates have increased approximately 15 percent from the mid 1960s until the latest (2004) National Cancer Institute Survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.
The more awareness that is raised regarding the concerns of oral cancer, the higher the likelihood of early detection. Encourage your friends and your family to incorporate regular oral cancer screenings in their dental checkups.
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Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.
Explaining Head and Neck Cancer
Often times when we think of oral cancer we will automatically focus on cancer of the mouth. However, to understand oral cancer more thoroughly, you must understand head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer describes where the cancer originates.
MD Anderson provides the following list on the areas that head and neck cancers usually occur:
- Oral cavity (mouth, lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, tonsils and mouth floor)
- Salivary glands
- Nasal cavity / paranasal sinuses / nasopharynx
- Throat / pharynx
- Larynx / voice box
If you begin to experience a lump or sore in any of these areas that is not healing, a sore throat that will not go away, trouble swallowing or a change in your voice or hoarseness, you should visit your physician immediately.
Consistent Alcohol Consumption Can Lead to Oral Cancer
According to an article by the American Association of Cancer Research, in 2001 “approximately 30,000 individuals developed cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx” in the United States. Since that time the numbers have greatly increased due to HPV’s increase and other high-risk habits still being practiced.
Along with the use of tobacco products, alcohol use is another leading cause of oral cancer. The use of tobacco and alcohol together create an even higher risk of cancer. In fact the Nursing Times posted an article that states that approximately “three quarters of oral cancers are thought to be caused by smoking and drinking alcohol.”
The American Cancer Society published an article recently describing the affects of alcohol consumption on the risk of cancer. It has become clear over the years that excess alcohol consumption or even simply consistent consumption will increase the risk of cancer, and even more so, the risk of oral cancer.
The American Cancer Society states: “Oral cancers are six times more common in alcohol users than in non-alcohol users. About 75% to 80% of all patients with oral cancer consume alcohol frequently. Smokers who also drink are at much higher risk.” Generally, it has been found that men who have two drinks a day and women who have one drink a day show an increased risk of cancer. Decreasing your intake of alcohol will also decrease your risk of cancer.
If you have a habit of having an alcoholic drink on a daily basis, you may want to consider lowering your consumption in order to lower your risk of cancer. If in addition you use tobacco products, consider working towards eliminating tobacco altogether. These two factors could have long-term effects on your health. The risk is not worth it.
Tobacco Use: A leading cause of oral cancer
Oral cancer kills one person every day. The large number of oral cancer cases is highly attributed to the use of tobacco, including smoking, snuffing and chewing tobacco. Tobacco has long-been known as a leading cause of oral cancer. According to the MD Anderson, “34,000 people are diagnosed with cancers of the mouth and oropharynx in the United States each year.” Although this number is great in itself, the rates are much higher internationally. Hungary and France have some of the highest number of oral cancer cases due to Tobacco. India ranks in the top as well due to Tobacco and Areca Nut and Betel Nut chewing. Oral cancer cases are three times higher in Asia than they are in the United States. All numbers of oral cancer cases do not take into consideration the number of cancers that go undiagnosed in 3rd world countries and impoverished areas, where hygiene, dental care and medical assistance is not readily available or non-existent.
Oral cancer is one of the causes of tobacco use, but in addition, the American Cancer Society asserts that tobacco is “linked to 15 different cancers, and accounts for 30% of all cancer deaths.” Most commonly cancer is found on the “floor of the mouth and the lips. It can also be in the gums, teeth, salivary glands, the lining of the lips and cheeks, the roof of the mouth and behind the wisdom teeth.”
Even with the statistics stacked against tobacco use, one in five Americans are still using tobacco products.
Below are some common symptoms that MD Anderson offers. Early detection is important, thus if you have any of the below treatment, a doctor’s visit is suggested in order to determine the cause of the abnormal area.
- A white area or spot in the oral cavity.
- A red, raised area or spot that bleeds if scraped.
- A spot with both red and white areas.
- Sore in the mouth or throat that doesn’t heal
- Loose teeth
- Lump or thickening in the neck, face, jaw, cheek, tongue or gums
- Difficulty swallowing or the sensation that something is caught in the throat
- Earache or sore throat that does not go away
- Dentures that cause discomfort or do not fit well
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue or jaw
- Persistent bad breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Change in voice
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are still using tobacco, there are tobacco treatment programs available. Continued use of tobacco products could “affect cell growth, cell death and tumor density, hindering the effectiveness of treatment.”
“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.” – Fight Oral Cancer Foundation
Oral Cancer: Too Deadly to Ignore
According to CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, survival rates for patients with oral cancer are among the lowest of major cancers. Only one-half the number of persons diagnosed with oral cancer are alive five years after the diagnosis. In contrast to other cancers (e.g. breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers) the overall U.S. survival rate from oral and pharyngeal cancer has not improved during the past 16 years. Survival rates for oral cancer in minorities have decreased. To read more visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Look for signs of oral cancer and do not ignore them or you have ignored your own life.
“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.” – The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation
HPV, Other Risk Factors Tied to Oral Cancer: New Web Site Offers Awareness, Early Detection Information
The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation (FOCF) has launched website to increase public awareness of oral cancer.
According to The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation (FOCF), oral cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, with the latest medical research linking it to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Other risk factors include alcohol and tobacco use, male gender, 40-plus years of age and sun exposure. Many studies report a 30-fold increased risk among individuals who smoke or drink heavily.
With 35,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year, only 59 percent are expected to survive longer than 5 years.
Included in the staggering amount of people affected by oral cancer are well-known celebrities such as Rod Stewart, Aaron Spelling, Diane Von Furstenburg and Peter Tork, drummer for the 1960s hit band, The Monkees.
Despite the deadly nature of this disease, the American public remains generally unaware of the risk factors and the critical importance of early detection.
“Today, one person, every hour of every day dies from oral cancer,” says Arma Shahidi-Fitzgerald, FOCF founder and president. Fitzgerald explains that awareness, research and funding are the keys to increasing survival rates.
Fitzgerald, who was crowned Mrs. International 2009 earlier this month, was inspired to launch the foundation after losing a dear friend to the disease.
“She was diagnosed too late to be treated,” Fitzgerald explains. “What made this loss more painful was that early detection could have saved her life.”
As a result, Fitzgerald is centering her life’s work on oral cancer prevention and education. Fitzgerald believes the new web site is a “step on a lifelong journey.”
Fitzgerald has also begun speaking at public events and is working on relationship-building with the American Cancer Society and other cancer awareness and support organizations.
In addition to learning more about the foundation and disease, the Web site also allows viewers to donate to the foundation, offers suggestions on how to get involved with the cause and includes an interactive blog with the latest news on oral cancer.
HPV Linked to Oral Cancer
The human papillomavirus, also known as HPV, comes in many forms. It has been found that HPV-16 is in fact a leading cause of oral cancer. Recently, a study at John Hopkins Oncology Center reiterated already strong findings of a link between HPV and oral cancer.
In 25% of 253 patients diagnosed with head and neck cancers, the tissue taken from tumors was HPV positive and HPV-16 was present in 90% of these positive HPV tissues. This information helps to confirm that there is a strong link between HPV-16 and oral cancer.
How Is It Contracted?
In the past, the largest cause of oral cancer was smoking. However, with the increase in smoking education and the decrease in the number of people who smoke, there has been a reduction in reported head and neck cancers. However, throat cancer rates have remained steady. Why is that? Studies reveal that HPV can be transferred through oral sex. In recent generations oral sex has become a more commonly practiced sexual act and more widely accepted among the younger population. However, with oral sex being practiced, the risk for contacting HPV, leading to oral cancer also increases.
MD Anderson released a 2007 publication stating,
“A link between throat cancer, oral sex and the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) has prompted researchers to encourage vaccination of boys with the HPV virus if ongoing studies deem it safe and effective in preventing viral infection…”
HPV is a disease that can “hide.” Although it can be removed and may no longer be visible, if provoked by stress or another aggrevator, it can reappear. In the same way, HPVs can be in existence for a long time and yet remain dormant. Thus, a person can be at risk for oral cancer and not be aware.
The Fight Against Oral Cancer
Recently, founder, Arma Shahidi-Fitzgerald, was awarded the title of “Mrs. International”. This title has brought with it greater exposure to the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation. We as the Foundation are looking forward to continuing to strategically raise awareness and funding for research that will aid in finding new ways for early detection of oral cancer.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation,
Over 34,000 people will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 34,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in 5 years. This is a number which has not significantly improved in decades. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).
One of the most significant concerns regarding oral cancer is that most often it is not detected in the early stages. Thus, by the time it is detected, it has already spread to other parts of the body. This is one of the key reasons why the Fight Oral Cancer Foundation is so passionate about raising awareness.
Clearly, there is still work to be done. Thank you each for being a part of spreading the message and making a difference as together, we fight oral cancer.
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