Oral Cancer Survival Rates
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with any form of cancer, the question of survival rate often comes up. A survival rate is something that is not absolute, but is mainly a gathering of statistics based on the results of past patients with the same types and progression of cancer upon diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Cancer survival rates or survival statistics tell you the percentage of people who survive a certain type of cancer for a specific amount of time.” The survival rate uses a 5-year scope, meaning that after 5-years it will tell you the percentage of patients that are living.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, “60% of those with oral cancer survive over 5 years.” Since 1965 the survival rate has been increasing, due to more awareness and earlier detection. Below is a table that was provided by NIDCR regarding trends in survival based on race, gender, and race.
Be a Life Saver
Ever since we began The Fight Oral Cancer Foundation in 2008 with the slogan “Be a Life Saver”, we’ve been dedicated to giving towards the cause of fighting oral cancer.
Every dollar counts when it comes to saving a life.
Your donations* will go toward:
Educational pamphlet to be distributed at schools, hospitals, health fairs and public libraries locally and nationwide.- Provide dental care and dental hygiene educational programs for children.
- Hold free oral cancer screenings locally and nationwide.
- Sponsor speakers to raise awareness and promote screening.
- Fund oral cancer research.
*95% of all donations go toward the foundation’s cause and only 5% is used to cover administrative expenses.
Join others as together we fight oral cancer. Click here to donate.
Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.
Oral Cancer Screening: Reviewing the New Technologies
There are many technologies that boast of the ability to detect pre-cancer conditions for oral cancer. These oral cancer screening technologies look for abnormal cells that when detected will allow the physician to be able to more precisely locate risk areas and do a more thorough assessment. However, the question arises: “Do these technologies truly live up to their claims?”
The research in the article Oral Precancer and Early Cancer Detection- A Review of Technologies by Jerry E. Bouquot, DDS, MSD, Patricia Suarez, DDS, MS and Nadarajah Vigneswaran, BDS, DMD3 provides an overview and summary of the technologies that are out there, determining if they are what they claim to be.
In reviewing oral cancer screening, the procedures that are covered are:
- The Brush Biopsy
- Toluidine Blue – in Vivo Staining of DnA in the Dental Office
- The ViziLite – Highlighting the Keratin
- Oral Autofluorescence – When the Mucosa doesn’t glow
In conclusion on their oral cancer screening technology review they had this to say:
“Our intention is not to recommend one of these technologies over another, but the future looks most bright for the optical autofluorescence technology (pardon our pun), combined with either a biopsy, brush biopsy or LBC. All devices have limitations and the published research is sparse, but until other methods are developed, such as the use of molecular markers in salivary proteomics or genomics, it is heartening to know that relatively acceptable in-office devices are already available and can be used as adjunctive diagnostic tools. Refinements and continued research will undoubtedly improve our ability to detect, at the earliest possible stage, dysplastic changes in our patients, and new technologies may emerge quickly which will prove much more valuable. Until then, it is refreshing to be practicing dentistry during a time of such exciting emerging technologies attempting to address one of the most frustrating and serious of our oral diagnostic dilemmas.”
Click here for the complete article on oral cancer screenings technologies.
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Photo Credit: Oral Cancer
SIBLING Proteins and Oral Cancer Treatment
Recently Science Daily posted an article entitled: SIBLING Proteins May Predict Oral Cancer. This article is interesting as it offers greater hope in the advancement of oral cancer treatment. A SIBLING stands for Small Integrin-Binding Ligand N-linked Glycoproteins.
“Several years ago we discovered that three SIBLINGs — osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and dentin sialophosphoprotein — were expressed at significantly high levels in oral cancers,” said Dr. Kalu Ogbureke, an oral and maxillofacial pathologist in the MCG School of Dentistry. “Following that discovery, we began to research the potential role of SIBLINGs in oral lesions before they become invasive cancers.”
Up to this point it’s been so difficult to determine which cells were precancerous that early oral cancer treatment has been difficult. With the research on SIBLING proteins, there is hope for better results for treatment.
Dr. Ogbureke’s next step is to design a multi-center study that incorporates oral cancer risk factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, to further investigate their relationship with SIBLING protein expression.
Does Mouthwash Increase the Risk of Oral Cancer?
A risk simply means that there is an increased risk to a disease, but does not mean that it is a cause of a disease. For instance, if a substance produces a weakening in the body’s natural ability to fight disease, than it would be termed a risk factor. Mouthwash has been promoted for years as a way to improve the health of the mouth. However, with the high amounts of alcohol in many mouthwashes, there has been substantive evidence that has raised the concerns of researchers regarding the safety of mouthwash. There have been studies that have shown that mouthwash could increase the chances of oral cancer.
The ethanol in mouthwash is thought to allow cancer-causing substances to permeate the lining of the mouth more easily and cause harm.
Acetaldehyde, a toxic by-product of alcohol that may accumulate in the oral cavity when swished around the mouth, is also believed to be carcinogenic.
Some mouthwash contains as much as 26 percent alcohol.
The University of Maryland reveals,
Some studies have shown that mouthwash with alcohol content increases the risk for oral cancer. In addition, other studies have shown that smokers and people who drink alcohol tend to use mouthwash more often, linking all three factors together.
The American Cancer Society mentions the concerns toward mouthwash being a risk factor for oral cancer. However, they state that the concerns are uncertain, unproven and controversial, albeit worthy of mention.
Some studies have suggested that mouthwash with high alcohol content might be linked to a higher risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancers. But recent research has questioned these results. Studying this possible link is complicated by the fact that smokers and frequent drinkers (who are already at increased risk of these cancers) are more likely to use mouthwash than people who neither smoke nor drink.
Whether or not mouthwash is a cause of oral cancer, is certainly being debated as there are controversial opinions on the matter. However, if a risk factor means that the guards that could protect a patient from acquiring oral cancer are reduced than the risks for oral cancer are certainly in question. The Australian Dental Association has the question on their radar as well. They sum up the controversy nicely with the below:
“The most significant difference (between alcohol and alcohol-containing mouthwash) is that one is for pleasure and the other is being recommended as a health product.”
Cancer Council NSW chief executive Andrew Penman said the review was “interesting”, but called for further research.
“I think it’s quite a well-thought-out proposition, but it does warrant further investigation,” he said.
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Photo Credit: Telegraph
Oral Cancer Research: Oral Cancer Patients Needed
A fundamental requirement for the fight against oral cancer and finding a cure is effective research. Baylor Hospital of Dallas is committed to the fight and is currently recruiting oral cancer patients to participate in a clinical study.
About the Study
The purpose of the study is to determine if a saliva test will provide an opportunity for earlier detection of cancer cells in those that are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
Involvement of Participant
The involvement for the participant will be a one-time saliva collection. The collection will be in the morning before the patient eats, drinks or brushes his or her teeth.
Compensation: $30 (in cash) for their time and effort.
Process:
- Travel to the school
- Take a water mouth rinse
- Fill out consent form
- Participant will spit into a test tube that will be placed on ice.
- School will collect 8 ml saliva within 30 minutes of that time.
Eligible Patients
Baylor is looking for a couple of specific patients for this study. Below are some of the requirements that were posted on their website:
We need two types of oral cancer patients:
- Those who have been diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma and have not yet started treatment.
- Those who were diagnosed earlier with this oral cancer, completed treatment at least two years ago, and have had no recurrence since then.
The oral cancer patient has to be a person who has not smoked at all within one calendar year prior to the study
We need two types of lichen planus patients:
- Those who currently have active lichen planus lesions in the mouth.
- Those who have the asymptomatic reticular type of oral lichen planus, or who do not have oral lesions.
The lichen planus patient has to be a non-smoker (defined here as a person who has smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in his/her lifetime, and has not smoked at all within one calendar year prior to the study).
In addition, all patients must:
- Have no previous history of bone marrow transplants or kidney transplants.
- Have no history of hepatitis C, lupus erythematosus, or Sjőgren’s syndrome.
- Have no history of other previous malignancies.
- Have no history of radiation therapy in the head and neck area.
- Have not used any corticosteroid or immunosuppressant, for any reason, for at least 1 week prior to participation in the study.
- Be a person who drinks fewer than 14 servings of alcoholic beverages per week (one serving is counted as the equivalent of 50 ml of win, 330 ml of beer, or 30 ml of hard liquor).
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For more information on the clinical study, please visit the Baylor Hospital website.
