Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death. Cancer is caused by both external factors (tobacco, chemicals, radiation, and infectious organisms) and internal factors (inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that occur from metabolism).
Oral Cancer is now the fifth most common cancer in the world, it kills about one-third of those diagnosed with it. Close to 40,000 Americans 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. And over 25% of oral cancers occur in people who don't smoke or have other lifestyle risk factors.
Now that we've got your attention — there's hope.
Trouble Spots—Oral Lesions
Are there any red or white spots you haven't noticed before? Maybe you've taken a wait-and-see approach to a small sore you found last week. Any unexplained swelling? Discoloration that doesn't hurt a lick?
Most oral lesions, as we call them, are harmless. A piece of crusty French bread with dinner can scratch delicate tissues. But if you use tobacco and alcohol, have or have had HPV, or are being treated for any number of systemic diseases — diabetes, autoimmune disorders among them — that harmless irritation is a red flag. During your dental appointment, we'll take a closer look. When we find a lesion, suspicious or not, we intend to err on the cautious side.
In our office we use Velscope for early detection of oral cancer. Here is how it works: We use a special light to examine the inside of your mouth for abnormalities that could lead to cancer. Healthy tissue in the oral cavity will be greenish in color, while abnormal sites will be dark, usually in the black shade. If we find a suspicious area we will have you follow up witha a specialist to confirm the nature of the formation and the diagnosis.
Early detection can lead to life-saving treatment. Please take care of yourself and don't forget to request an oral cancer screenign at your next visit in our office!
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References: Internet Dental Alliance, http://oralcancerfoundation.org, http://www.cancer.org
Showing posts with label tumors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tumors. Show all posts
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
A Berry Good Proposition: Black Raspberries May Fight Oral Cancer
Greetings from Dr. Pasch, Dr. Yam, Dr. Shirzadnia and Dr. Song!
In the mood for something sweet? Consider a handful of black raspberries. Researchers at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital have shown that black raspberries may not only help prevent colon and esophageal cancer, but help battle oral cancer as well. Lab tests show that this delicious fruit reduced tumors in the mouth by up to 44%. Unfortunately, there are a couple of problems...
First off, black raspberries are very difficult to come by in your regular grocery story, even when in season. Having access to them year-round could be quite a task. Second, studies show you would have to eat about 4 whole cups a day to enjoy the full health benefits. Very few of us actually eat the recommended 5 servings a day of fruit. Finding the time, and stomach, to eat 4 cups of raspberries could be difficult, no matter how delicious they are.
Fortunately, scientists are working on a solution: lozenges. They hope that concentrating the cancer-fighting chemicals in black raspberries into more manageable lozenges will prove to be as successful in the fight against oral cancer as eating the whole fruit (though nutritionists will tell you the whole fruit is always better for you). If researchers find that certain genes respond to the berry extract in them, it could someday mean a simple new way to fight cancer. They would also be available year-round.
It should be noted that fruit is part of a healthy diet, and therefore good for your teeth. Highly acidic fruits, like lemons, can actually harm tooth enamel, however, so try to rinse your mouth out with warm water or brush your teeth after you eat them. Also, stay away from high-sugar snacks, like candy and soda (and yes, even black raspberry cobbler).
If you have any questions about dental health, please don't hesitate to call our office at 212-689-0024 or email us at appts@newyorkdenturedental.com today.
Best Regards,
Dr. Pasch, Dr. Yam, Dr. Shirzadnia and Dr. Song
P.S. If you have any friends or family members who you feel could use our services, please don't hesitate to have them call us. We'll be sure to take good care of them!
In the mood for something sweet? Consider a handful of black raspberries. Researchers at Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital have shown that black raspberries may not only help prevent colon and esophageal cancer, but help battle oral cancer as well. Lab tests show that this delicious fruit reduced tumors in the mouth by up to 44%. Unfortunately, there are a couple of problems...
First off, black raspberries are very difficult to come by in your regular grocery story, even when in season. Having access to them year-round could be quite a task. Second, studies show you would have to eat about 4 whole cups a day to enjoy the full health benefits. Very few of us actually eat the recommended 5 servings a day of fruit. Finding the time, and stomach, to eat 4 cups of raspberries could be difficult, no matter how delicious they are.
Fortunately, scientists are working on a solution: lozenges. They hope that concentrating the cancer-fighting chemicals in black raspberries into more manageable lozenges will prove to be as successful in the fight against oral cancer as eating the whole fruit (though nutritionists will tell you the whole fruit is always better for you). If researchers find that certain genes respond to the berry extract in them, it could someday mean a simple new way to fight cancer. They would also be available year-round.
It should be noted that fruit is part of a healthy diet, and therefore good for your teeth. Highly acidic fruits, like lemons, can actually harm tooth enamel, however, so try to rinse your mouth out with warm water or brush your teeth after you eat them. Also, stay away from high-sugar snacks, like candy and soda (and yes, even black raspberry cobbler).
If you have any questions about dental health, please don't hesitate to call our office at 212-689-0024 or email us at appts@newyorkdenturedental.com today.
Best Regards,
Dr. Pasch, Dr. Yam, Dr. Shirzadnia and Dr. Song
P.S. If you have any friends or family members who you feel could use our services, please don't hesitate to have them call us. We'll be sure to take good care of them!
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