We are excited to bring you a link to great site with information about Oral Cancer!

www.fiendsofhu-friedy.com is a family owned business in the dental industry. This link will take you to the Hu-Friedy Gambling with Oral Cancer Continuing Education Course.

To access the course, you will be required to complete a Free registration. After doing so, you will be able to access the content of this course, other continuing education courses, Hu-Friedy product information and much more.

We have a new Facebook page! The International Oral Cancer Association would like to thank all of our supporters and invite you all to follow us over to our new Facebook page. Be sure to Like our new page and follow our website (www.fightoralcancer.org) to get instant updates about our latest news and events!

Here at the International Oral Cancer Association, our mission is to help people in their fight against oral cancer, and to find other people who are doing the same thing. Today we are very excited to share some information about a wonderful organization, the Cleaning for A Reason Foundation.

This foundation provides “free professional housecleaning, and maid services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for cancer – any type of cancer.” This must be such a relief to women struggling to take care of their families at the same time that they are fighting cancer.

The Cleaning for a Reason Foundation’s website is packed full of information about their organization and how you can help them with their mission. The site also has a section to request cleaning services for a cancer patient. They can’t help everyone, but it can’t hurt to see if they will be able to help you or a friend in your time of need.

If you have an organization or business that provides free services or support for cancer patients please contact us with more information. The International Oral Cancer Association would love to help you make people aware of additional support for cancer patients.

We hope that this information will help some of our readers. Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new website. There have been a few changes, but we hope that you will enjoy the new look and feel of our website.

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that you can find updates from The International Oral Cancer Association on Facebook, Twitter, and our RSS feed.

Thank you for your continued support and we wish you a happy and safe July 4th weekend.

The Dr. OZ show on June 8th 2011 focused on The Rise Of Oral Cancer, who is at Risk from it, and how it is spreading. Check out part 1 of the video below for more information.

Oral Cancer Kills

“Together we fight oral cancer. Together we save a life every hour.”

-Arma Fitzgerald, Founder
One person every hour of every day dies from oral cancer, which is equivalent to over 8,000 people a year in The United States alone. One of the cancers that is on the rise, the death rate percentage for those with oral cancer is greater than that of breast cancer. With over 34,000 cases each year in the U.S., we can only imagine the numbers of international cases that are both diagnosed and undiagnosed in third world countries where healthcare is not readily available.

When compared to other cancers very little has been done to inform the public on how they can avoid the ravages of oral cancer. Oral cancer is caused by use of alcohol, tobacco and exposure to HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) which causes cervical cancer in women. There is not a cure for oral cancer; the key for life saving treatment lies in early detection. The only way to save lives is to get the message out and that is the mission of The International Oral Cancer Association. You can help save lives by your donations. Every dollar donated by you will count to get us closer to our goal, saving lives.

KXAS-TV NBC Channel 5 News ran a segment entitled HPV Leading to Oral Cancer in Young People. This segment has been picked up by over 91 stations and received by over 2.5 million people. Click on the link to learn more or watch the video below.

View more videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com.

No appointment necessary.  First come, first served.

For more information call 214-820-3535.

The American Dental Association has posted two pages on its website highlighting the importance of dentist visits as a method for the early detection of oral cancer.  The pages are broken up into a patient and dentist page featuring information that includes updated oral cancer statistics and for detecting and preventing oral cancer.  Key takeaways are:

• Oral cancer strikes an estimated 34,360 Americans each year.  An estimated 7,550 people (5,180 men and 2,370 women) will die of these cancers in 2007
• On average, only half of those diagnosed with the disease will survive more than five years.
• The best way to prevent oral cancer is to avoid tobacco and alcohol use.
• Regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions.
• Understanding the signs of oral cancer is key to early detection.
• Your dentist has the skills and tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified.

As with any cancer, the key to surviving oral cancer is early detection.  Educating yourself on general awareness and scheduling regular checkups with your dentist are two essential responsibilities you have in the process.

My name is Caprice and my story is about the most amazing, loving, selfless dad that ever walked the earth.

My Dad Paul Joseph SR Letourneau fought this HORRIFIC disease for abt 4 years total. He had bit the side of his tongue and there was a white soar on the side of his tongue that gradually was getting bigger and he was not one to ‘worry’ anyone so he failed to mention it, thinking it was just infected and he could take care of it without anyone knowing….WELL, about 6 months passed and by now it was the size of a quarter and now he was puzzled and worried…SO he went to the doctor and they did a biopsy and came back CANCER ! He fought and did EVERYTHING he was supposed to, all the horrible treatments and large amounts of medication. But he eventually lost his long and painful battle on April 10, 2010 at 9:09 pm with his family by his side. It was so awful to watch the man you love with all your heart slowly and painfully die a little more everyday. SO what I am saying is PLEASE, DO NOT WAIT TO SEE A DR. if you see anything out of the ‘norm’. IT CAN BE PREVENTED and it caused (mainly) by excessive drinking/smoking and there are many other ways of contracting it as well. SO , IT CAN BE PREVENTED AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH OR PUT YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THIS IF YOU STAY ON TOP OF THINGS…..MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU HEALTHY !!!! Always remember that everyday is a blessing and when you asre on top of things (healthwise) you will have many many more years ahead of you and will not have to suffer the worst pain that I have ever witnessed in my life.
Sincerely,

- Caprice Letourneau

Is HPV a cause or a coincidental finding with oral cancer and how can you test for HPV in the mouth?

We find papers and opinions supporting both positions on this controversial subject. It is a widely held belief that HPV is a risk factor at some level with oral cancer; however, there is not clear scientific evidence of the exact connection between the HPV virus and oral cancer. However, most opinions conclude that HPV can cause dysplasia.

So is there an HPV test for saliva that will diagnose the presence of the HPV virus in the mouth?

Yes. It is a DNA -PCR type test which is also used to collaborate abnormal Pap smear results as well as the Capture II tests. The real question is if the HPV test is accurate and is it a true screening exam for HPV’s we see in oral cancer?

Although the DNA-PCR tests in general have proved valuable in medicine, we are waiting and hopeful to see independent results. A proven tool such as this screening test can be helpful to determine which patients are at higher risk while their HPV is active.

HPV Activity or Dormancy in the HPV Test

Now there is the subject of HPV activity or dormancy. We know the viruses are very prevalent in our society and they have periods of activity when they can be detected. It is a commonly held belief the virus can be present but dormant, HPV can also be eliminated. There is an immune component that can effect the virus activity. So timing is an issue, begging the question when do you test? You can be positive and then be negative. How you manage that information with the patient is still being debated.

So is there an HPV test for the mouth? Yes.

Accurate? Most likely, not independently verified as of yet.

Helpful? Depending upon how it is used.

Accurate predictor of susceptibility to oral cancer? Very hard to quantify at this point.

If accurate, and HPV detected in identified susceptible individuals what will you do with this information? Do a more through oral cancer examination, closer recalls, tonsillectomies or use light source screening devices.  All can be viable options.

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Our goal as an oral cancer awareness organization is to present unbiased information. In tandem, we desire to provide awareness and only offer conclusive evidence by disseminating information from independent and qualified sources. That is our goal.

Like most it is information that you as the doctor use in your best judgment because you are the best to decide what is best for your patients.