By Debra Z. Sabatini, RDH, BS, BA

Click here for original article.

The Foundation of Young People Against Cancer Ecuador is a non-profit organization based in Quito-Ecuador. The Foundation’s mission is to help young people who suffer cancer to be able to access to important health programs, proper care and additional information, and activities that improve their lives and self-esteem while they are living with cancer.

Location: Quito – Ecuador

Date: May 4-8, 2012

Free registration is available at their website:

http://www.jovenescontraelcancer.org/

Information About the Conference

FORMS OF TREATMENT, THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, FAMILY, SOCIAL AND ATTITUDES ARE DIFFERENT IN EACH COUNTRY
In February 2010, the Youth People Foundation Against Cancer organized the 1st. International Meeting for Young People with
Cancer and Survivors, bringing together 112 soldiers from 12 countries and 3 continents. The foundation has become an important contribution to national and international community and visit different countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay and Peru.

OBJECTIVES:
Develop a statement which young people with cancer of the World present their proposals to the treatments, priorities, rights
and public health policies.

SHARING STRATEGIES, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE THAT EVERY ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY FOR THE INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH PEOPLE IN TREATMENT.

TO WHO:

• Men and Women
• Youth between 17 and 30 years of age diagnosed with cancer and survivors.

FREE REGISTRATION
www.jovenescontraelcancer.org

• The costs of accommodation, food and transportation in Ecuador will be covered for the Foundation.
• Requires pre-fill the registration form.

POLICY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS:

• It will be considerate the economic situation of the each young people. It will be a priority to young people from developing countries and the commitment to the sponsoring organization.
• Scholarships are limited to 25%, 50% and 75% of airline ticket

Apply immediately

JUSTIFICATION OF THE CONVENTION

1. The lack of infrastructure and information directed to young people with cancer which affects the knowledge and increasing abandonment of treatment.
2. The discrimination which affects so many young people in various aspects such as: economic, social, medical and psychological, limiting a good quality of life.
3. The lack of palliative care, debts and psychological support to caregivers are real concerns in advanced stages.
4. The Self-esteem of young people tends to fall in response to side effects of treatments (hair loss, weakness, isolation, nausea, etc.)
5. The economic dependence of young people, between 14 and 21 years of age, because normally they do not work and study and consequently do not have their own income.
6. Amputations and transplants affect them physically, financially, emotionally and socially.
7. The lack of psycho-oncologists, pediatric oncologists, surgeons and other specialists in the area of children and adolescents, is a vital necessity.

BENEFITS FOR YOUTH ATTENDING THE CONVENTION

1. To develop leadership skills, encourage social networking among young participants.
2. Create, share, tips, themes and projections to jointly tackle the disease as rituals for warriors, photography workshops, gladiators of hope, ambassadors of joy and other ongoing projects.
3. Better manage the side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, treatment and survival.
4. Tend to make society aware of the problem of cancer in young people, respect and provide opportunities to study, work and develop normally.
5. Encourage public authorities and institutions dedicated to youth to truly support projects for young people with cancer.

METHODOLOGY OF THE CONVENTION

• Young people will be organized in groups classified by diagnosis: Leukemia, ALL, AML, sarcoma, lymphoma, brain, osteosarcoma and other.
• Each group will issue a document with the main recommendations of their disease.
• There will be activities and workshops for groups and in general as dynamics, movies, forums, outings and lectures.

We wanted to share the great news with our readers that there is a Free Cancer Screening coming up in Dallas!

Free Oral Cancer Screening in Dallas

This “Head & Neck Check” is Saturday, April 28, from 8:30AM until 11AM. It takes place at the New Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas. The address is 3410 Worth Street, Suite 250 in Dallas, Texas 75246.

This screening opportunity does not require an appointment, and you can reach the facility by taking the DART Green Line to the Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas stop.

You can find more information about this event by visiting BaylorHealthcare.com/DallasCancer.

We hope that everyone interested in an Oral Cancer Screening can make it out. Take care of yourself or your loved ones in need and get checked out now!

With Oral Cancer Awareness month just around the corner, we wanted to post a link to a great article about the importance of early intervention in Oral Cancer Prevention and treatment. According to an article by Debra Z. Sabatini, RDH, BS, BA, “We can decrease the mortality and morbidity rate of oral cancer by investing our time and expertise in early intervention.” You can read her full article Early intervention a key in oral cancer prevention here.

We encourage you to take the coming month to educate those around you, and share the importance of Oral Cancer Awareness!

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.

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.

Detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) in oral mucosa of women with cervical lesions and their relation to oral sex practices. Should we start testing partners?

Source: 7thspace.com
Authors: Luis Sanchez-Vargas et al

Previous studies have either investigated the relationship of HPV with oral cancer or the prevalence of HPV on the oral cavity. The purpose of this investigation was to study the prevalence of HPV in oral cavity of women with oral sex practices and cervical lesions.
Methods:

Forty six (46) non-smokers and non-alcoholic patients attended the “Clinica de Displasias”of “Ciudad Juarez”were sampled. This population had a CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) diagnosis sometime between the previous six months. On previous consent they filled out a questionnaire related to their oral sex practices. Afterwards one swab from cheeks and another from palate/gum were taken; PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to determine generic HPV, HPV16 and HPV18.
Results:

Seventy two percent (72%) of the patients stated to have oral sex practices regularly which all of them were positive to HPV either in oral mucus, palate/gum or both. The total of the given results showed that 35% had HPV16; among those distributed in 26% with regular oral sex practices and 9% stated as never practiced oral sex.
An association was found between oral HPV16 positivity and progression to CIN advanced lesions. On the other hand HPV18 was not detected. The frequency of HPV16 was higher in buccal mucosa (23%) versus palate/gum (16%).
Conclusions:

This study suggests that buccal HPV16 infection is associated with CIN progression.
Source: Infectious Agents and Cancer 2010, 5:25
Authors: Luis Sanchez-Vargas, Cecilia Diaz-Hernandez, Alejandro Martinez-Martinez

It’s always eye-opening when you come across the stories of those that have survived oral cancer and their battle against it. There is no one like a survivor that understands the “real deal”. Recently, we ran across an article of a chef that survived.  The article made a true assertion: we have to be our own advocates. It is up to the individual to really push the professional to look for oral cancer. Oral cancer is not easily diagnosed, so it should be monitored by the individual and second, third and even fourth opinions are worth the effort.

See below for a clip of the article discussing the type of oral cancer test that did not work for him and what he suggests for the reader. You can find the full article here.

The hardest part for Achatz is how easily the spot could have been identified as cancerous had doctors administered something called a “brush test.” “If even one of my dentists had used this simple test, my whole ordeal could have been avoided,” he writes. He urges anyone who sees or feels a spot on his or her tongue to see a dentist who uses the brush test, which tests the cells beneath the spot to see whether it is precancerous.

As always…

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

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) reported recently that African Americans are at the highest risk for contracting oral cancer. In an effort to raise awareness and provide helpful information regarding risk factors, they have put together the below informative video. Please watch and feel free to offer any comments you might have.