Oral Cancer

Question: What color ribbon do they use for oral cancer? I need the awareness ribbon for oral cancer. Can someone tell me what color it is, or include a picture if you can. I just found out my dad has oral cancer :(

Answer: I am so sorry to hear about your fathers diagnoses. I hope he can recover. And I am so glad to hear you are trying to raise awareness!! I wish you and your father nothing but the best! I couldn't find anything on ribbons, they my not make a certain one for that type of cancer yet....I did find that they have oral cancer pins and bracelet's. http://www.spohnc.org/order/order.htm#Pins Here is another pin site that you can actually have them personalize it, maybe with your fathers name? http://www.personalizedcause.com/shop/collections/personalized/detail/p_redwhite.html

Question: How often do you have to chew tobacco in order to oral cancer? I started chewing and dipping tobacco at 18. I am 22 now and I have finished maybe 5-7 tins within the 4 years. I prefer Skoal Long Cut dip and Red Man chew. I wouldn't say I am addicted because I can obviously go months without it. What are the odds of oral cancer and how much use would it take in order to get it?

Answer: that depends entirely on your own individual propensity to develop oral cancer. I have cared for those who only used tobacco once or twice and developed oral cancer as a result, and then there are those that use for years before developing it. You are playing a game of russian roullette, suggest you give it up since you don't need it.

Question: How big should an oral cancer get in order for it to be rendered incurable.? About 7 years ago I noticed a very tiny hard painless growth in my mouth below the gum, it was like a small grin of sand, now it's diameter is like half a centimeter. Do you think it's too late to get it cured? Is it possible for it to have spread all over my head because I sense I am losing my hair (I'm 24) Supposing the hair loss was caused by the cancer will I grow my hair back if the cancer is cured? How is oral cancer treated? What is the cost involved?

Answer: You've had this "lump" for 7 years? I'd bet a million dollars it isn't even the slightest bit cancerous. Cancers within the oral cavity progress much more, and more quickly, than what you describe. I would discuss it with your dentist or hygienist before running to an ENT.

Question: how long does it usually take to get oral cancer using smokeless tobacco? I was wondering because ive been doing it for about 7 months and Im really worried after watching a video on it can someone please help me out im freaking right now. I want to know the average length of time that it usually takes to get oral cancer.

Answer: Not everyone that chews gets cancer so the average doesn’t matter and it is not something that is kept track of. Freaking out doesn’t change anything. What’s done is done. There is nothing you can do about it. Change what you do have control over and stop chewing.

Question: is it rare to get oral cancer if you have never used tobacco or smoked? Just wondering about that. i think i have a canker sore but i am a worry wart and just wondering about oral cancer.

Answer: My brother in law died at the age of 36; 2 years after he was diagnosed with oral cancer. His mother died around the same age. He'd never smoked a day in his life. I'm not sure about his mother.

Question: Is the risk of getting oral cancer greater for dip users or cigar smokers? I'm just wondering, because I know that both are bad for oral cancer. Me and my friend got into an argument about this haha. I think it is worse for dip users, but he doesn't. So who is at a greater risk?

Answer: The risk for oral cancer is worse for someone who dips versus someone who smokes cigars.

Question: how do i tell if my cat has oral cancer? she's only 2 years old, our cats have a history of it. she's red right above her teeth.. all around.. i'm afraid it's going to be the real deal. am i overreacting? does it sound like it might be early stages of cancer? also, can oral cancer be transferred from cat to cat just by eating the same food?

Answer: The only person who can tell you this is your veterinarian. You need to take her to the vet. It sounds like she might have gum disease or gingivitis, both of which need to be treated by your vet. No, cancer can't be `transferred' from cat to cat.

Question: How did my dad get oral cancer if he never smoked? I recently found out my dad has oral cancer, but he never even smoked so how did he get this? He did smoke, didnt do any type of drug, didnt drink. I just dont understand it. Also I need a really good picture of the oral cancer awareness ribbon if someone could give me that I'd really appreciate it

Answer: unfortunately, cancer isnt something thats always caused by smoking, drinking, drugs, exposure to pollution, etc. i'm a guitar teacher, and as such i get to know a lot of young people and sort of become an older friend / big brother figure to a lot of them. its one of the greatest aspects of my job. 3 weeks ago i was shocked and upset almost to the point of tears when i found out that one of my longest running students (a boy who's 14, but i've known him since he was 10) has thyroid cancer. he's just a kid, and he's been handling it so well it makes me wonder how i'd handle it if it were me. this is a kid who's never had a cigarette, never had a beer, never been exposed to the things that are usually associated with the risk of getting cancer. he's doing really well though, and it doesnt look like he'll need chemo therapy. all we can do is give our love and support and tell them that they can beat cancer. i wish your dad well, and here's the site for support on this stuff. http://www.spohnc.org/ also, and just another thing you can do to help out.... theres an organization called "Locks of Love" that makes wigs for kids that go through chemotherapy. every year for the last ten years i'd grow my hair to the middle of my back and cut off about 10 inches (up to my shoulders) to donate. this year, i decided to cut off ALL my hair (its really short now) and i donated 18 inches. i'm sure this hair will go to some little kid (a girl i'd bet) who just wants to have hair like all the other kids. when you grow out your hair, or if you're getting it cut, by all means, do the little bit extra and share it with someone who'd appreciate what we take for granted.

Question: If I chew tobacco once a month, will i have a high chance of getting a type of oral cancer? I chewed for my first time today and i actually liked it. I don't want to get addicted though so i only want to do it maybe once a month at the most. Will this give me oral cancer?

Answer: Number one, you just like it once a month now but you WILL get addicted -that's what tobacco does best, addict people! And then, yes, it very definitely causes oral cancer. Why take the chance. You really don't want to see what oral cancer does to your mouth. P.S. If you think what the girls say about smoking is bad, you ought to hear what they say about kissing a mouth that chews. Ugh!

Question: Is smoking once every month or less still give you really bad oral cancer? I don't inhale smoke. I only keep it in my mouth for a sec. Can I still get really bad oral cancer though? I only will smoke maybe once every other week. I smoke a pipe. Not bad cigars or cigarettes. Nor am I addicted.

Answer: although you are not nearly as likely to get cancer as a pack a day smoker you are still raising your chances just by being around it. Many people get cancer from second hand smoke. You may not realize it but you are probably inhaling some smoke.

Question: Does alcohol containing mouth wash cause oral cancer? Health researchers have said that drinking alcohol increases your risk of oral cancer, especially when combined with tobacco. Listerine and many other mouth washes contain over 20% alcohol (40+ proof), so they're pretty potent. Does mouth wash expose your mouth to cancer causing alcohol, just like a shot of hard liquor morning and night?

Answer: Here's an article I found on the subject - I'll also send the link. Sounds, in a nutshell, like there's no solid evidence of a link. The main risk factor is tobacco, and alcohol dries the mucous membranes, making them more vulnerable to the carcinogens in tobacco. I think I'll dilute my Listerine half and half with water, though - just to be safe. . . Diane (I'll edit this if I find anything new) www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show=article&page=8_1820.htm Risk Factors Mouth Rinses: Ethyl alcohol is added to mouth rinses as a solvent for other ingredients and as a preservative. In 1985, Mashberg et al. found that cancer was not statistically associated with mouthwash use in alcohol or tobacco users.20 Currently, there is insufficient clinical evidence to suggest a relationship between ethyl alcohol found in mouth rinses and oral cancer.21 Cigarette Smoking: The primary risk factor for oral cancer is the use of tobacco in all forms. Approximately 75% of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers are attributed to the use of smoked and smokeless tobacco, and the rate increases with the amount smoked or chewed and the duration of use. There are roughly 44.5 million (21%) adult smokers and 3.75 million (22%) high school student smokers in the U.S. Smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancer. Cigarettes are the predominant form of tobacco used; however, other forms of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipes, are also used. Those who smoke filtered cigarettes and those who quit smoking are at a substantially lower risk of oral cancer than are users of other forms of tobacco and current smokers.5,6 Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemical agents, including more than 60 carcinogens (e.g., carbon monoxide, tar, arsenic, lead).7 Nicotine is primarily responsible for addiction to smoking. Pipe smokers have an especially high risk for lip cancer because of the static contact of the pipe stem with the lower lip. Cigar smokers who inhale deeply are six times more likely to develop and die from oral cancer. The same carcinogens found in cigarette smoke are also found in pipe and cigar smoke. Smokeless Tobacco (Chewing Tobacco): Smokeless tobacco products include chewing tobacco and sucked (moist oral) tobacco. Oral cancer risks are much lower from smokeless tobacco use than from cigarette smoking, and no synergistic effect between smokeless tobacco use and cigarette smoking among males has been found.8,9 The buccal (cheek) mucosa, gums, and inner soft tissue surface of the lips are common sites of cancer in those who use smokeless tobacco. Most types of smokeless tobacco contain tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which are the culprits for oral cancer. In addition to tobacco use, the use of chewing products such as betel nuts, paan, chaalia, gutka (a mixture of betel nuts and chewing tobacco), naswar, and areca increases the risk for oral cancer. These products are socially acceptable in Southeast Asia, the South Pacific Islands, and India. Although chewers of betel nuts generally spit out the juices, they swallow some juice, which enters the bloodstream. Arecoline, an alkaloid found in betel nuts, remains in the organs.10 Chewers of betel nuts who also smoke and drink are 195 times more likely to develop cancer of the esophagus than are those who do not. Marijuana: Marijuana use may interact with mutagen sensitivity and other risk factors to increase the risk of head and neck cancer.11 The carcinogenic properties of marijuana smoke are similar to those of tobacco. Alcohol Abuse: All forms of alcohol have been linked to oropharyngeal cancer. Compared to heavy tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption is less of an independent risk factor but is an increased synergistic risk factor when combined with heavy tobacco use. There are many different criteria for heavy drinking, but the consensus definition is more than four drinks per day.12,13 Alcohol use may be a stronger risk factor for cancer of the oral cavity than for cancer of the larynx and pharynx. Alcohol is a weaker risk factor for laryngeal cancer than is cigarette smoking; however, cancer of the oral cavity has an increased incidence among those who smoke and abuse alcohol.14 The incidence of oral cancer may remain high several years after alcohol cessation.15 The exact mechanism of action of alcohol's carcinogenicity has not been determined; however, it may be related to the carcinogenic effect of acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol.16,17 Another study suggested that p15-gene methylation can be induced by chronic smoking and drinking and may have a role in the early stages of head and neck cancer.18 Age: The majority of oral cancers are seen in patients older than 40, with an average age of diagnosis of about 63 years. More than 90% of oral cancers occur in patients older than 45, and the incidence steadily increases until age 65, when the rates stabilize. Gender: Men have twice the risk of oral cancer as women, and men older than 50 are at the greatest risk. The yearly incidence of oral cancer is much greater for males (15.7 per 100,000) than for females (6.0 per 100,000).19 In females, the incidence is relatively high in southern Asia (8.3 per 100,000).1 Ultraviolet Light: Excessive exposure to solar radiation (sunlight) is associated with an increased incidence of lip cancer. Specifically, ultraviolet B radiation causes sunburns and is the form of UV radiation responsible for lip and skin cancer. Irritation: Although it has been suggested that chronic irritation to the lining of the mouth from poorly fitting or defective complete dentures may be a risk factor for oral cancer, the majority of studies have shown no correlation.22 Human Papillomavirus Infection: Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with increased incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Viruses cause proto-oncogenes to become oncogenic, which can cause altered expression of their products and lead to cancer.10 The genotypes of HPV most commonly found in oral carcinoma are HPV 16 and 18; however, HPV can be detected in normal oral tissue. Thus, linking viruses to oral cancer is still in question, and more research is needed before a definitive association can be established. Poor Nutrition: There may be an association between the consumption of fruit and vegetables and a reduced risk of oral cancer, but it is still controversial.

Question: Does mouthwash with alcohol really cause oral cancer? I've heard mouthwash with alcohol is linked to oral cancer, but I love the ACT Restoring mouthwash I'm using.

Answer: Don't walk outside. Sunlight, exhaust fumes, etc, etc will give you cancer. Don't drink out of water bottles, because they'll give you cancer. Don't wash your mouth out with mouthwash, it will give you cancer. Don't spray your house with febreze, it will give you cancer. Don't char your food on the barbeque, it will give you cancer. Don't use/drink/eat Dove Beauty Bar, Johnson's baby shampoo, Crest tartar control toothpaste, talcum powder, Cover Girl Replenishing Natural Finish Make Up (foundation), Tide & Cheer Laundry Detergent, Lysol Disinfectant, Oscar Meyer beef hot dogs, Whole milk, or even carpets, for these all contain carcinogens. I quit worrying about the minimal amount of carcinogens in things before I even started, because the list is getting a little ridiculous. I mean, what doesn't give you cancer these days?

Question: Will one can of dip give me any type of oral cancer? I was wondering if I did one can of dip would I get any type of oral cancer because I bought a can of dip to try it and I have but I don't know if I should finish it because I don't want to get cancer. Please give me a straight answer to this.

Answer: I dont think so, but its addictive and eventually it will.

Question: could this be oral cancer or just a canker sore? I am a 20 year old male who does not smoke but does drink OCCASIONALLY and I say that in Caps because I only drink about once a week. I have a small whitish bump on the inside of my cheek and it hurts like heck. Its about the size of a pea and Im concerned but at the same time I feel like I might be overreacting. Is this bump related to oral cancer or is it just a canker sore?

Answer: In a similiar situation, my dentist recommended waiting a week to 10 days. If it didn't clear up, then he suggested I have it looked at by a doctor. Odds are pretty good that it is a canker sore if it just popped up; then I would get some over the counter medication and gargle with warm salt water every hour or so for several days. If it doesn't clear up or it has been there a while, then you should definitely make an appointment to have it looked at.

Question: how do i get an oral cancer screening without making my parents suspicious of me using oral cancer? i quit oral cancer 2 months ago after using it for 7 to 8 months becuase of fear of cancer and now i really freak out whenever i get a sore or something in my mouth. how do i get screened for oral cancer without my parents finding out or being suspicious of me using chewing tobacco? using tobacco*

Answer: Most dentists screen for oral cancer as a routine part of their exam. Tell them that you want a dental check up becuase you are afraid you have a cavity, or that you want to get your teeth cleaned and polished so you need a dental exam first. If you have any sort of dental insurance you should be able to get a dental exam and exrays and the whole nine yards INCLUDING the oral cancer part of the exam. Just tell them you think you need a dental appointment.

Question: How much does it cost to have an oral cancer screening done during a dental visit? I read about a test where they can screen for abnormal cells, like in a PAP smear. It seems like a good idea, since HPV is so common, and so is oral sex. Has anyone had this done? How much does it cost?

Answer: the cost is usually around $75. They use a special liquid and light to view any suspicious areas. It's good to get even if you don't smoke. Cheap compared to treatment or death