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Oral cancer - Early Detection Test Now Available

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It is estimated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)[1] that 12,770 people (three times more men than women) will be diagnosed with tongue cancer, and that about 2000 of them will die of their disease. About 8% of those afflicted are under the age of 45. 40% are over the age of 65.

The tongue is not the only organ in the mouth - just the most visible. 40% of oral cancers are found in the tongue; the lips and floor of the mouth account for another 35%.[2] It is estimated that 40,250 people (again three times more men than women) will be diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and throat, and that about 7800 of them will die of their disease. The lips and the floor of the mouth are the next most frequent sites of disease.

oralcancer1Lifetime risk is about one in 100 - about the same incidence as autism. The incidence is increasing, with an 11% jump in 2007 alone.[3]

Three main causes of oral cancer are "smokeless" tobacco (snuff or chew), alcohol, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), presumably acquired through oral sexual intercourse. Non-smoking patients under the age of 50 are the fastest growing segment of the population in which oral cancer is diagnosed. Most of these cancers are found by dentists during the course of routine examination.

The NCI website states: "There is no standard or routine screening test for oral cancer."[4]

Over half of oral cancers have already spread to the lymph nodes by the time they are seen and diagnosed. If found early, the 5 year survival is 80-90%. With spread to the lymph nodes, 5 year survival decreases to 45%.[5]

Any non-healing sore in the mouth or on the lips should prompt a visit to your dentist for examination. Your physician can also examine your mouth and tongue, but your dentist has the better tools to examine the entire oral cavity.

Screening tests have been developed. One commercially available test involves rinsing the mouth with a blue dye, then illuminating the oral cavity with a special light.[6] The following images were downloaded from the website of the company which makes the device.[7]

oralcancer2

oralcancer3

Another test involves using salivary markers both for diagnosis and for survival estimates.[9,10] This test is also now available commercially[11] It is based on good research published in the peer-reviewed literature, although it has not yet been validated by multiple studies.

At the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine we use every modality available to us to provide truly integrative care for our patients with cancer.

Nutrition is crucial - a low carbohydrate low animal protein diet appears to be the most successful for patients with a diagnosis of cancer.

Supplementation of vital nutrients - we measure those nutrients (vitamins, mineral, fatty acids) and replace those which are functionally deficient in the individual patient. We don't just look at population based numbers because everyone has different needs, and requires different amounts of the nutrients, based on their genetics. We use both oral and intravenous supplements to fill in the big nutritional potholes and provide the body with what it needs to heal.

Chemo- and Botanical Sensitivity Testing to determine which drugs, supplements, botanicals and other therapies have the best kill rate of circulating tumor cells - those cells which are responsible for metastasis of the tumor (distant spread) and which will eventually lead to the patient's death.

Integrative cancer treatments - using botanicals, supplements and specific nutrients which have been shown to be helpful both in prevention and in treatment of cancer.

Bioenergetic modalities - to help pinpoint and treat the root cause of the cancer, whether it be physical or emotional toxin, so that any blocks to healing may be removed, and true healing may occur.

Insulin potentiation therapy - chemotherapy at low dose, potentiated by insulin, to destroy the cancer cells without destroying the immune system, the intestinal tract, the blood, the hair... We choose drugs based not only on standard therapy, but also on the results of specific chemosensitivity testing of circulating tumor cells.


[1] http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/tongue.html downloaded 11-19-12 [2] http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/screening.htm downloaded 11-19-12 [3] http://oralcancerfoundation.org/ downloaded 11-19-12 [4] http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/oral/Patient/page3 downloaded 11-19-12

Three main causes of oral cancer are "smokeless" tobacco (snuff or chew), alcohol, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), presumably acquired through oral sexual intercourse. Non-smoking patients under the age of 50 are the fastest growing segment of the population in which oral cancer is diagnosed. Most of these cancers are found by dentists during the course of routine examination.

The NCI website states: "There is no standard or routine screening test for oral cancer."[4]

Over half of oral cancers have already spread to the lymph nodes by the time they are seen and diagnosed. If found early, the 5 year survival is 80-90%. With spread to the lymph nodes, 5 year survival decreases to 45%.[5]

Any non-healing sore in the mouth or on the lips should prompt a visit to your dentist for examination. Your physician can also examine your mouth and tongue, but your dentist has the better tools to examine the entire oral cavity.

Screening tests have been developed. One commercially available test involves rinsing the mouth with a blue dye, then illuminating the oral cavity with a special light.[6] The following images were downloaded from the website of the company which makes the device.[7]

oralcancer2

oralcancer3

Another test involves using salivary markers both for diagnosis and for survival estimates.[9,10] This test is also now available commercially[11] It is based on good research published in the peer-reviewed literature, although it has not yet been validated by multiple studies.

At the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine we use every modality available to us to provide truly integrative care for our patients with cancer.

Nutrition is crucial - a low carbohydrate low animal protein diet appears to be the most successful for patients with a diagnosis of cancer.

Supplementation of vital nutrients - we measure those nutrients (vitamins, mineral, fatty acids) and replace those which are functionally deficient in the individual patient. We don't just look at population based numbers because everyone has different needs, and requires different amounts of the nutrients, based on their genetics. We use both oral and intravenous supplements to fill in the big nutritional potholes and provide the body with what it needs to heal.

Chemo- and Botanical Sensitivity Testing to determine which drugs, supplements, botanicals and other therapies have the best kill rate of circulating tumor cells - those cells which are responsible for metastasis of the tumor (distant spread) and which will eventually lead to the patient's death.

Integrative cancer treatments - using botanicals, supplements and specific nutrients which have been shown to be helpful both in prevention and in treatment of cancer.

Bioenergetic modalities - to help pinpoint and treat the root cause of the cancer, whether it be physical or emotional toxin, so that any blocks to healing may be removed, and true healing may occur.

Insulin potentiation therapy - chemotherapy at low dose, potentiated by insulin, to destroy the cancer cells without destroying the immune system, the intestinal tract, the blood, the hair... We choose drugs based not only on standard therapy, but also on the results of specific chemosensitivity testing of circulating tumor cells.


[1] http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/tongue.html downloaded 11-19-12 [2] http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/screening.htm downloaded 11-19-12 [3] http://oralcancerfoundation.org/ downloaded 11-19-12

Over half of oral cancers have already spread to the lymph nodes by the time they are seen and diagnosed. If found early, the 5 year survival is 80-90%. With spread to the lymph nodes, 5 year survival decreases to 45%.[5]

Any non-healing sore in the mouth or on the lips should prompt a visit to your dentist for examination. Your physician can also examine your mouth and tongue, but your dentist has the better tools to examine the entire oral cavity.

Screening tests have been developed. One commercially available test involves rinsing the mouth with a blue dye, then illuminating the oral cavity with a special light.[6] The following images were downloaded from the website of the company which makes the device.[7]

oralcancer2

oralcancer3

Another test involves using salivary markers both for diagnosis and for survival estimates.[9,10] This test is also now available commercially[11] It is based on good research published in the peer-reviewed literature, although it has not yet been validated by multiple studies.

At the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine we use every modality available to us to provide truly integrative care for our patients with cancer.

Nutrition is crucial - a low carbohydrate low animal protein diet appears to be the most successful for patients with a diagnosis of cancer.

Supplementation of vital nutrients - we measure those nutrients (vitamins, mineral, fatty acids) and replace those which are functionally deficient in the individual patient. We don't just look at population based numbers because everyone has different needs, and requires different amounts of the nutrients, based on their genetics. We use both oral and intravenous supplements to fill in the big nutritional potholes and provide the body with what it needs to heal.

Chemo- and Botanical Sensitivity Testing to determine which drugs, supplements, botanicals and other therapies have the best kill rate of circulating tumor cells - those cells which are responsible for metastasis of the tumor (distant spread) and which will eventually lead to the patient's death.

Integrative cancer treatments - using botanicals, supplements and specific nutrients which have been shown to be helpful both in prevention and in treatment of cancer.

Bioenergetic modalities - to help pinpoint and treat the root cause of the cancer, whether it be physical or emotional toxin, so that any blocks to healing may be removed, and true healing may occur.

Insulin potentiation therapy - chemotherapy at low dose, potentiated by insulin, to destroy the cancer cells without destroying the immune system, the intestinal tract, the blood, the hair... We choose drugs based not only on standard therapy, but also on the results of specific chemosensitivity testing of circulating tumor cells.


[1] http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/tongue.html downloaded 11-19-12 [2] http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/screening.htm downloaded 11-19-12

Any non-healing sore in the mouth or on the lips should prompt a visit to your dentist for examination. Your physician can also examine your mouth and tongue, but your dentist has the better tools to examine the entire oral cavity.

Screening tests have been developed. One commercially available test involves rinsing the mouth with a blue dye, then illuminating the oral cavity with a special light.[6] The following images were downloaded from the website of the company which makes the device.[7]

oralcancer2

oralcancer3

Another test involves using salivary markers both for diagnosis and for survival estimates.[9,10] This test is also now available commercially[11] It is based on good research published in the peer-reviewed literature, although it has not yet been validated by multiple studies.

At the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine we use every modality available to us to provide truly integrative care for our patients with cancer.

Nutrition is crucial - a low carbohydrate low animal protein diet appears to be the most successful for patients with a diagnosis of cancer.

Supplementation of vital nutrients - we measure those nutrients (vitamins, mineral, fatty acids) and replace those which are functionally deficient in the individual patient. We don't just look at population based numbers because everyone has different needs, and requires different amounts of the nutrients, based on their genetics. We use both oral and intravenous supplements to fill in the big nutritional potholes and provide the body with what it needs to heal.

Chemo- and Botanical Sensitivity Testing to determine which drugs, supplements, botanicals and other therapies have the best kill rate of circulating tumor cells - those cells which are responsible for metastasis of the tumor (distant spread) and which will eventually lead to the patient's death.

Integrative cancer treatments - using botanicals, supplements and specific nutrients which have been shown to be helpful both in prevention and in treatment of cancer.

Bioenergetic modalities - to help pinpoint and treat the root cause of the cancer, whether it be physical or emotional toxin, so that any blocks to healing may be removed, and true healing may occur.

Insulin potentiation therapy - chemotherapy at low dose, potentiated by insulin, to destroy the cancer cells without destroying the immune system, the intestinal tract, the blood, the hair... We choose drugs based not only on standard therapy, but also on the results of specific chemosensitivity testing of circulating tumor cells.


[1] http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/tongue.html downloaded 11-19-12

oralcancer2

oralcancer3

Another test involves using salivary markers both for diagnosis and for survival estimates.[9,10] This test is also now available commercially[11] It is based on good research published in the peer-reviewed literature, although it has not yet been validated by multiple studies.

At the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine we use every modality available to us to provide truly integrative care for our patients with cancer.

Nutrition is crucial - a low carbohydrate low animal protein diet appears to be the most successful for patients with a diagnosis of cancer.

Supplementation of vital nutrients - we measure those nutrients (vitamins, mineral, fatty acids) and replace those which are functionally deficient in the individual patient. We don't just look at population based numbers because everyone has different needs, and requires different amounts of the nutrients, based on their genetics. We use both oral and intravenous supplements to fill in the big nutritional potholes and provide the body with what it needs to heal.

Chemo- and Botanical Sensitivity Testing to determine which drugs, supplements, botanicals and other therapies have the best kill rate of circulating tumor cells - those cells which are responsible for metastasis of the tumor (distant spread) and which will eventually lead to the patient's death.

Integrative cancer treatments - using botanicals, supplements and specific nutrients which have been shown to be helpful both in prevention and in treatment of cancer.

Bioenergetic modalities - to help pinpoint and treat the root cause of the cancer, whether it be physical or emotional toxin, so that any blocks to healing may be removed, and true healing may occur.

Insulin potentiation therapy - chemotherapy at low dose, potentiated by insulin, to destroy the cancer cells without destroying the immune system, the intestinal tract, the blood, the hair... We choose drugs based not only on standard therapy, but also on the results of specific chemosensitivity testing of circulating tumor cells.

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