Absolutely we have an excellent opportunity to SIGNIFICANTLY reduce SCC oral cancer mortality.
I do not however, believe we will have a great deal of success eliminating sexual activity, alcohol consumption, or unfortunately all tobbacco use.
And I understand that Tobbacco is the leading cause agent for a very high percentage of Oral cancer. What doesn't make sense are the numbers: We know that the longer you are in contact with tobbacco products, the greater the odds of this disease. We can assume that it is a matter of contact between cells of tissue and the carcinogens in the tobbacco. Why then do we see the disease in people whom had modest contact with tobbaco, And many more people with no disease and heavy contact with tobbacco? I understand that the risk increases with higher use but I don't believe it is increasing in the correct proportion to the cell contact rate.
I did a fair amount of reading on the subject of alcohol and once again interesting quirks in the reaserch. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that alcohol is an agent, but a lot of people drink and do not get cancer. Another study using mouthwash (which often has more alcohol than wine) showed no increase in cancer.
I am not really trying to spend a lot of time debating things that of no significance here but to me the circumstances that cause this cancer leave me with a desire to dig deeper. I wonder if the "Life Choices" issue causes "experts" to stop thinking outside the box? Maybe it is some other agent together with the alcohol? Just as two years ago hardly no one would have believed an
HPV link and certainly no one would believe 25 to 50 percent! (incidently, evidence supports that
HPV is able to invade easier if the person drinks and/or uses tobbaco) When I said we barely KNOW what causes this, I meant; I do not think we know all the possible combinations of events and agents that might cause the first cell mutation and I believe it is an activists duty to ask the questions that require outside the box thinking.
Yes, I have unresolved guilt that my lifestyle caused my cancer. Using the phrase "lifestyle choices" brings me very close to the anger I have previously professed to not have. It is a slap in the face kind of expression. My lifestyle choices are a whole lot better than some, and there are people here that are better than me. I smoked very little but I did smoke. I drink some, but I deny being in denial about how much. I have been alive on the planet so I probably have come in contact with
HPV.
What I really want is a perfect cure for this damn disease and that is a long way off! We truly, barely know how to cure it. If we understood EXACTLY what caused it perhaps a more effective prevention program could be effected....
5% of 40,000 is still 2000 and they deserve to know more.
