Don - some of this is not right, and you have to consider what is a KNOWN and proven direct cause, and what is suspected, and what is just urban myth or an old wives tale. You would be surprised at the incorrect information that is on pretty good and reputable web sites. As soon as a site starts making unsubstantiated claims (" Dr. Jonathan Stillwell ( this is the world authority?) and (their site) remains the world's premiere provider of cancer information.") I have a problem with it. Who say cancer answers is the world's premiere provider of information? Typical jargon for someone that has something to sell.

Also this paragraph cut from their site has numbers that are at least 10 years old : Each year in the United States there are about 20,000 new cases of mouth cancer leading to 4,000 deaths annually from this disease. Men are affected twice as often as women. Overall, mouth cancer represents about 3% of all new cancers each year, and it is more common in blacks than whites, and in those of "lower socioeconomic status" (poor people). The average patient is 60 years old.

There is no definitive proof that irritation or trauma causes oral cancer, though it is often cited (poorly fitted dentures which I wrote a really long post on how this is misinterpreted a couple years ago), ditto poor hygiene. Truth be told, the data that exists on that has so much bias in it you wonder how it got published. People with poor hygiene have numerous other issues related to their lifestyle which were not eliminated from the equation. Pre-cancers like leukoplakia are not a CAUSE of oral cancer, they re an intermediate cellular change that is visible in the mouth. Only about 25% of cells in white lesions like these ever progress to dysplasia and cancer. For that matter only 25% of all dysplasias ever progress treated or not. Infections in oral cancers are not tied to each other except in viral infections that being HPV. We don't speak to quid, betel nut, etc. since in the US their use is unknown - though they are known causes of oral cancer in third world countries. So you really have to distinguish what is a cause and what is a facilitator, and what is conjecture without strong documentation.

Lastly related to your link. That is a site that is in the business of selling information and more. I would stick to sites that are non commercial like the NCI, CDC, NIH etc. if I wanted to be sure that the information was current and correct.

David - oncogenic HPV is a known and proven cause of what cancers besides oral and cervical?

Last edited by Brian Hill; 08-22-2008 02:51 PM.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.