| | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 | I just attended to a symposium about developments in the early detection of head and neck cancer. It was exciting to learn about new research that holds promise for early detection of head and neck cancer using simple testing. The newly developed tests will be able to find cancer by simply testing the saliva. �biomarkers� which are biologic factors found within a tumor. It is hopeful that these tests will be available in the near future as they can be life saving. More details about this topic can be found in my Blog. Itzhak Brook MD http://dribrook.blogspot.com/ | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Wow- that would be wonderful - any early detection would save many many lives! I will read your blog - keep us posted.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 | Salivary diagnostics, has been something that OCF has been the funder of research in going back to 2003. David Wong, a personal friend and researcher at Harvard and then UCLA, who is a proteomics and genomic specialist, has been in the forefront of this idea, has had huge $ support for NIH and NIDCR. In the news section of the OCF site you can do a search for Wong or salivary diagnostics, and over the last 7 years see all the (many) stories that have been done about this promising new idea and emerging science.
The killer thing about this is that while oral cancer was the proof of concept disease in the idea, David has now found that he can find the predecessor RNA and protein markers for things that you would not think would be in saliva. Breast cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer to name a few. This is definitely the future. Most people do not even realize that we all have a individual proteome just has we have our own unique genome. Mapping those markers is now the task since the idea has principle proven.
But you just have to think about where saliva comes from to get the connection. Saliva starts its life as blood serum ( which is rich with all these markers). Problem is you can't find these small things like proteins in blood because there is too much other detritus in it, (cells etc). But once filtered through the parotid glands it is just the serum, and there enzymes are added to it, and then presto chango it is shot into your mouth as the stuff of play ground jokes and drool.... saliva.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Brian - This is so awesome to know of David Wong's research and the benefits that go beyond oral cancer to help so many others! I'm going to bring this up with my dentist. I'm not sure if I am remembering correctly, but when I was posting with OCF from 2006 and on, it seems I signed up for this and would automatically get the RSS feeds but since the changeover to the new improved OCF site, does one just go to OCF news site as suggested above for the latest in cancer news? I'd like to be sure of how to get the news feeds before I recommend it to my dentist and others. Thanks for keeping us so informed!
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 | When you go here http://oralcancerfoundation.org/news/index.asp it tell you how to subscribe, but lots of people once the go to the news site list, just drag that to their tool bar.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | I just did it! Thanks! 
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 95 | Even though the new research holds promise for early detection of primary or recurrent oral cancer there is no substitute to careful medical follow up. Also any new findings such as swelling and pain that do not recede should be evaluated by a medical professional.
I Brook MD | | |
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