Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Real Reason to Kick the Habit

Smoking, they say, is the leading cause of lung cancer world-wide.  A recent study shows that, in the United States alone, 157,200 people have died of smoking-related lung cancer.  Some of which are caused directly by smoking, and some due to second hand smoke.  However the effect of smoking does not only stop at lung cancer.

Smoking and cancer

Statistics show that smoking attributes to 54% of mouth cancers, 50% of esophageal cancers, and 70% of cancer of the larynx.  And also, in relation to men and women’s sexual health, smoking increases risks of cervical cancer by 19 to 80% depending on the frequency of consumption, and it also increases risks of penile cancer by 50%.

These numbers certainly prove that smokers are at a bigger likelihood to develop a lot of different kinds of cancers as compared to non-smokers.  Male smokers have a 20% increased chances of developing lung cancer while women have a 13% increased risk.

Tobacco smoke is composed of four thousand different harmful substances, chemicals, and toxins.  Sixty out of those four thousand chemicals are known to cause cancer.  These cancer causing toxins are mainly found in tar that smokers inhale from a cigarette.  About 70% of that tar stays inside the lungs. Studies have shown that benzpyrene, one of the carcinogens found in tar, damages and slowly destroys genes responsible for fighting cancer causing cells and subsequently prevent development of cancerous tumors.  In almost 60% of smoking-induced cancers, these genes were seen to be damaged.

Oral or throat cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer may involve the lips, mouth, tongue, gums, salivary glands, esophagus, larynx, thyroid glands, and/or the cells lining the throat.  Its earliest symptom may be a pale lump inside the mouth that will not seem to heal.  An estimated 7,000 Americans die of oropharyngeal cancer yearly.  Smoking may cause cancer development in the mouth alone, on the throat alone, or a combination of both.  Symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer may include the following:

o A sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal or increases in size.

o Persistent pain in your mouth.

o Lumps or white, red or dark patches inside your mouth.

o Thickening of your cheek.

o Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue.

o Difficulty moving your jaw, or swelling or pain in your jaw.

o Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in your throat.

o Pain around your teeth, or loosening of your teeth.

o Numbness of your tongue or elsewhere in your mouth.

o Bad breath.

o A swelling or lump in the throat.

o A persistent cough.

o Blood-flecked phlegm.

o The sensation of something permanently stuck in the throat.

o Voice changes, such as persistent hoarseness or huskiness.

o Throat pain.

o Referred pain into the ears.

o Swallowing difficulties.

o Breathing difficulties.

o Swollen lymph glands.

o Gastrointestinal disorders, such as excessive reflux, diarrhea or constipation.

Treatment

Treatment of oropharyngeal cancer will depend on the size, type, and location of the cancer and whether it has already spread.  It may include one or a combination of the following:

o Surgery.  This includes surgical removal of the tumor and its affected organs.  The amount of tissue to be removed may depend on the size of the tumor and the mass it has already affected.

o Radiation therapy.  This includes exposing the cancer causing cells to small, precise doses of radiation.

o Chemotherapy.  It involves the use of cancer cell-killing medications that is used in conjunction to radiation therapy.

o Long term monitoring.  This may include regular examinations and x-rays to check that the cancer has not come back.

o Rehabilitation therapy.  This includes assistance from health professionals such as dietitians, speech therapists, and physiotherapists to regain motor functions of the affected areas.

The best way to avoid getting yourself into this situation is to avoid smoking.  It is understandable that this will be difficult to do if you’re a chain smoker.  Cutting back on cigarette consumption may help to gradually get you into the path to being smoke free.  All it takes in enough will power and discipline to keep yourself healthy and cancer-free.

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Smoking and Cancer

Most people think that they know the real connections between smoking and diseases. They immediately think of lung cancer and may even know someone that has died from this terrible disease, due to their smoking. But in truth, the connection between smoking and cancer is much more detailed than this, and involves many more parts of the body than just the lungs. Every part of the boddy is affected by smoking.

What Parts of the Body Are Affected

For example, did you know that smoking and cancer of the uterus is related? As is cancer of the entire male reproductive system as well. Many cases in either men’s or women’s reproductive systems are traced back to smoking.

Smoking and cancer of the mouth and throat are an obvious choice, but there is also the strong possibility of contracting of the tongue as well. Have you ever known someone that needed to have their entire tongue, or parts of it, removed because of cancer? It’s not a pretty sight, that’s for sure.

There is also a connection between this addiction and cancer of the kidneys, larynx, head, neck, breast (in both men and women), and liver. As a matter of fact, there is a connection between smoking and just about type of cancer one can be afflicted with.The blood, which should be delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients to the parts of the body, is now acting as a courier for terrible poison.

Why the Connection?

Just why is it that there is such a strong connection between smoking and cancer of just about every part of the body? The answer is very simple. The toxins in cigarettes are contained in the nicotine, and nicotine is absorbed very quickly and easily in the bloodstream. The blood of course reaches every pore and every cell of your body, and because of this, those toxins are carried to every part of the body as well. The blood, which should be delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients to these parts of the body, is now acting as a courier for this terrible poison. In this way, there is a connection between them of virtually every part of the body.

Other Concerns

Of course, anyone looking to quit smoking probably knows that there is more to be worried about than cancer . This habit is connected to early onset of Alzheimer’s, virtually every disease of the lungs and respiratory system including bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma, and is suspected of causing birth defects in children of women who smoke.If you’re looking to quit smoking, there is virtually no reason for you to not follow through on this resolution. Help is available, and you owe it to yourself to get just that.

For more information how to stop smoking with Chantix from Brian Welsch check www.chantixsite.com

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Is Smoking And Cancer Connected?

Most people think that they know the real connections between smoking and diseases. They immediately think of lung cancer and may even know someone that has died from this terrible disease, due to their smoking. But in truth, the connection between smoking and cancer is much more detailed than this, and involves many more parts of the body than just the lungs. Every part of the boddy is affected by smoking.

What Parts of the Body Are Affected

For example, did you know that smoking and cancer of the uterus is related? As is cancer of the entire male reproductive system as well. Many cases in either men’s or women’s reproductive systems are traced back to smoking.

Smoking and cancer of the mouth and throat are an obvious choice, but there is also the strong possibility of contracting of the tongue as well. Have you ever known someone that needed to have their entire tongue, or parts of it, removed because of cancer? It’s not a pretty sight, that’s for sure.

There is also a connection between this addiction and cancer of the kidneys, larynx, head, neck, breast (in both men and women), and liver. As a matter of fact, there is a connection between smoking and just about type of cancer one can be afflicted with.The blood, which should be delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients to the parts of the body, is now acting as a courier for terrible poison.

Why the Connection?

Just why is it that there is such a strong connection between smoking and cancer of just about every part of the body? The answer is very simple. The toxins in cigarettes are contained in the nicotine, and nicotine is absorbed very quickly and easily in the bloodstream. The blood of course reaches every pore and every cell of your body, and because of this, those toxins are carried to every part of the body as well. The blood, which should be delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients to these parts of the body, is now acting as a courier for this terrible poison. In this way, there is a connection between them of virtually every part of the body.

Other Concerns

Of course, anyone looking to quit smoking probably knows that there is more to be worried about than cancer . This habit is connected to early onset of Alzheimer’s, virtually every disease of the lungs and respiratory system including bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma, and is suspected of causing birth defects in children of women who smoke.If you’re looking to quit smoking, there is virtually no reason for you to not follow through on this resolution. Help is available, and you owe it to yourself to get just that.

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Cancer Causing Agents: Tobacco & Nicotine

Smoking is the single biggest cause of cancer in the world, and accounts for one in four cancer deaths in the States. Smoking is known to cause around eighty percent of lung cancer around the world. The 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse has shown that about 62 million people in the United States above 12 years or below 29 percent of the population are current cigarette smokers. So, this makes nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco, one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the United States. Within the United States, tobacco use was responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths or an estimated 438,000 premature deaths per year from 1997 to 2001 & thus, smoking kills five times more people than road accidents, overdoses, murder, suicides and HIV all put together.

Nicotine: Many people believe that nicotine causes cancer but the fact is that it only leads to addiction. Whenever a person inhales cigarette smoke, the nicotine present in the smoke is rapidly absorbed into the blood and its affect on the brain is shown within 7 seconds. In the brain, nicotine activates the same reward system as do other drug abuse such as cocaine or amphetamine, but to a lesser extent. Nicotine acts on this reward system and is believed to be responsible for drug-induced feelings of pleasure and, over time, nicotine addiction. It also increases alertness and enhances mental performance. Studies indicate that nicotine by itself may not be harmful. But, when it is combined with other harmful substances such as areca nut, cancer causing catechu substitutes like gambier & magnesium carbonate, it may show damaging effects.

Apart from nicotine, cigarette smoke contains around 4,000 different compounds, many of which may cause cancer. In fact tobacco smoke contains about 70 different carcinogens or cancer-causing substances. When you inhale smoke, these chemicals enter your lungs and spread around the rest of your body. Scientists have shown that these chemicals are mutagenic & can damage DNA and change expression of various genes which may lead to cancer by making your cells proliferate and multiply uncontrollably. No wonder, smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and is also associated with the increased risk for cancer of the mouth, nasal cavities (nose), larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia.

Oral tobacco products contain 28 known cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). Chewing tobacco is a known cause of oral cancer & according to Women’s Health in South East Asia (WHOSEA), almost one-half of all cancer cases in men and one-quarter of all cancer cases in women in India are believed to be tobacco-related.

Not all smokers get cancer: Years of research has proven that smoking causes cancer but this doesn’t mean that all smokers will definitely get cancer or that all non-smokers won’t. It means that smoking greatly increases the risk of cancer & Smokers are, on average, much more likely to get cancer than non-smokers.

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Nine Major Warning Signals Of Cancer

1. Persistent cough, blood in sputum

For persistent cough, blood in sputum of recent origin in a middle-aged person, suspect cancer of the lungs (bronchogenic carcinoma). Another equally important cause is lung tubercu losis which should be suspected irrespective of age.

2. Unusual hoarseness

Unusually hoarse voice that does not completely respond to usual medical treatment may be a signal of some growth in the larynx which may be either benign (papilloma) or malig nant. However, tuberculosis of the larynx is another important cause of hoarseness and it is usually secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis which may remain unrecognized, i.e., the symptoms of laryngeal tuberculosis may precede the symptoms of lung tuberculosis. Under any circumstances, immediate services of an ENT specialist must be availed of for laryngos copy / precise diagnosis since laryngeal tuberculosis and carcinoma may simulate each other, both in signs and symptoms, and a delay in diagnosis may prove distressing.

3. Persistent indigestion

For persistent indigestion (dyspepsia) of a vague type (i.e. when the pain in abdomen has no relation to meals as in peptic ulcer discussed at serial 5), loss of appetite, loss of weight in a middle-aged person, suspect carcinoma of the stomach. It is generally between 3-6 months after the onset of symptoms that the patient seeks medical advice.

4. Difficulty in swallowing

For progressive difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) in a middle-aged person, suspect carcinoma of the oesophagus (food-pipe). Or, there could be cancer of the pharynx. Some usual notable causes of dysphagia are anaemia, foreign body, inflammatory stricture, hysteria, especially in women.

5. Gastric/duodenal peptic ulcer

For pain in the upper part of the abdomen, half an hour to an hour after meals, suspect gastric peptic ulcer. If there is pain in the same region, 3-4 hours after meals, and it is relieved only when the patient eats something (said to be hunger pain), suspect duodenal peptic ulcer. In both, cancerous changes may occur if the disease is neglected. Cancer should be seriously considered if symptoms occur in a middle-aged person with associated loss of weight.

6. Inflamed gallbladder I gallstones

People who get an attack of acute cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder) in which there is an acute pain in the right upper part of the abdomen should not delay surgical intervention for removing the gallbladder after the medicinal treatment is over, as such a gallbladder is always prone to malignant change. The prevention of the cancer of the gallbladder lies in the removal of the inflamed gallbladder after the acute episode is over.
In the same way, the gallbladder of patients who are suffering from chronic cholecystitis, i.e., long-standing inflammation of the gallbladder, should also be removed without delay. Similarly, in gallstones, the gallbladder should be removed as there is always associated chronic inflammation of the gallbladder.

7. Change in bowel habits

For recent/sudden change in bowel habits, i.e., alternating constipation and diarrhoea with the formation of a ball of wind or of a lump in the abdomen, passing of blood through the rectum or blood in stool, loss of appetite and weight, in a middle-aged person, suspect cancer of the colon or of the rectum. Sometimes, bleeding piles may alone be a signal of a malignant growth in a middle-aged person.

8. Lump / thickening in the breast or anywhere

A lump / thickening in the breast and/or bleeding or discharge from the nipple of a middle-aged female should immediately be got diagnosed and treated as it is always prone to malignant change (breast cancer). In general, the appearance of a painless swelling anywhere in the body, suspect malignancy

9. Blood in urine

One should be cautious whenever there is blood in urine (haematuria). Medical people know that it could be a symptom of carcinoma of the kidney, the urinary bladder, the prostate, papilloma (benign) of the urinary bladder or of the pelvis of the kidney, or tuberculosis of the kidney. A middle-aged person has to be cautious on all these accounts. In a child the carcinoma of the kidney usually presents itself as a lump in the abdomen, and blood in the urine is a late feature. Tuberculosis of the kidney may be curable with medicinal treatment in early cases. Later, surgery may be required.

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Bone Cancer Treatment Options

Are you an avid outdoorsman who enjoys rock climbing, hang gliding, parasailing, scuba diving or auto racing (as a driver)?  Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click hereIf you can answer yes to any of those questions unless you are planning on being a little less than forthright on your application for life insurance are going to be buying high risk life insurance instead of regular term or whole life insurance policies. 

Before you decide to not check the boxes next to avocations like the above mentioned outdoor activities you should take in to consideration that if you happen to have an accident and die during an activity considered high risk by life insurance companies your family’s claim to your life insurance policy will either be denied or you can be sued for fraud. I am all for getting the lowest premium possible, but lying about an activity or knowledge of a particular disease or tendency for a disease is really unethical and constitutes insurance fraud. 

If you are looking for a policy with a significant payout ($250,000 or higher) the insurance company is more likely to want a physical before issuing the policy. If you have had one in the past year they will most likely take that one, but if you have had any other testing done that has revealed any physical problems like diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hepatitis, epilepsy, or issues with your liver or pancreas you can expect to be either denied or placed in a high risk category and therefore subject to much higher premiums than a normal healthy person would pay. 

Bone Cancer Treatment Options

If you are an active outdoor person you will also fall into the high risk category if you participate in the activities mentioned in paragraph one. Auto racing comes to mind as a very dangerous sport basically driving around a track with over two thousand pounds of metal as a potential weapon. I have climbed waterfalls and hiked many trails in our Western National Parks and have never considered my activities to be high enough risk to warrant being charged a premium over my regular life insurance costs. 

If you do get placed in a high risk category you will have little trouble buying high risk life insurance unless you have cancer that you have only recently received treatment for. Different types of cancer require different waiting times before the patient can be even considered for life insurance. For example skin melanoma, testicular cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of the larynx only require a one year waiting period; colon and breast cancer – two years; ovarian, lung, esophageal, and kidney cancer – three years; bone cancer – five years; and leukemia – ten years. 

If you have been denied regular life insurance do not be discouraged. You can be buying high risk life insurance in no time to protect your family. Make sure you shop around for the best coverage and pricing.

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Lung Cancer Statistics Smoking

However, I thought I would update you and put them all in one article. Lung Cancer Statistics Smoking
Everyone is aware that smoking causes cancer and lung disease, but were you aware that smoking

does a lot more.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

? Every 8 seconds someone dies from tobacco use. Smoking related diseases kill 1 in 10 adults

globally, or cause 4 million deaths. By the year 2030, if current trends continue, smoking

will kill 1 in 6 people.
? About 12 times more British people have died from smoking than from World War II.

Staggering.
? Cigarettes cause more than 1 in 5 American deaths.
? Half of the long-term smokers will die from tobacco and every cigarette that you smoke cuts

at least 5 minutes off of your life expectancy. That is about the time it takes for you to

smoke it.
? Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of death and premature death. It is a prime

factor in heart disease, stroke, and chronic lung disease. It can also cause cancer, which

affects many parts of the body.
? At least ? of all deaths from heart diseases and about ? of the world’s chronic bronchitis

are related to smoking.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death and was among the first diseases causally linked

to smoking. Lung cancer is obviously one of the major diseases attributed to smoking. But, did

you know that smoking also causes cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder,

stomach, and even the cervix, kidneys, and pancreas. It’s true.

Other statistics show:

? Compared to non-smokers, men who smoke are about 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer

and women who smoke are 13 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Smoking causes about 90

percent of lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent in women.
? In 2003, an estimated 171,900 new cases of lung cancer occurred and approximately 157,200

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people died from lung cancer.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the leading cause of

death by smoking. More than 61 million Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular

disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart

failure, and all of these can be attributed to smoking. More than 2600 Americans die every day

because of cardiovascular diseases, that is about 1 death every 33 seconds. Unbelievable.

Smoking related coronary heart disease may contribute to congestive heart failure. An

estimated 4.6 million Americans have congestive heart failure and 43,000 die from it each

year.

Smoking is related to chronic coughing and wheezing among adults. Chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, resulting

in 118,000 deaths. More than 90 percent of these deaths were attributed to smoking.

And the most startling statistics:

? Among young teens (ages 13-15), about 1 in 5 smokes worldwide.
? Between 80,000-100,000 children worldwide start smoking every day and evidence shows that

around 50 percent of those who start smoking as an adolescent go on to smoke 15 to 20 years.

All of these smoking death statistics are unbelievable. Especially when all you have to do to

change them is to quit smoking. I realize it is a very hard thing to do, but a happier,

healthier, and longer life is waiting for you. Just quit!! Do it!!

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