Latest news with #oralcancer
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Your Risk for Oral Cancer Increases When You Drink Alcohol—Here's What You Should Know
Can you still enjoy that cocktail, beer or glass of wine? Here's what the experts say. Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDNKey Points Alcohol is a carcinogen that increases your risk for oral cancer in multiple ways. It promotes inflammation, damages cells, impairs nutrient absorption and more. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect don't hear about oral cancer very often, but more than 50,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with it every year. Oral cancer doesn't just target the tongue, gums and mouth. It can even extend to the back of the throat. Like other cancers, what we eat and drink can substantially impact our odds of developing oral cancer. And one major risk factor is alcohol, says Carol Sullivan, M.S., RD, CSO, LDN, a board-certified oncology specialist. The link is so strong that alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that there's a strong body of evidence showing it may cause cancer. So what does that mean for you, especially if you enjoy a glass of wine here and there or love a good cocktail? To find out, we took a deep dive into the research and spoke with experts. Here's what you need to know about alcohol and oral cancer, plus other lifestyle strategies to help you reduce your risk. How Alcohol May Increase the Risk of Oral Cancer Might Lead to Changes in Your Microbiome Your gut microbiome, which is made up of trillions of live bacteria, actually starts in your mouth. And research reveals that alcohol can promote changes in your oral microbiome that increase the risk of gum disease, which is a known trigger for oral cancer. That's not all. Alcohol's adverse impact on the oral microbiome can also raise your risk for other cancers by increasing body-wide inflammation, encouraging tumor growth and suppressing your body's immune response. And as alcohol makes its way from your mouth, down your throat and through your stomach to your intestines, it continually interacts with your GI tract. When it finally reaches your gut, it can cause unfavorable changes in your gut microbiome, too. May Damage Your Cells and DNA 'Alcohol gets broken down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is toxic and can damage your DNA, increasing the risk of cancer,' notes Sullivan. Acetaldehyde is so harmful that the National Cancer Institute lists it as a "probable carcinogen.' 'Plus, alcohol itself can help other substances get into your cells more easily,' says Sullivan. That allows other carcinogens and chemicals that come into contact with your mouth and throat to be more easily absorbed, providing yet another route to oral cancer. Can Promote Inflammation We hear a lot about inflammation lately. While short-term inflammation is nothing to worry about, chronic inflammation can lead to all sorts of health issues, including cancer. Drinking alcohol can increase the body's production of inflammation-promoting substances called free radicals. That resulting inflammation goes on to trigger a process called oxidation that can damage your cells' DNA. If this happens on a regular basis, it may set the stage for cancer. May Cause Nutrient Deficiencies A nutrient-rich diet may protect against cancer. Yet, alcohol impacts your ability to digest and absorb many of the very nutrients shown to keep cancer at bay. 'Chronic alcohol use can cause nutrient deficiencies of folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which are important for proper DNA synthesis and repair, and act as protective antioxidants,' explains Sullivan. Drinking alcohol also impairs intestinal absorption of many vitamins and some minerals, including iron, zinc and selenium. It may additionally alter fat, protein and carbohydrate absorption. If that weren't trouble enough, alcoholic drinks themselves, whether it's wine, beer, spirits or cocktails, carry very little nutritional value and can sometimes cause loss of appetite. Strategies to Reduce Oral Cancer Risk There is a long list of factors that can raise your risk of oral cancer, says Chad Libraty, D.D.S. Here are the ones to look out for, plus expert tips to help reduce your overall risk. Load up on produce: Not only will adding lots of colorful fruits and vegetables to your plate help you get more nutrients overall. Produce is jammed with nutrients that may also ward off inflammation and support your immune system. In particular, citrus fruits—think grapefruit, oranges and lemons—have been linked to decreased oral cancer risk. This is likely due to their ample vitamin C content. If you use tobacco, seek help quitting: If you smoke or chew tobacco, talk to your healthcare provider about resources to help you quit. Tobacco is linked to roughly 85% of oral cancer cases, as chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes delivers a high dose of carcinogens. Second-hand smoke exposure also increases your risk. Also good to know: 'Alcohol added with tobacco use can exponentially increase your oral cancer risk,' says Libraty. Rethink how you cook red meat: A recent review study found that eating lots of red meat is linked to increased oral cancer risk, particularly if it's fried, smoked, roasted or boiled. That's because cooking meat at high temperatures triggers the development of carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). If you do eat red meat, try to lower the cooking temperature as much as possible and keep cooking times short. Wear sunscreen: Your lips are part of your mouth, so be sure to put SPF on. Many lip balms now come with built-in sun protection. To further protect your lips, try to limit time spent in direct sunlight. In addition to seeking out some shade during peak sunlight hours in the afternoon, wear a hat to help shade your face and mouth. Go to the dentist: Practicing good oral hygiene, like brushing and flossing regularly, isn't just important for the health of your teeth. It can promote better oral health. This can minimize the risk of infections and other conditions that may lead to oral cancer. Regular dental check-ups are also critical for keeping up a healthy mouth, as your dentist will check for oral cancer to spot any early signs. If you drink, scale back: You probably figured this one was coming right? 'Alcohol is a known carcinogen, like many other carcinogens the dose is what makes the poison,' says Libraty. Research shows that even light drinkers are almost twice as likely to develop oral cancer as nondrinkers. And heavy drinkers are about five times as likely. If you do imbibe, consider saving that drink for a special occasion. Know your family history: 'If someone had a family history of cancer, minimizing or eliminating alcohol is a great idea,' says Libraty. If oral or any other kind of cancer runs in your family, speak with your healthcare provider to determine how much alcohol is safe for you. Consider an alcohol-free alternative: 'For a lot of people, the ritual of preparing a drink and sitting down to relax or socialize is bigger than the alcohol consumption,' says Sullivan. 'Right now the market for mocktails, zero-proof spirits and non-alcoholic beer and wine is growing.' So, take full advantage! Our Expert Take The link between alcohol and oral cancer may not make headlines, but it's real. Drinking alcohol may increase the risk of oral cancer via several mechanisms. Because alcohol is a carcinogen, it may promote inflammation. With repeated exposure over time, this can potentially lead to cancer-causing changes in the cells of your mouth and throat. Alcohol may also raise oral cancer risk by prompting unfavorable shifts in your microbiome and impairing your ability to absorb protective nutrients. That said, you don't have to panic over the occasional drink. Alcohol's effects are dose-dependent, meaning the more you drink, the more harmful it is. If you do drink, do so in moderation. Or, try swapping your usual cocktail for a mocktail, trade in your craft brew for a non-alcoholic version or just reach for sparkling water over bubbly champagne. Whether you decide to drink less or not at all, cutting back on your alcohol intake can benefit your health in many ways, including reducing your chances of oral cancer. Read the original article on EATINGWELL Solve the daily Crossword
WebMD
10-05-2025
- Health
- WebMD
FDA Approves New Oral Drug Combo for Rare Ovarian Cancer
May 9, 2025 -- A new oral cancer drug combination has gained a quick federal nod after clinical trials found that it provides significant and longer-lasting relief for a rare ovarian cancer that doesn't respond well to standard therapies. This marks the first and only FDA-approved medicine for low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) that tests positive for a gene change known as the KRAS mutation. The treatment includes two drugs known as avutometinib and defactinib and is marketed as Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack. It is for adult patients who have already tried other therapies, offering hope to about 6,000 to 8,000 women in the United States who are living with this disease. LGSOC is a rare, slow-growing cancer affecting about 80,000 people worldwide, mostly women in their 20s-30s or 50s-60s. About 30% of cases involve changes in the KRAS gene, which fuel cancer growth. It's difficult to treat, often doesn't respond well to standard therapies, and tends to come back. While people may live for around 10 years with LGSOC, it can significantly impact physical and mental health, fertility, and quality of life. The FDA's decision was based on a clinical trial involving 57 patients with recurrent KRAS-positive LGSOC, all of whom had received at least one prior treatment. Patients were given oral doses of avutometinib twice weekly and defactinib twice daily for the first three weeks of each four-week cycle, continuing until cancer progression or severe side effects occurred. Results showed that the tumor shrank in 44% of patients, with the response lasting from 3.3 months to 31.1 months. The drug combo works by blocking proteins that promote cancer growth and resistance to treatment. Avutometinib blocks a protein called MEK, but when that protein is blocked, another protein called FAK can become more active. That's where the second medicine, defactinib, comes in, blocking the FAK protein to prevent the cancer from fighting back. For each four-week cycle, patients take Avmapki twice a week and Fakzynja twice a day for three weeks, as long as the treatment's working and the side effects are tolerable. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, mouth sores, itching, tiredness, skin rash, dry or itchy skin, muscle or joint pain, swelling, changes in blood test results (such as elevated liver enzyme and bilirubin levels, low hemoglobin levels and blood cell counts), eye problems, shortness of breath, cough, and urinary tract infections. According to the company's safety information, doctors must advise their patients about using effective contraception during the therapy as the new treatment can harm a fetus. Patients will also be monitored for liver function, skin toxicity, muscle disease (rhabdomyolysis), and vision problems during their treatment. The company added that the accelerated approval was based on how well the treatment works, and full approval may depend on results from a confirmatory trial.
