Mouth Cancer and Vitamins

The evidence is really begin to emerge on how certain nutrients may help

Although this is perhaps one of the most debated topics, there is mounting evidence that vitamins as well as some minerals can and do help prevent this very dangerous form of cancer. However, what is not well known are some of the hard and very cold facts.

Because of these startling numbers, if you smoke as well as drink to any type of excess, you are a prime candidate for this form of cancer. If you are not protecting your body now with nutrients, maybe it is time to start.

Mouth Cancer Facts:

In fully connecting the potential between mouth cancer and vitamins, there are some very startling facts that everyone should be aware of. This year, it is estimated that over 37,000 Americans and roughly 20 times that amount worldwide will be diagnosed with oral cancer, and it will result in over 8,000 deaths just in the United States.

It will kill one person per hour, 24 hours each and every day, and roughly only half of those diagnosed with this form of cancer will still be alive in five years.

In fact, the death rate for this form is higher than cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, skin cancer, as well as cancer of the testes and thyroid. To put it quite bluntly, this is a one of the most deadly forms.

What is it?

It is also very helpful when connecting mouth cancer and vitamins to understand exactly what it is, the symptoms to watch for, the risk factors, as well as which nutrients may actually help to prevent it, especially if you drink and smoke.

Mouth cancer, also referred to as oral cancer, develops in any part of the mouth which means it may develop on your lips, your gums, as well as on your tongue.

It may also develop on the inside lining of your cheek area, as well as on the top or bottom of your mouth.

It is technically divided in the cancer groups that are referred to as head and neck cancer, although in most cases they will be treated differently. Mouth or oral cancer develops when your cells that are located on your lips or inside of your mouth, mutate in their DNA, which allows them to continue to grow and divide when your healthy cells die.

In most all cases, they will begin as very thin and flat cells and stopping them from dividing is the real key in this connection.

Symptoms:

The connection between mouth cancer and vitamins continues with the symptoms, and while most forms of cancer are very hard to actually identify, this form can be detected very early if you understand these symptoms.

The first symptoms that you may have this very dangerous form of cancer will be a sore that does not heal on its own, some type of a lump or a thickening of your skin, a lump in the lining of your mouth, as well as a white or reddish patch inside of your mouth.

There are several occasions when you may accidently bite yourself on the inside of your mouth which will produce these same white or reddish patches, but they will go away on their own in a few days; mouth cancer does not.

Other symptoms will include some of your teeth suddenly becoming loose, or if you wear dentures, they will just as suddenly not fit properly. You may also begin to experience pain in or around your tongue, stiffness and pain in your jaw, as well as a gradual difficulty in swallowing.

You may also begin to have a persistent sore throat as well as a sensation that there is something stuck in your throat all of the time.

Types and Risk Factors:

This form of cancer will come in several different types but it has only a few real definitive risk factors. The first type will affect the inside portion of your cheeks and this is referred to as buccal mucosa cancer, and the next types can develop on the floor of your mouth as well as on or very near your gums.

It can also develop on your lips, your hard palate, which is also known as the roof of your mouth, as well your tongue.

However, this form may also affect your salivary glands, which are the glands found in and around your mouth and throat.

In fully linking the possible connections between mouth cancer and vitamins, it is also critical to understand the five major risk factors. If you fall into any of these risk groups and do not eat a very healthy diet and do not take supplements, you are considered to be a prime candidate.

The first risk group is tobacco users, but there is a lot of misconception about tobacco and oral cancer. Although chewing tobacco is one of the leading causes, any type of tobacco use is dangerous as is heavy alcohol abuse.

The other risk factors include excessive exposure to sunlight, HPV or human papillomavirus, as well as any form of previous cancer. However, these are all considered rare potential causes compared to tobacco and alcohol usage.

Mouth Cancer and Vitamins:

The connection between mouth cancer and vitamins begins with vitamin C, in intravenous form or oral form. Since it was first introduced by two time Nobel Prize winner Dr. Linus Pauling as a cancer fighting super-agent, it has very quietly and steadily gained momentum, despite stiff opposition by the mainstream oncology community.

While most animals and plants make their own form of this vitamin, humans do not, and because of this, it must be obtained through your diet or by supplements.

Vitamin C is believed to be very effective at protecting you esophagus, your oral cavity, as well as your stomach and pancreas by fighting off free radicals, which is also believed to be one of the potential major causes of cancer.

Free radicals are naturally occurring molecules that damage your body’s healthy molecules, including your DNA, which is linked as a major cause of cancerous growths.

What this vitamin does that makes it so effective is that it offers the free radicals their own electrons, and as a result, they will ignore yours.

Next on the list is vitamin B-3, also known as Niacin, as this vitamin is absolutely critical in your natural enzyme system that repairs broken DNA molecules, and in the last several years, there have been seven international conferences that have covered the possible connection between vitamin B-3 and cancer.

The connection continues with vitamin B-9, or folic acid, which is also a powerhouse in your body as it assists with over 20 enzymes to build your DNA, and because of this, may inhibit cancer from destroying it.

There are also two minerals that may help with this form of cancer, calcium, magnesium. Both calcium and magnesium help to maintain the calcium levels in your bones and blood, and have been helpful in several studies with bowel cancer.

Summary:

The connection between mouth cancer and vitamins is growing every day, and if you fall into the major risk categories, by simply taking a natural liquid multi-vitamin daily, you may very well stop this potential killer from attacking you.

References:

Cancer treatment with vitamins:http://www.doctoryourself.com/cancer_hoffer.html

Oral cancer factshttp://oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/index.htm

Mayo Clinic: Mouth Cancerwww.mayoclinic.com/health/mouth-cancer/DS01089

Mouth Cancer and Vitamins

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