Cancer Research UK recently revealed that cases of oral cancer are on the rise in the United Kingdom, an increase attributed to increasing rates of infection by human papillomavirus (HPV).

For the first time, cases of oral cancer have increased above 6,000 a year. Two-thirds of the 6,200 cases that were diagnosed in the United Kingdom last year involved men.

As many as 8 in 10 Britons may become infected with HPV at a certain point in their lives. The virus is essentially harmless, except for a few strains that cause problems. one particular strain, identified as HPV-16, may lead to changes in the cell that may develop into cancer.

“We have seen a rapid increase in the number of HPV16-positive cases of oral cancer,” Richard Shaw, a Cancer Research UK expert in head and neck cancers based at the Liverpool Cancer Research UK Center, shared. “We have also noticed that patients with HPV-related oral cancers tend to be younger, are less likely to be smokers and have better outcomes from treatment than those whose tumours show no evidence of HPV. This raises questions as to exactly how these cancers develop and why they only affect a small proportion of people who are exposed.”

Sara Hiom, director of information at Cancer Research UK, said that it was important for people to become aware of the symptoms of oral cancer, as early detection of the disease increases one’s chances of survival. these symptoms include mouth ulcers that do not heal; lumps or thickening in the mouth, lips, or throat; or persistent red and white patches in the mouth.

Tags: human papillomavirus, oral cancer in UK, oral cancer virus

Researchers analysed asthma sufferer’s sputum and found that up to two thirds of the samples ?contained a common garden mould, aspergillus fumigatus, which is usually found in soil and compost heaps

Many asthmatics have a mould growing in their lungs that could explain why they suffer such devastating breathing problems. The good news is that the ?solution could be as ?simple as giving these patients anti-fungal antibiotics.

Asthma is a common condition where breathing tubes go into a spasm, making it difficult to breathe — around 5.4 ?million Britons have it. as many as a fifth of those with severe asthma suffer from permanent narrowing of the ?breathing tubes within the lungs.

Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergens, including pet hairs, pollen and mould. now, a new study led by University of Leicester scientists at Glenfield Hospital has shown that mould might play another, significant role.

The researchers analysed patients’ ?sputum — matter expelled from the respiratory tract such as phlegm — and found that up to two thirds of the samples ?contained a common garden mould, aspergillus fumigatus, which is usually found in soil and compost heaps, though can also grow in homes.

They also found that people ?allergic to this mould had more permanently narrowed airways. The theory is that the mould produces chemicals which trigger inflammation in the tiny tubes of the lungs; this leads to gradual scarring and damage to the ?breathing tubes.

Asthma is usually ?controlled with inhaled bronchodilators — these relax the muscle covering the airways in the lungs — and courses of inhaled steroids which damp down the inflammation. But the new research suggests anti?biotics that tackle fungal infections could also prove useful.

‘Treating individuals in whom the mould is detected with anti-fungals may prevent fixed narrowing of the airways,’ says Professor Andy ?Wardlaw, who led the study.

‘this is very exciting for people with asthma and could potentially help people with other chronic lung conditions, including cystic fibrosis, where similar processes are going on.’

Leanne Metcalf, Director of Research for Asthma UK, says: ‘We are encouraged by the results of this unique study demonstrating that this specific type of mould, found in the lungs of people with severe asthma, is linked to asthma symptoms and reduced lung function.

‘These findings are a step in the right direction in establishing if people with severe asthma should be routinely tested for the ?presence of fungal spores in their lungs and if anti-fungal agents could be ?helpful as a treatment.’

Some patients are already convinced that anti-fungals can help. Lili Yeadon, 63, a part-time research assistant from Loughborough, had severe asthma for six years — attacks left her coughing, short of breath and ?unable to walk far. she was referred to Professor Wardlaw, who ?diagnosed allergic bronchial ?pulmonary aspergillosis — where the mould grows in the lungs.

As part of a clinical trial, she was given anti-fungal treatment. Lili says: ‘I don’t have any symptoms at the moment — no coughing, I can breathe much more easily, and I can walk a lot faster. It’s simply incredible.’

As well as being a trigger for asthma, mould can also cause health problems for people ?without allergies.

The most common problems are sinusitis, bronchitis and other ?respiratory conditions such as pneumonia.

Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergens, including pet hairs, pollen and mould. now, a new study has shown that mould might play another, significant role

‘Mould is an opportunistic fungus, and grows aggressively in the body, stopping the organs working properly — so it can be lethal,’ says Malcolm Richardson, professor of medical mycology (the study of mould) at the University of Manchester.

If you have a mouldy carpet, for example, mould spores are released into the atmosphere, that you can then inhale.

Normally, the immune system detects the spores and helps you to get rid of them by coughing or sneezing.

But some people with poorer immune systems are unable to reject the spores, so they germinate in their lung tissue, causing inflammation.

Symptoms of a mould problem include coughing, constant ?tiredness, eye and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritation or nausea.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are being prescribed singing ?lessons to try and improve their symptoms.

COPD is a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It affects around 900,000 people in the UK — although it’s thought a further two million people have yet to be diagnosed. Smoking is the biggest risk factor.

One of the main symptoms is breathlessness while performing everyday activities such as climbing stairs or even getting dressed.

Previous research has shown that singing can combat this by helping patients control their breathing and posture.

Many patients also said the classes alleviated feelings of depression and anxiety, which is common sufferers with COPD.

In a new trial at the Royal Brompton Hospital, London, one group of patients will undergo twice-weekly vocal coaching for eight weeks. another group will take part in a once-weekly film club.

At the end of the trial the relative health and level of physical activity managed by the two groups will be compared.

The chances of surviving cancer in the UK are the poorest among leading Western nations, says a damning study.

Survival rates for bowel, lung, breast or ovarian cancer are lower here than in Australia, Canada and Sweden.

The most shameful finding is that Britons aged 65 and over are the least likely to survive of any group of patients.

Lagging behind: A woman has a mammogram, but results suggest that sufferers in the UK have less chance of survival that other leading nations

Late diagnosis and differences in treatment compared with other countries are blamed by researchers, who included Government cancer ‘tsar’ Professor Sir Michael Richards.

The latest findings, from an international study of 2.4million people, which include figures up to 2007, are the ‘most reliable record card yet’ of how Britain is doing.

The research, part-funded by the Department of Health, suggests that thousands of people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are dying prematurely from common cancers each year.

In some cases survival rates in the UK were more than 10 per cent lower than those elsewhere in Europe, Australia and Canada. In the UK, over-65s were up to 20 per cent less likely to survive.

Previous research by the same team concluded that 11,400 avoidable deaths occurred here each year from cancer.

The latest study focused on four cancers – breast, bowel, lung and ovarian – in the UK (not including Scotland), Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Survival rates were checked between 1995 and 2007.

The results, published online by the Lancet medical journal, showed that the life expectancy of cancer patients in the UK was consistently shorter than in other countries. only Denmark had a similarly poor record, though generally it did better than the UK.

For the most recent period, up to 2007, the UK had the worst bowel, lung and breast cancer five-year survival rates of any of the six countries. In this period, 53.6 per cent of UK bowel cancer patients were alive five years after diagnosis compared with 65.9 per cent in Australia. For lung cancer, 8.8 per cent survived five years in the UK and 18.4 per cent in Canada.

Although breast cancer survival has improved in the UK, with 81.6 per cent of women living five years, it still compares poorly with Sweden, where 88.5 per cent survived.

Denmark’s five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer was marginally lower than the UK’s – 36.1 per cent compared with 36.4 per cent – but 41.9 per cent of those diagnosed in Canada lived five years.

The study highlights the shocking outlook for over-65s with cancer. It says the survival ‘deficit’ – the difference between UK survival rates and the best-performing countries – for bowel cancer is generally around 10 per cent, but for pensioners it hit 10-15 per cent. In lung cancer, the survival rate at all ages was lower, but especially so for those aged 65 and over.

For breast cancer, survival was lower in the UK in all age groups and for over-65s up to 20 per cent below Australia and Canada.

Sir Michael said: ‘Our absolute aim is to narrow the gap so that over time this country has outcomes that are among the best in the world.’ he added that early diagnosis was now the focus of the national cancer strategy, and a ?10.75 million initiative in the New Year would raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer.