“A history of periodontal disease was associated with a 14 percent higher risk of developing any cancer,” said the study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

“The strongest association was for cancer of the esophagus, which was more than three times more likely in women with periodontal disease than women.”

Researchers also uncovered a “significantly higher risk” of lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, melanoma and breast cancer.

The study spanned 1999 to 2013, and involved more than 65,000 post-menopausal women who filled out questionnaires about their health.

The women, aged 54 to 86, were followed for an average of eight years.

Previous research has shown people with gum disease face a higher risk of certain cancers.

This study is the first to focus on gum disease’s link to all cancers, and in an all-female population, said senior author Jean Wactawski-Wende, dean of the School of Public Health at State University of New York at Buffalo.

“This study is the first national study focused on women, particularly older women,” said senior author Jean Wactawski-Wende, dean of the School of Public Health at State University of New York at Buffalo.

More research is needed to find out exactly how gum disease may promote cancer, she added.

One theory is that harmful pathogens could be carried in saliva and dental plaque, or through diseased gum tissues into the blood circulation.

“The esophagus is in close proximity to the oral cavity, and so periodontal pathogens may more easily gain access to and infect the esophageal mucosa and promote cancer risk at that site,” Wactawski-Wende said.

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Source: AFP

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While answering questions put to him by Reddit users, the actor revealed he “did have a healing of cancer” and was still dealing with a swollen tongue.

“Because I don’t sound my normal self yet people think I may still be under the weather,” the 57-year-old wrote.

Speculation over Kilmer’s health grew last year after Michael Douglas said he was “dealing with” throat cancer.

The former Batman actor responded at the time by saying Douglas was “misinformed”.

“He was probably trying to help me cause press probably asked where I was these days,” Kilmer wrote while taking part in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) last week.

Writing on Facebook last year, Kilmer said his only recent contact with Douglas had been to seek advice over a lump in his throat.

Known for his roles in such films as Heat, The Doors and Tombstone, Kilmer worked with Douglas on 1996 film The Ghost and the Darkness.

Following Douglas’s comments last year, it was reported that Kilmer had been reluctant to seek medical treatment due to his Christian Science faith.

Many Christian Scientists believe that diseases can be healed with prayer, although the Church does not forbid adherents seeking medical aid.

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Source: BBC

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The project which was initiated by the Ghana Parents Association for Childhood Cancers seeks to among other things lessen the challenges faced by parents and caregivers who travel from afar to seek treatment for their children.

Speaking at the ceremony, the first lady accepted her new role of cancer ambassador and called for collective effort to help fast track the construction of the facility to serve as a “home away from their distant homes”.

Rebecca Akufo Addo also prompted of a need for the educational and nutritional needs of the children to be met at the hostel.

“For hundreds of children with cancer who will in the near future be receiving treatment at Korle Bu hospital and their guardians, this should be a safe haven for them”

She added that, “beyond providing a hostel, we should go a step further to consider access to well-balanced diets for the children and their families. This is an area that will need to be explored further. As many of the children will have to live here for several months, it is also important that their educational needs are met. I have been reliably informed that teachers have been assigned to cover the children’s wards at Korle Bu and so I take this opportunity to suggest this hostel should also have teachers assigned to the children.”

Speaking to Citi News, the Chairman for the Association, Dr. Kwame Aveh said the association was in desperate need of fund to help facilitate the speedy construction of the project.

According to him out of the two million Ghana cedis needed to construct the 30 bed hospital facility, the amount currently in the association’s coffers was nothing to write home about.

“The initial estimate was first done in dollars and it was estimated at five hundred thousand dollars and the rate at the time was four Ghana cedis but now we think it will go up. So now roughly we need two million Ghana cedis. We have knocked at several doors but they are yet to open so all we have done now is from our personal pockets as members of GHAPCC. Korle bu donated the land to us and when we are done we plan to construct another one in Kumasi. What we are aiming at is to make the accommodation free for the patients and their guardians so we need people to help us fund this project.”

The ceremony which also commemorated the “International Childhood Cancer Day” was held at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and was attended by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu, Dr. Samuel Asiamah, the Director General Of Ghana Health Services, representatives from WHO, and members of the Ghana Parents Association for Childhood Cancers.

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to a series of tweets posted by Turkish journalist Sıtkı Özcan on Tuesday, the family’s passports were seized at the border because of alleged links to the Gülen movement, which the Turkish government accuses of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

“There was a kid. 12 years old. Had brain cancer. Doctor said he had 30 days left. The family had not lost hope and found a chance for treatment in Cuba,” tweeted Özcan on Tuesday, adding:

“As a last-ditch effort, the family went to the airport to take their son to Cuba. But their passports, including that of the child, were seized. They were not allowed to leave Turkey for the treatment,” Özcan tweeted.

According to the journalist, even though the parents “begged” border security to allow their child to leave, the plea was denied.

“The family begged: ‘Please, let our son go and receive treatment.’ Yet, it didn’t happen. They did not let the child leave,” Özcan said in another tweet.

“Because the child was not allowed to leave, the cancer advanced. First, part of his face became paralyzed, and then he experienced loss of his vision,” Özcan added.

Özcan ended his tweets by “congratulating the Turkish authorities” for causing the death of a 12-year-old child by not letting him receive cancer treatment abroad.

“And the child you [Turkish officials] prevented from leaving the county passed away today. Furkan is no longer with us. Be proud!” (Turkey Purge)

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By: turkishminute.com

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The number of new cases is projected to increase to 21.7 million annually by 2030. The greatest impact is in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are ill-equipped to cope with the escalating burden of disease. In 2012, there were 4.3 million premature deaths from cancer worldwide, 75% of which were in low- and middle-income countries.

Breast Care International (BCI) and Delta Airlines have joined the global community to celebrate this year’s “World Cancer Day” with a renewed commitment to expand the frontiers and internal mechanisms designed to create and heighten awareness in  fighting  cancers.

Tagging along the global theme of “WE CAN, I CAN”, BCI, in a statement issued to commemorate the day, BCI President, Dr.(Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai said cancers have had a great toll on mankind, especially those in the deprived communities, and needed to be contained aggressively through intensified public education.

Dr. (Mrs) Wiafe Adlai,  drawing  inspiration from the global campaign, charged the youthful population to draw on the immense popularity and influence of social media to highlight and bring to the fore, risks associated with cancers and their devastating effects on the individuals, families, friends, society and national productivity levels.

“BCI has reviewed and devised new communication tools and strategies which dovetail into both traditional and social media platforms in our renewed, and unwavering determination to create, and sustain awareness about cancers especially among the youthful population”, Dr Beatrice Wiafe Addai states.

She explained, “BCI has several online links to our specialists on our website. Again we have integrated the various social media platforms into the site and we could be contacted at the click of a bottom from the comfort of your home for all cancer-related consultancy services while providing answers and feedback on frequently asked questions.”

The BCI President and Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals has recognised Government’s recognition of “cancers as a national burden, and commended the determination to establish centers at all healthcare delivery centers for the screening, diagnosis and early detection and prevention of cancers, the cost of which will be borne by the re-structured, and revitalized National Health Insurance Scheme”

“We totally reject the increasing number of cancer cases recorded annually at our health institutions, a good number of them very young patients, sufficient reason  why we are incorporating social media platforms into our communications strategy to draw the attention of the younger population to the debilitating effects of cancers and the urgent need to report the condition promptly to hospitals for effective treatment.” declared Breast care International President,  Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai.

Statistics by the World Health Organization, IARC, UICC and all research findings by these organizations (of which BCI is a member); regrettably capture and project cancers as an important  cause of death in almost every region of the globe, and the fact that by the year 2030, if nothing is done, about 70 percent of all cancer deaths would be coming from the developing world, a situation which demands urgent media attention, both traditional and social, in a bid to scale down the frightening cancer related mortality figures, the statement emphasized.

As part of the celebrations of the 2017 World Cancer Day, BCI handed over ten customised  footballs, with the “WE CAN, I CAN” slogan  to some selected Senior High Schools, to inculcate the culture of exercising in them, since lack of exercise is known to be a risk factor in the development of the Non communicable Diseases.

Dr. (Mrs) Beatrice Wiafe Addai announced that  her organization is completing the celebration with a free outreach program at Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region, where they would  educate the faithful of the Assemblies of God Church and the townsfolk on cancers, (breast, cervical and prostate), and clinically screen for non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, breast diseases, diabetes, hepatitis B, and eye diseases at no cost to them.”,

“The Eastern Regional Minister designate, Hon. Dr. Eric Kwakye Darffour and celebrities like Nana Amma MacBrown and her husband Maxwell are joining the event which is sponsored by Delta Airlines.

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By: Samuel Appau Aheng

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