Tonsil Cancer Cause

On 7/22/2008 Daughters Love wrote:

I know and agree, my father is 56 non smoker, non drinker (2 glasses at the most on a weekly basis). He is stage 4b though. They say there is no cure for him. Did they say that to you or does it depend on the stage? I have been on many different sites looking for reasons and they all bounce back to the risks. What about the other non-risk people like you and my father. Take care

I'm so sorry your Dad got this cancer.  I started this thread so you know I have cancer too.  The doctors tell me I have untreated tonsil cancer because I haven't gone in for the chemo and radiation. 

Instead I opted for Dr. Lorraine Days vegan diet along with her other "good health commandments" of enough sleep, some sunshine, fresh air, excercise etc.  Check out her site.

It's been 4 or 5 months now and thanks to God it hasn't returned.  They said they didn't get it all out when they took my tonsils out but maybe the vitamin D and my diet and sleep and excersise are helping my body fight it.

Did the doctors recomend chemo and radiation for your Dad?

On 7/22/2008 Dlynn1210 wrote:

 

On 7/22/2008 Dlynn1210 wrote:

 

On 5/4/2008 kancer wrote:

Hi,

 I had tonsil cancer surgery and left neck regional neck disection at age 52 3 weeks ago. (stage 3)

 I have had geographic toungue (fungus on tongue) for 6 years.  I feel I was vitamin D/calcium deficient and so after the cancer surgery I started taking 4,000 iu of D and 1200 mg of calcium and a multivitamin each day and my geographic toungue went away.  I work inside and don't get much sun light (source of vitamin D).

Question:  Did anyone else with tonsil cancer feel it is due to low vitamin D and calcium? 

Question:  In research I found it could be partially due to oral sex (with my wife).  80 percent of adults have the HPV-16 virus that is associated with non-smoker cancer (I don't smoke), and the cancer is a rare complication of having the virus.  Maybe the rare complication is when you have low vitamin D/calcium.  Does this scenario fit anyone else?   4 times more men get tonsil cancer than women.

 thanks and may God heal our cancers!

Hi,

I've heard a little about Vitamin D but I would have to question whether the lower Vitamin D found in some cancer patients caused the cancer or is a result of cancer. 

I am a white female, never smoked, never drank, ate the right foods, exercised regularly, and do not have the HPV virus.  The only symptoms I ever experienced were exteme tiredness and mild chest pains (which after diagnosis found out these were both symptoms of tonsil cancer). 

I have a booklet that I got at the Cancer Treatment Center where I was treated that states the information provided was from the American Cancer Society.  The information given in this book was the reason why my oldest daughter who is a nurse had her tonsils removed and a second daughter is considering doing the same.  I have a 3rd daughter that I am worried sick about because she was diagnosed with HPV.  Below is excerts from the booklet. 

DNA Changes:  A great deal of research is being done to learn what DNA changes are responsible for causing cells of the oral cavity and oropharynx to become cancerous.  One of the changes often found in DNA of oral cancer cells is a mutation of the p53 gene.  The protein produced by this gene normally works to prevent cells from growing too much and helps to destroy cells with DNA damage too extensive for the cells to repair.  D

We know the increase in cancer is not due to genetics but rather to environmental causes.  How?  Because our grandparents didn't get cancer at the astronotical rates that we get cancer at.

Just a thought I borrowed from Dr. Lorraine Day.

amage to

 

Sorry I accidently hit the post button too soon.  Starting fron DNA changes is a direct quote out of the booklet.  Continuing on:

"Damage to p53 gene can lead to increased growth of abnormal cells and formation of cancers."

"Another DNA change found in some oral cancers is that DNA from a papillomavirus (HPV) becomes mixed together with the patient's own DNA.  Some parts of the HPV DNA instruct the cells to produce proteins that inactivate the p53 protein.  Studies are going on to find out whether tests to detect HPV DNA may help in diagnosing these cancers."

Personally, I believe the increase in cancer (all types) is like the increase in cases of autism being diagnosed - there are multiple reasons for it.  A genetic link certainly makes sense as well as what they say about HPV virus.  To say a lack of vitamin D and calcium caused our tonsil cancer I believe is a way over simplifying it even though I have considered taking Vitamin D because it sure can't hurt anything.

Is it genetics, is it environmental, is it nutrition - or a combination of one or more?  We don't know but we just have to cover all of our bases as best we can and pray that research will come up with a reason or reasons which will then lead to a cure. 

Diana

On 7/22/2008 kancer wrote:

 

On 7/22/2008 Daughters Love wrote:

I know and agree, my father is 56 non smoker, non drinker (2 glasses at the most on a weekly basis). He is stage 4b though. They say there is no cure for him. Did they say that to you or does it depend on the stage? I have been on many different sites looking for reasons and they all bounce back to the risks. What about the other non-risk people like you and my father. Take care

I'm so sorry your Dad got this cancer.  I started this thread so you know I have cancer too.  The doctors tell me I have untreated tonsil cancer because I haven't gone in for the chemo and radiation. 

Instead I opted for Dr. Lorraine Days vegan diet along with her other "good health commandments" of enough sleep, some sunshine, fresh air, excercise etc.  Check out her site.

It's been 4 or 5 months now and thanks to God it hasn't returned.  They said they didn't get it all out when they took my tonsils out but maybe the vitamin D and my diet and sleep and excersise are helping my body fight it.

Did the doctors recomend chemo and radiation for your Dad?

I googled Dr. Lorraine Days as I am always open to alternative treatments ALONG WITH conventional treatment.  I immediately came up with this web site:  http://www.infomercialwatch.org/reports/daynad.shtml wh is not to promising.  I would not want to bet my life on Vit D, diet, sleep, and exercises to get RID of cancer. You didnt say what stage you are - I was stage 2 which meant the tumor was smaller than 4 cm but larger than 2 cm and that the cancer had not spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.  Stage 4b means the tumor is of any size and has spread to the lymph nodes larger than 6 cm but it hasn't spread to distant sites - yet.  I had the old traditional chemo/radiation after surgery to remove the tonsil.  My treatment ended the last of Oct and I had my first clean complete body scan the end of Dec.  I wish you the best and I hope you made the right choice to forego chemo and radiation.  Just kI hope you keep up with regular scans because there seems to be no obvious symptoms of tonsil cancer until it is too advanced to cure.

Diana 

Diana

I know that I am threw this Horrible Tx and now must learn to live with the side effects

and it is very good to be here to say that and work on my "New Normal"

But I really hope that the $$$ is spent on finding out a little bit more of this HPV connection and it the shot that is being given to young girls could be give to everyone to at least help prevent this outbrake of tonsil cancers

The nurces in my medical oncology office had not seen a tonsil cancer in 17yrs and with me had 7 this year, even they are a little shocked>

Also my chemo took 8hrs over two days

3 hrs of hydration,  2hrs of chemo,  3 of hydration

so the nurces where talking about all the time involved.

john

we all wish we did not get this as all cancer patients must, but if other people can be spared and it as easy as that shot I hope it moves along fast

I sure would take even if I only thought it would help :-) with what I know now

Diana

My Dad started treatment 11 months ago and it has spread to distant sites, lungs and bones. The last PET scan showed 60% regrowth and 30% new growth. He has had the tumor board and numerous dr take a look at his record and they are not going to at this time do radiation but he is doing chemo weekly and has tried Taxol, Carbo, Taxolene and Erbitux. He is hanging in. I'm so glad to hear that you caught it early. As in all cancers earlier the better.

Michele

John

Please keep in mind that many of us did not have the HPV virus so a shot would not have prevented us from getting tonsil cancer.  As I said in an earlier post, I believe we are looking at multiple causations for the increase in not only tonsil cancers but all cancers.  What may be the cause of one person's tonsil cancer may not be the cause of next person's.  HPV virus may just be one more catalyst that increases the chances of having cancer or it may be the actual causation of cancer.  I am a female (more males than females get it), never smoked, never drank, ate properly and exercised regularly and I still wound up with tonsil cancer.  I am a member of a disaster relief team and have gone into areas after hurricanes Charlie, Katrina, & Rita.  I've had friends suggest maybe it was something I came across then - who knows but it wasn't lack of Vitamin D or HPV that can be pinpointed as the cause of my tonsil cancer.  I wish with all my heart that we could point the finger at one cause and therefore, one cure fits all but sadly that is not the case.  

Diana 

On 7/22/2008 Daughters Love wrote:

Diana

My Dad started treatment 11 months ago and it has spread to distant sites, lungs and bones. The last PET scan showed 60% regrowth and 30% new growth. He has had the tumor board and numerous dr take a look at his record and they are not going to at this time do radiation but he is doing chemo weekly and has tried Taxol, Carbo, Taxolene and Erbitux. He is hanging in. I'm so glad to hear that you caught it early. As in all cancers earlier the better.

Michele

Hi Michele

I always tell people I beat all the odds to be diagnosed w/ tonsil cancer - and I'm the kid that was always told by my doctors and my mother that I was born w/out tonsils just like my mother.  It turned out that they were reallyyyyy small compared to the normal tonsil - or so my ENT who removed them said (I guess the right one was still my normal size).  Not small enough because cancer cells found the left one.  Your dad will hold a special place in my prayers this evening that his new regiment of meds work well - tell him to keep hanging in there! 

Diana