Latest news with #RaphaelCuomo
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Pairing cigarettes with this other habit ups your chance of oral cancer by 624% in the next 5 years
Smoking leaves more than just a bad taste in your mouth — it could be fueling your oral cancer risk. Studies have consistently reported that cigarette users are 5 to 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer than nonsmokers. A new study out of UC San Diego suggests that a chronic weed habit carries a higher risk of oral cancer as well. Researchers determined that people who often smoke marijuana are 3.25 times more likely to contract the disease within five years compared to those without cannabis use disorder. 'Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,' said Raphael Cuomo, an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and member of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. 'These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.' Oral cancer encompasses cancers of the lips, tongue, gums and the lining of the cheeks and mouth. The American Cancer Society projects that there will be nearly 60,000 new US cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer this year and about 12,800 deaths. Known risk factors of oral cancer include tobacco use, chronic alcohol consumption and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Cuomo's team analyzed health data from over 45,000 oral cancer patients, including 949 who had been formally diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. They accounted for age, sex, body mass index and smoking status. They calculated that tobacco smokers with a cannabis addiction are 624% more likely to contract oral cancer within five years compared to cigarette users not prone to smoking marijuana. The researchers posited that the inhaled smoke is to blame because it can damage mouth tissues. Edibles and beverages infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis, don't seem to carry a similar oral cancer risk as smoking weed. 'Research is still evolving, so regular self-checks and dental exams remain wise for all cannabis users,' Cuomo told The Post. His findings were published in the September edition of Preventive Medicine Reports. The researchers emphasized that there should be more exploration of the long-term effects of cannabis, and oral health awareness should be highlighted in substance use disorder treatment and counseling. The UCSD study is not the first to sound the alarm about cannabis use and cancer. A 2024 study out of the University of Southern California linked daily marijuana use to a three- to five-fold increase in the risk of head and neck cancers. Oral cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Cuomo suggests seeing a dentist or an ear, nose and throat specialist if you have a sore, ulcer or red or white patch in your mouth that has not healed after two weeks, especially if you have a lump, numbness, bleeding or pain when swallowing. 'Early evaluation is critical because oral cancers caught in the first stage are usually curable,' he said. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
This habit with smoking can increase your chances of oral cancer by 624% in the next 5 years
Image credits: Getty Images Smoking leaves behind more than just a taste in your mouth; it leaves behind an elevated risk of oral cancer. In the media, a theory called Cognitive Dissonance is taught to students. It focuses on the discomfort felt when holding conflicting beliefs, leading to people justifying their behaviour. When it comes to smoking, the theory is applied unknowingly by every person addicted to the habit, where they are well aware of the risks and damages it can cause, but keep on justifying the habit with reasons. While this may seem harmless, it can be fatal. Not only smoking, a new study out of YC San Diego suggests that a chronic weed habit can also lead to a high risk of oral cancer. People who often smoke marijuana are 3.25 times likely to contract the disease within 5 years when compared to those without the cannabis use disorder. 'Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,' said Raphael Cuomo, an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and member of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, to the NY Post. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 60,000 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer AND ABOUT 12,800 deaths have been reported in the US this year. Oral cancer includes cancer in the lips, tongue, gums and lining of the cheeks and the mouth. The common risk factors of the disease include tobacco use, chronic alcohol addiction and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The increasing risk of oral cancer Image credits: Getty Images The researchers analysed health data from over 45,000 oral cancer patients, including 949 who had been previously diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. They accounted for the factors of age, sex, body mass index and smoking status. They revealed that tobacco smokers with a cannabis addiction are 624% more likely to get oral cancer within 5 years, compared to cigarette users who don't smoke marijuana. The inhaled smoke, as per researchers, damages the mouth tissues and causes cancer. 'Research is still evolving, so regular self-checks and dental exams remain wise for all cannabis users,' said Cuomo. Along with this study, a 2024 study from the University of Southern California also linked marijuana consumption to a 3-5 5-fold increase in the risk of head and neck cancers, of which oral cancer is a type. Cuomo suggested seeing a dentist or an ENT specialist if one has a sore, ulcer, red or white patch in the mouth that has lasted for more than two weeks. 'Early evaluation is critical because oral cancers caught in the first stage are usually curable,' he said.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Pairing cigarettes with this other habit ups your chance of oral cancer by 624% in the next 5 years
Smoking leaves more than just a bad taste in your mouth — it could be fueling your oral cancer risk. Studies have consistently reported that cigarette users are five to 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. A new study out of UC San Diego suggests that a chronic weed habit carries a higher risk of oral cancer as well. Researchers determined that people who often smoke marijuana are 3.25 times more likely to contract the disease within five years compared to those without cannabis use disorder. Advertisement 3 Researchers determined that people who often smoke marijuana are 3.25 times more likely to develop oral cancer within five years compared to those without cannabis use disorder. Getty Images/iStockphoto 'Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth,' said Raphael Cuomo, an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine and member of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. 'These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.' Advertisement Oral cancer encompasses cancers of the lips, tongue, gums and the lining of the cheeks and mouth. The American Cancer Society projects that there will be nearly 60,000 new US cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer this year and about 12,800 deaths. 3 Oral cancer encompasses cancers of the lips, tongue, gums and the lining of the cheeks and mouth. TommyStockProject – Known risk factors of oral cancer include tobacco use, chronic alcohol consumption and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Advertisement Cuomo's team analyzed health data from over 45,000 oral cancer patients, including 949 who had been formally diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. They accounted for age, sex, body mass index and smoking status. They calculated that tobacco smokers with a cannabis addiction are 624% more likely to contract oral cancer within five years compared to cigarette users not prone to smoking marijuana. The researchers posited that the inhaled smoke is to blame because it can damage mouth tissues. Advertisement Edibles and beverages infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis, don't seem to carry a similar oral cancer risk as smoking weed. 'Research is still evolving, so regular self-checks and dental exams remain wise for all cannabis users,' Cuomo told The Post. His findings were published in the September edition of Preventive Medicine Reports. 3 Studies have consistently reported that cigarette users are five to 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. The risk goes up if cigarette smokers also smoke weed. Getty Images/iStockphoto The researchers emphasized that there should be more exploration of the long-term effects of cannabis, and oral health awareness should be highlighted in substance use disorder treatment and counseling. The UCSD study is not the first to sound the alarm about cannabis use and cancer. A 2024 study out of the University of Southern California linked daily marijuana use to a three to five-fold increase in the risk of head and neck cancers. Oral cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Advertisement Cuomo suggests seeing a dentist or an ear, nose and throat specialist if you have a sore, ulcer or red or white patch in your mouth that has not healed after two weeks, especially if you have a lump, numbness, bleeding or pain when swallowing. 'Early evaluation is critical because oral cancers caught in the first stage are usually curable,' he said.
Daily Mail
01-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
New study shows using marijuana triples risk of developing cancer
People who frequently use marijuana more than triple their risk of developing oral cancer , a new study found. About half of US adults say they have ever tried marijuana, with about 17.7million suffering from symptoms of cannabis use disorder (CUD) . The condition requires a formal diagnosis after fulfilling several criteria, such as using the drug despite the negative impacts it has on a person's life and relationships. University of California , San Diego researchers followed 45,000 people, some with cannabis use disorder, for five years. They discovered that daily smokers were 3.25 times more likely to develop oral cancer than those without the disorder. Dr Raphael Cuomo, an anesthesiology professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine who led the analysis, said: 'Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth.' Cannabis smoke packs a heavy load of toxic chemicals and carcinogens, about 2,600 of them, similar to tobacco smoke. But researchers are only recently getting a fuller understanding of what those chemicals are. They now know that marijuana smoke contains hundreds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, and ammonia. These chemicals adhere to mucus membranes in the mouth, enabling carcinogens to seep into oral tissue. Meanwhile, THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, can suppress crucial immune system pathways that would typically patrol for, and kill, those rogue cells. Of the more than 45,000 patients included in the study, 949 had cannabis use disorder. The group that did not smoke or smoked only occasionally remained either weed free or only occasional users over the five-year study. Over 97 percent were still abstinent or infrequent users by the time researchers followed up. During the study, 106 patients were diagnosed with oral cancer. Among people without CUD, the rate of oral cancer was 0.23 percent, which matches general population rates. However, among participants with CUD, 0.74 percent developed oral cancer. Oral cancer includes cancerous growths that develop in the mouth and throat, including the lips, tongue, gums, the floor of the mouth and the roof of the mouth. About one in 59 men and 1 in 139 women will develop oral cancer at some point in their lives. Oral cancers account for about three percent of cancers diagnosed in the US every year, with about 58,500 diagnoses and 12,250 deaths annually. Researchers said their findings will have implications for cancer screening practices in primary care and mental health settings, as patients with CUD often present with overlapping social and behavioral risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol use, and a lower likelihood of engaging in preventive healthcare. People with CUD who were also tobacco users were 6.24 times more likely to get oral cancer. Age also played a role, with each additional year of age increasing cancer risk by about four times per year. Like tobacco smokers, marijuana smokers see damage to their lung and throat cells, leading to abnormal cell growth that can cause cancer and tissue changes. Those effects can occur in people who are not tobacco smokers, though, indicating that marijuana smoke can be just as harmful on its own as cigarette smoke. Dr Cuomo said: 'These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.' Their findings were published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports . In the United States, marijuana is fully legal for recreational and medicinal use in 29 states. It is entirely illegal in four states. The majority of the public, about 88 percent , supports legalization, according to the Pew Research Center. But public health experts are raising concerns over potential long-term effects, of which scientists still do not have a complete understanding. In June, University of California researchers reviewed 24 studies involving 200million people to investigate the relationship between weed and cardiovascular disease, stroke and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - a group of heart conditions in which there is reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart, such as a heart attack. They found there was a 29 percent higher risk of ACS among cannabis users, a 20 percent higher risk for stroke and double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary artery disease, heart failure and irregular heartbeats. Last month, findings from an FDA-run clinical trial were released, investigating dangerous liver enzyme spikes in people who consumed cannabis. The results showed that eight users of CBD, the substance derived from the hemp plant that's free of the psychoactive chemical THC, developed enzyme spikes above the safe threshold, raising the risk of chronic liver damage or failure. Seven people dropped out due to liver concerns between weeks three and four. However, everyone's liver tests normalized after quitting CBD. Meanwhile, regular use of potent cannabis in adolescence has been linked to long-term changes in brain structure, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control. This is also the age when many psychotic disorders first appear. THC may trigger schizophrenia or psychotic episodes in individuals with genetic predispositions. A 2022 review by University of Bath researchers, which analyzed 20 studies involving 120,000 people, found users of high-potency cannabis were four times more likely to develop addiction and three to five times more likely to suffer a psychotic break compared to those using lower-potency strains. Earlier this year, a report in JAMA Network Open found that emergency room visits in Ontario, Canada, linked to schizophrenia in marijuana users tripled after legalization. Between 2006 and 2022, the rate of schizophrenia among those with cannabis use disorder climbed from four percent to over 10 percent. In contrast, just 0.6 percent of non-users developed the condition.
Daily Mail
01-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Dirty habit followed by 18million Americans TRIPLES the risk of getting cancer
People who frequently use marijuana more than triple their risk of developing oral cancer, a new study found. About half of US adults say they have ever tried marijuana, with about 17.7million suffering from symptoms of cannabis use disorder (CUD). The condition requires a formal diagnosis after fulfilling several criteria, such as using the drug despite the negative impacts it has on a person's life and relationships. University of California, San Diego researchers followed 45,000 people, some with cannabis use disorder, for five years. They discovered that daily smokers were 3.25 times more likely to develop oral cancer than those without the disorder. Dr Raphael Cuomo, an anesthesiology professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine who led the analysis, said: 'Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogenic compounds found in tobacco smoke, which have known damaging effects on the epithelial tissue that lines the mouth.' Cannabis smoke packs a heavy load of toxic chemicals and carcinogens, about 2,600 of them, similar to tobacco smoke. But researchers are only recently getting a fuller understanding of what those chemicals are. They now know that marijuana smoke contains hundreds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, and ammonia. These chemicals adhere to mucus membranes in the mouth, enabling carcinogens to seep into oral tissue. Meanwhile, THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, can suppress crucial immune system pathways that would typically patrol for, and kill, those rogue cells. Of the more than 45,000 patients included in the study, 949 had cannabis use disorder. The group that did not smoke or smoked only occasionally remained either weed free or only occasional users over the five-year study. Over 97 percent were still abstinent or infrequent users by the time researchers followed up. During the study, 106 patients were diagnosed with oral cancer. Among people without CUD, the rate of oral cancer was 0.23 percent, which matches general population rates. However, among participants with CUD, 0.74 percent developed oral cancer. Oral cancer includes cancerous growths that develop in the mouth and throat, including the lips, tongue, gums, the floor of the mouth and the roof of the mouth. About one in 59 men and 1 in 139 women will develop oral cancer at some point in their lives. Oral cancers account for about three percent of cancers diagnosed in the US every year, with about 58,500 diagnoses and 12,250 deaths annually. Researchers said their findings will have implications for cancer screening practices in primary care and mental health settings, as patients with CUD often present with overlapping social and behavioral risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol use, and a lower likelihood of engaging in preventive healthcare. People with CUD who were also tobacco users were 6.24 times more likely to get oral cancer. Age also played a role, with each additional year of age increasing cancer risk by about four times per year. Like tobacco smokers, marijuana smokers see damage to their lung and throat cells, leading to abnormal cell growth that can cause cancer and tissue changes. Those effects can occur in people who are not tobacco smokers, though, indicating that marijuana smoke can be just as harmful on its own as cigarette smoke. Dr Cuomo said: 'These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chronic or problematic cannabis use may contribute to cancer risk in tissues exposed to combustion products.' Their findings were published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports. In the United States, marijuana is fully legal for recreational and medicinal use in 29 states. It is entirely illegal in four states. The majority of the public, about 88 percent, supports legalization, according to the Pew Research Center. But public health experts are raising concerns over potential long-term effects, of which scientists still do not have a complete understanding. In June, University of California researchers reviewed 24 studies involving 200million people to investigate the relationship between weed and cardiovascular disease, stroke and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) - a group of heart conditions in which there is reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart, such as a heart attack. They found there was a 29 percent higher risk of ACS among cannabis users, a 20 percent higher risk for stroke and double the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary artery disease, heart failure and irregular heartbeats. Last month, findings from an FDA-run clinical trial were released, investigating dangerous liver enzyme spikes in people who consumed cannabis. The results showed that eight users of CBD, the substance derived from the hemp plant that's free of the psychoactive chemical THC, developed enzyme spikes above the safe threshold, raising the risk of chronic liver damage or failure. Seven people dropped out due to liver concerns between weeks three and four. However, everyone's liver tests normalized after quitting CBD. Meanwhile, regular use of potent cannabis in adolescence has been linked to long-term changes in brain structure, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and impulse control. This is also the age when many psychotic disorders first appear. THC may trigger schizophrenia or psychotic episodes in individuals with genetic predispositions. A 2022 review by University of Bath researchers, which analyzed 20 studies involving 120,000 people, found users of high-potency cannabis were four times more likely to develop addiction and three to five times more likely to suffer a psychotic break compared to those using lower-potency strains. Earlier this year, a report in JAMA Network Open found that emergency room visits in Ontario, Canada, linked to schizophrenia in marijuana users tripled after legalization. Between 2006 and 2022, the rate of schizophrenia among those with cannabis use disorder climbed from four percent to over 10 percent. In contrast, just 0.6 percent of non-users developed the condition.
