New Blood Test Predicts Recurrence of HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer

Board certified by the American Board of Radiology, Mary Kara Bucci, MD, has been named on the Best Doctors in America and America’s Top Oncologists lists several times during her career. In addition to administering radiation therapies to patients at the New Mexico Cancer Center, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci has investigated treatment and diagnostic protocols for head and neck cancers.

Oropharyngeal cancers mainly affect the tonsils and the back of the throat. These types of head and neck cancers are most commonly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although HPV-related throat cancer is highly responsive to radiation and other typical treatments, the cancer may return in a minority of patients.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina have determined that an HPV blood test can accurately predict if the cancer will return. Following successful chemotherapy treatment, 115 patients submitted blood tests that detect the presence of HPV. Every patient who tested negative remained cancer-free six months later.

On the other hand, nearly half of those with positive results experienced recurrence. Researchers hope the test will eventually enable doctors to diagnose and screen more accurately for other HPV-related cancers.

What Is Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

After earning her MD from the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci completed her residency in radiation oncology. Dr. Mary Kara Bucci possesses medical licenses in New Mexico and Texas and delivers radiation treatment for various cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

With more than 1 million diagnoses every year, SCC is one of the most prevalent types of skin cancers. SCC can also develop on internal organs or on the genitals. Squamous cells make up the top skin layer, also known as the epidermis. High exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds can damage squamous cells.

While SCC develops slowly, it can spread to other areas of the body and become a life-threatening condition. If a doctor suspects a patient has SCC, he or she will order a skin biopsy. Depending on the severity and size of the SCC, the patient may undergo surgery, radiation therapy, or other cutaneous treatments.

Managing Radiation Dermatitis at Home

Dedicated radiation oncologist Dr. Mary Kara Bucci treats patients at the New Mexico Cancer Center. To this position, Mary Kara Bucci, MD, brings more than a decade of experience in clinical, research, and academic settings that have exposed her to a range of side effects for radiation therapy, like radiation dermatitis. She also studied the efficacy of certain techniques when it came to preventing such issues and had her research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Radiation dermatitis, also known as radiation burns or x-ray dermatitis, is the most common side effect of radiation therapy for cancer treatment. It affects roughly 66 percent of people who undergo radiotherapy and can last for several years after radiotherapy sessions are completed.

Fortunately, many people can treat or manage radiation dermatitis at home. According to the American Cancer Society, skin affected by radiation dermatitis should never be scrubbed and must be washed with either warm or cool water. Further, affected individuals should avoid using an electric razor on irritated skin, skip any after-shaves that contain alcohol, and drink plenty of fluids.

Beyond this, individuals can try different topical treatments to manage the symptoms of radiation dermatitis. Corticosteroid cream, for instance, has been shown to reduce itching and irritation caused by radiation dermatitis. Calendula ointment and silver sulfadiazine cream have also been linked to reducing some symptoms of the condition.

Further, individuals can try special dressings to manage their symptoms or take different oral medications. When it comes to dressings, silver leaf nylon dressings or hydrogel dressings are both effective at reducing pain and symptoms severity. Meanwhile, antibiotics, zinc, and amifostine promote immune function and reduce toxicity caused by radiation, thus improving radiation dermatitis symptoms.

Salivary Gland Cancer Survival Rates

Salivary Gland Cancer
Image: webmd.com

A radiation oncologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mary Kara Bucci, MD, has been practicing medicine for more than two decades. Involved in both clinical practice and medical research, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci of the New Mexico Cancer Center has conducted research on salivary gland cancer and its response to surgery and radiation therapy.

A rare disease, salivary gland cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that develops in the salivary glands. It is seen in roughly one adult out of every 100,000 in the United States and, on average, is diagnosed in patients at the age of 64 years old. Once diagnosed with salivary gland cancer, the five-year survival rate is around 72 percent for all types and stages. However, this varies dramatically depending on the stage of the disease and whether it’s localized or regional.

Localized salivary gland cancers are associated with a five-year survival rate of 93 percent. These types of cancers have not spread outside the salivary glands and are typically in stage one or two. Normally, salivary gland cancers are diagnosed during their early stages at a rate of 43 percent.

Stage three salivary gland cancer has a lower, five-year survival rate of 67 percent. These cancers have spread to body parts that are near the salivary glands, such as the lymph nodes. They are also referred to as regional cancers.

The final stage of salivary gland cancer, stage four, is referred to as distant cancers since they have spread to parts of the body that are far from the salivary glands. The five-year survival rate for distant cancers is about 34 percent.

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