by George Leard

Created on: January 31, 2010   Last Updated: February 18, 2010

Link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer

The statement by Assistant Professor Dr. Dominique Michaud, of the Harvard School of Public Health, in January 2007, regarding the link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer, has captured the attention of the world, and even the common man in the workplace, who is a victim of gingivitis, and has a father who is dying from pancreatic cancer.

He said,” Our study provides the first strong evidence that periodontal disease may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. This finding is of significance, as it provides some new insights into the mechanism of this highly fatal disease”. www.medicalnewstoday.com

While this information may not come as a surprise to many in the medical profession, it was certainly a wake up call for every family with a history of gum disease and pancreatic cancer. The question may be asked, should this new development be taken seriously, and how was this link established?

It is important for the ordinary dental patient also, to have this question answered, especially how the research was done, and how were the conclusions arrived at. A study was conducted between1986 and 2002, involving 51,529 US men, working in the medical profession. They were questioned using the questionnaire sampling model, over two year periods, regarding their health. Analysis of the data supplied by Health Professional Follow- UP Study, showed 67 of them reported periodontal disease, and 216 affected with pancreatic cancer, compared with those reporting without the disease.

After adjusting for the age of these men, their smoking habits, the prevalence of diabetes, the body mass index and a number of other factors, the men with periodontal disease in the population, had a 63% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer, than those reporting without the disease.

To the dental patient about to fulfill an appointment, this information needs some explanation, so Dr. Michaud, if he was in that office, would respond in the following way,"Individuals with periodontal disease may have elevated serum biomarkers of systemic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein, and these may some how, contribute to the promotion of cancer calls”. He is therefore linking the gum disease that a person has, elevating serum biomarkers in the blood stream, to help promote the cancer of the pancreas.

This is should be enough evidence to affect anyone who is a smoker, as well as affected with the gum disease. However, to

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