Can a toothache be the reason for someone's cancer? An England based doctor and health content creator @Choji_ES who posts on X, formerly Twitter on reproductive health related content revealed a case where a man went to the dentist due to pain in his jaw and when the tooth was pulled out, a cancer was found in his private part.

The same case also been mentioned by Baridueh Badon (MD, MSc, MBA), who allows posts healthcare content on the same microblogging platform, by the username @BadonB.

Case Study

In this case, a man went to a dentist for a simple toothache, only to discover that he had cancer. This happened to a 78-year-old healthy man, who suffered pain in his lower jaw and noticed a loose tooth. When he went to the dentist, he decided to get his tooth remove to ease his pain. However, despite the removal, his jaw started to swell again. Confused, the man was recommended for a CT scan and something unexpected happened.

It was Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

As per an African proverb, it is true that the head and the body are one; what affects one may touch the other.

What Is Metastatic Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland, which is a part of a man's reproductive system. When it spreads to other parts of the body, like the jaw, it is called metastatic prostate cancer. But, why exactly the jaw? This is because the jawbone is rich in blood and active bone marrow, which makes it a comfortable place for cancer cells to settle and grow.

As per a 2023 study in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medicine, and Pathology, titled Mandibular metastasis from prostate cancer that clinically mimicked osteosarcoma: A case report, noted that in men, 11% of jawbone metastases originated from the prostate gland.

What Are The Signs To Look For?

Warning Signs Dentists Look For:

• Persistent jaw pain or swelling
• Loose teeth without a clear reason
• Slow healing after a tooth extraction
• Numbness or tingling in the jaw

These may seem minor, but they could hint at something serious. Early detection is life-saving.

Regular Checkups And Its Importance

Prostate cancer is the 4th common cancer globally and is most prone to men who are over 40. Every year, it claims about 400,000 lives worldwide.

Take charge of your health

• Don't stay long with untreated STDs or UTIs (toilet infection)
• Have regular medical checkups
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Listen to your body’s whispers before they become screams

Case Study: Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy

Earlier in November, six-time Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy was diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer, which was announced in February. This six-time Olympic champion revealed that he had a pain in his shoulder when he was 47, which did not go away. "I was still lifting weights in the gym, still physically active. You are used to having aches and pains, but this one did not go away."

Prostate Cancer, and types

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. It occurs when abnormal cells form and grow in that gland.

Experts say that not all prostate cancer is deadly. There are cancers that are slow-growing and will not affect a man's lifespan, which is found in 1 in 3 men over 50. Then there is a small number of very aggressive prostate cancers which move quickly and cause harm, this is why regular screening is important.

Chris too has called for more, younger men to be tested, including those with a family history of the disease.

Walking past a bakery and suddenly craving a pastry, even though you’re not physically hungry.

Seeing an ad for your favorite pizza while watching TV and suddenly thinking about ordering it, even though you’ve just had dinner.

Do you experience this too? This is often referred to as “food noise”—persistent cravings, thoughts or mental chatter about food that can occur even when you’re not physically hungry.

A 2025 study published in Nutrients found that 57% of people with obesity reported experiencing food noise.

Constant exposure to food cues—from social media posts and advertisements to food-delivery apps and supermarket aisles—can further fuel these cravings.

While thinking about food is a natural part of everyday life, for some people living with obesity, these thoughts can become persistent and difficult to escape. This may contribute to overeating and, over time, make weight and metabolic health harder to manage.

HealthandMe spoke to Dr. Jasjeet S Wasir, Bariatric & Metabolic Physician, Director, Medanta – The Medicity, to understand the mechanism behind food noise.

What Is Food Noise?

“Food noise is like having a notification pinging on your phone every few minutes. You can ignore it a few times, but eventually the constant pinging wears down your attention and willpower, and you give in to it and indulge,” Dr. Jasjeet said.

A more formal, non-medical definition of food noise is persistent, intrusive thoughts about food, such as cravings, mental “chatter” about what to eat next, or a preoccupation with eating that some people experience throughout the day, seemingly independent of actual hunger.

Normal Hunger vs Food Noise

Normal hunger, or the “hunger of the body”, occurs when the body needs food and the brain responds to that need. Once adequate nutrition and calories have been consumed, appetite is influenced by satiety signals and hormones such as leptin, GLP-1 and insulin.

With food noise, however, thoughts about eating can persist even when a person is not physically hungry.

The biology behind food noise is not necessarily a primary defect in the physiological hunger system, but may involve overactivation of the reward system. This system influences mood, motivation, pleasure and cravings and can be activated by food-related cues such as sight, smell and memory, Dr. Jasjeet said.

What Can Trigger Food Noise?

Common situations in which people may experience heightened food noise include:

• Chronic calorie restriction or dieting
• Chronic sleep deprivation
• Chronic stress
• Rare genetic disorders of the reward system

Could Food Noise Affect Prediabetes and Weight?

Dr. Jasjeet said that "there is no direct or linear correlation between prediabetes and food noise. The relationship is more complex, and it can be difficult to determine which comes first".

In a healthy state, insulin acts on appetite centers in the brain and helps suppress hunger. Prediabetes, in most cases, involves insulin resistance. Insulin resistance in the brain may alter this appetite-suppression effect and potentially contribute to persistent food-related thoughts.

At the same time, prediabetes, excess weight and increased cravings can share common underlying factors, including insulin resistance, inadequate sleep, stress, dietary patterns, genetics and the food environment.

"Food noise becomes important when thoughts about food begin to influence everyday eating behavior—for example, when a person repeatedly eats without physical hunger or finds it difficult to stop thinking about food," the expert said.

If persistent food-related thoughts contribute to excess energy intake and weight gain, they may adversely affect metabolic health and perpetuate insulin resistance. Over time, this can increase the risk of complications such as type 2 diabetes.

However, the doctor said that food noise is not a symptom or diagnostic marker of prediabetes. Prediabetes needs to be identified through appropriate blood glucose tests.

Insulin Resistance Alone Does Not Cause Food Noise

Dr. Manjunath Malige, Director, Endocrinologist, Diabetologist, Obesity & Weight Management Specialist, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, told HealthandMe that people with prediabetes usually have some degree of insulin resistance, but insulin resistance alone cannot be said to cause food noise.

Appetite and eating behavior are complex and influenced by biological signals, brain reward pathways, environmental food cues, sleep, stress and learned behaviors.

In India, where diets can sometimes be carbohydrate-heavy and low in protein or fiber, some people may experience greater fluctuations in hunger and cravings. When this constant chatter around food becomes excessive, it can take up significant mental space. If it leads to frequent snacking or overeating, it can make weight and blood glucose management more challenging.

How Can Food Noise Be Managed?

Dr. Jasjeet said the first step is not to fight food or impose extreme restrictions, but to understand what is driving the urge to eat.

The doctor noted that ask yourself: Is it genuine hunger, or are you eating because of stress, boredom, habit or simply because food is available?

Having structured, balanced meals with adequate protein, vegetables, fiber and healthy fats can improve satiety. Excessive restriction or skipping meals can sometimes make cravings worse.

Other important factors include:

• Good-quality sleep
• Regular physical activity
• Stress management

Most importantly, the experts noted that the goal is not to never think about food, as food is an important part of our lives and culture. The concern is when these thoughts become intrusive, distressing or start controlling eating behavior. In such cases, it is important to seek professional guidance.

Liver diseases are becoming increasingly common in India, yet many people are unaware of the difference between fatty liver and hepatitis. While both conditions affect the liver, their causes, treatment, and long-term risks are very different. Understanding these differences is important because untreated hepatitis can, in some cases, lead to liver cancer over time.

Fatty Liver And Hepatitis: What’s The Difference?

Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat accumulates in the liver. In India, it has emerged as a major health concern due to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy dietary habits. Studies suggest that nearly one in three Indian adults may have fatty liver disease.

Also read: England Set To Become One Of The First Countries To Eliminate Hepatitis C; Here's How

Why Chronic Hepatitis Can Raise Liver Cancer Risk

One of the biggest concerns with chronic hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, is its association with liver cancer. The infection can silently persist for years without causing noticeable symptoms. During this period, continuous inflammation may lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic hepatitis B significantly increases the risk of liver cancer and remains one of the leading causes of liver cancer-related deaths worldwide.

India’s Silent Hepatitis Burden

India continues to carry a substantial burden of viral hepatitis. WHO estimates indicate that nearly 40 million Indians are living with chronic Hepatitis B infection and between six and twelve million with chronic Hepatitis C infection. Many remain undiagnosed because early disease often causes no symptoms.

Warning signs that should not be ignored include persistent fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), dark urine, or swelling in the abdomen. However, many patients with chronic hepatitis may feel completely healthy until significant liver damage has already occurred.

Can Hepatitis-Related Liver Cancer Be Prevented?

Also read: How Chronic Hepatitis Quietly Progresses To Liver Cirrhosis: Why Early Action Can Save Your Liver

"The good news is that liver cancer arising from hepatitis is often preventable. Hepatitis B vaccination is safe and highly effective. Regular screening, timely antiviral treatment, and periodic liver monitoring can significantly reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer"- said Dr Ashwin Rajbhoj from M|O|C Cancer Care Pune. Similarly, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling diabetes, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol intake can help prevent and reverse fatty liver disease in its early stages, he added.

The key message is simple: fatty liver and hepatitis are not the same disease. While fatty liver is primarily linked to lifestyle and metabolic health, chronic viral hepatitis can silently progress to liver cancer if neglected. Early diagnosis and timely treatment remain the best defence against serious liver complications.

By Dr Ashwin Rajbhoj, M|O|C Cancer Care, Pune

Over 57 million people worldwide live with dementia, causing 36.3 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and ranking as the seventh leading cause of death. But when it comes to dementia, memory loss is often the first symptom that comes to mind.

While forgetting birthdays or losing keys are commonly considered early warning signs of dementia, this may not always be the case.

Experts say a person can remember every birthday and anniversary and still have dementia.

What Are The Early Signs Of Dementia?

“Dementia may not begin with memory loss. It can begin with smell, language, personality or navigation,” Dr Priyam Bordoloi, an internal medicine resident from Assam, said in a post on the social media platform X.

1. Loss Of Smell: When Coffee Stops Smelling Like Coffee

Dr Priyam noted that loss of smell can be an early sign, but it is often overlooked because it may be attributed to a viral illness, sinus disease, smoking, medicines or a head injury.

“Persistent, unexplained smell loss may also be an early clue to Parkinson’s disease or dementia with Lewy bodies,” he added.

2. Everyday Words Start Disappearing

It is not simply an occasional tip-of-the-tongue moment. “In primary progressive aphasia, word-finding, grammar or comprehension may worsen while recent memory stays intact,” Dr Priyam noted.

3. The Family Says, “They Are Not The Same”

Changes in personality or behaviour may sometimes appear before memory problems.

“In behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia, apathy, impulsiveness, loss of empathy or poor judgment may come before memory loss,” Dr Priyam said.

4. A Familiar Route Suddenly Feels New

Families may notice navigation problems even when a person has no obvious memory complaints. “Families ask me, ‘He has driven there for 20 years. How did he get lost?’ When it repeats, I look beyond forgetfulness,” Dr Priyam said.

He noted that visuospatial dysfunction can appear early in dementia with Lewy bodies or posterior cortical atrophy.

One Odd Symptom Does Not Necessarily Mean Dementia

Dr Parveen Yograj, a general surgeon from Jammu, added that one unusual symptom alone means little.

"A new, persistent and progressive pattern that disrupts daily life and is noticed by loved ones is what demands attention," he said on X.

How Can Dementia Risk Be Reduced?

Dr Yograj said several lifestyle measures may help protect brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

• Exercise Regularly: Regular aerobic exercise along with strength training can boost brain blood flow and build cognitive reserve.
• Follow A Brain-Healthy Diet: A Mediterranean or MIND diet, rich in vegetables, berries, nuts, olive oil and fish, can support vascular health.
• Prioritize Good Sleep: Solid sleep helps clear toxic brain waste and supports overall brain health.
• Keep Blood Pressure, Sugar And Cholesterol In Check: Managing blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight can help reduce the risk of vascular dementia.
• Stay Socially And Mentally Active: Stay socially connected and mentally engaged by talking with others, reading, learning new skills and playing games.
• Quit Smoking And Limit Alcohol: Avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol and treating hearing loss early can also support long-term brain health.