A team of UC Davis scientists has shown in experimental mouse models that a new drug delivery system allows for administration of three times the maximum tolerated dose of a standard drug therapy for advanced bladder cancer, leading to more effective cancer control without increasing toxicity. The delivery system consists of specially designed nanoparticles that home in on tumour cells while carrying the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel. The same delivery system also was successfully used to carry a dye that lights up on imaging studies, making it potentially useful for diagnostic purposes. The findings are published in the journal Nanomedicine.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/252041.phpNot All Doctors Follow Cancer Screening Guidelines
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101014113839.htm
 Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, cabbage,
collards, and kale, are thought to have anti-cancer activity. The chemical responsible for the majority of the cancer-cell fighting effects is called sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is found at particularly high levels in broccoli. Much work has been done to identify the ways in which sulforaphane inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Previously, it has been shown that the chemical changes the way that DNA is utilized. It does this by interfering with proteins (histone
deacetylases) that modify the proteins that organize our DNA (called histones). New research with prostate cancer cells has shown that sulforaphane has more tricks up its sleeve. The chemical is able to change the way other enzymes modify DNA, again leading to altered cell behaviour and inhibition of cancer cell growth.
View additional information on CancerQuest.
The national breast screening programme may be harming more women than it helps, according to evidence presented to an official review. A prominent international specialist has recommended that the national screening programme should be scrapped. Prof Peter Gotzsche said 10 women are harmed by unnecessary treatment for every woman saved. His views have been described as "gravely mistaken" by one doctor involved in screening. Prof Gotzsche, who holds the chair of clinical research design and analysis at the University of Copenhagen, is part of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international network of medical specialists. He said: "Screening detects a lot of cancers that are not dangerous. We call them overdiagnosed cancers, they are pretty harmless.
The Scottish government says it will consider any recommendations that are made.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20090037http://www.brightpink.org/knowledge-is-power/breast-ovarian-health/
The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
(BWoSCC) was officially opened in February 2008. The Beatson provides all the
radiotherapy, and much of the chemotherapy, for patients with cancer in Scotland’s west. We offer our service and care to 60% of Scotland’s population – 2.8 million
people. At the Beatson we seek to do so in a holistic and supportive way from our ultra-modern, state-of-the-art new cancer centre and in our many specialist clinics throughout our region.
20/10/2012
9.30 am I am off to the hospital for an overnight stay to receive chemo for my fourth dose of over friendly cancer.
First stop at the hospital was for blood tests etc.
Then up to ward B5 for a bed.
Back down for to get a painless PICC fitted.
Next my kidneys were being flushed by the pump.
Had a light liquid meal.
At 2.00 am it was time for the dreaded ice chemo.
Woke up 7.00 am and felt brilliant, no sickness, nothing.
The pharmacist visited morning and early afternoon and I
was over the moon at how well things were going.
Ate some breakfast and lunch.
Amazed that after my last horrific experience of ice
chemo 20 yrs ago I was so completely unaffected.
2.00pm I was informed I could go home soon as I felt
confident enough.
My son was coming to collect me after work about
6.00pm.
Just as my son walked in the ward, bang ! I was slammed
with projectile vomiting which continued for 24hrs.
I was assured with all the modern sickness treatments
available they would soon solve it.
Sure enough after various adjustments and much to my
relief it stopped.
The following day I didn’t eat at all, to frightened.
Woke up the following morning and was eating as normal.
Up walking about and felt brilliant.
So after 4 rather than 2 days I decided to go home.
I must say I am very impressed by the wonderful modern facilities and all the medical improvements and I am very confident that in me the ‘BIG C’ has yet
another defeat and a good bit longer to wait.
Many, many thanks for supporting my blog over the last two years.
Just had the results of my scans due to a loss of 3 stone in 3 months and I have to fight yet another battle with the big C. Survived a diagnosis of terminal (2 to 3 months) Small Cell Lung Cancer in 1993, Non Small Cell in 2007 and been having an ongoing battle with Skin Cancer since 2000. Now I have Oesophageal Cancer, They found one tumour in my upper stomach, a nodule halfway up my gullet and two tumours in my throat. So, it’s into the fray yet again. As on previous occasions I requested the medical team go for cure rather than containment, happily they agreed. Three times in the past my wonderful NHS medical teams have got me through it, so I’ve put a bit of pressure on this new team. The plan over the coming months is 3 doses of 3 weekly ice chemo to shrink the tumours, starting today Wed 24th Oct 2012. And if all goes according to plan surgery sometime around the end of the year. Due to being in hospital over the next couple of days updating my blog will be stilted. Do bear with me. Hopefully, if my very fortunate victories over cancer and hard to believe lucky streak continues with this latest more up to date NHS team, both myself and my blog, will still have a few good years left.
Regards,
Robert Lowe
Problems with memory and concentration, along with a general feeling of not functioning mentally as well as usual, are informally referred to by patients as chemobrain. Health care professionals call these symptoms cognitive deficits, from the word cognition, which means thought, and the word deficit, which means falling short of
Symptoms of Chemobrain
If you are experiencing these types of problems, you may be experiencing chemobrain, and you are not alone:
Memory loss
Trouble paying attention
Trouble finding the right word
Difficulty with new learning
Difficulty managing daily activities
People often notice these problems during chemotherapy treatment. Within one year of treatment, many people find these difficulties greatly improve or no longer exist. However, for some people, chemobrain can continue for years following completion of treatment.
Causes of Chemobrain
Researchers are uncertain of the exact causes of these difficulties, but they are currently studying this problem in order to find ways to both treat and prevent it. The causes of long-lasting chemobrain (more than one year after treatment) are not known. However, there are a number of very treatable factors that can cause temporary but similar problems in people undergoing chemotherapy.
These include:
Low blood counts
Stress
Depression
Anxiety
Fatigue and sleep disturbances
Medication to treat side effects
Hormonal changes resulting from some cancer treatments
Tell your doctor if you’re having trouble with your memory or notice any other symptoms of chemobrain. He or she can help eliminate some of the factors that can also cause cognitive problems. For example, medication that treats nausea can make you less alert and affect your ability to think clearly. A simple change to your prescription may make a real difference in how you feel.
http://www.cancercare.org/publications/72-cognitive_problems_after_chemotherapy
Cosmetic surgery adverts aimed at under 18s should be banned according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). It says vulnerable people, especially the young, need to be protected from feeling pressured into having surgery. The Department of Health is currently reviewing the regulations around cosmetic surgery. Twelve recommendations have been sent to advertising regulator, the Committee of Advertising Practice, to consider. BAAPS says it would prefer a complete ban on cosmetic surgery advertising, but that its recommendations are the "bare minimum" needed to protect the public. Special offers "What we are talking about is [banning] advertising which encourages this group of people who are at a very tender age to go through a life changing surgical procedure," says Fazel Fatah, President of BAAPS. The recommendations include banning the use of spokespeople, such as celebrities, who might appeal to under 18s.
BAAPS also wants to ban all discounted and special offers for surgery, including buy-one-get-one-free and money off vouchers. It also wants to stop photos being used if they employ techniques like Photoshop editing to give "unrealistic expectations". The recommendations follow the removal of an advert promoting slimming surgery from daytime TV. Slimming adverts are already banned from children's programming but it's the first time that it's been done with a cosmetic surgery advert. Earlier this year, a report by MPs called for a separate ode of advertising for cosmetic surgery and said girls as young as five were worrying about their appearance.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19660010
It is only natural that someone with a cancer diagnosis would turn to the web for help, even though the results are likely to terrify and reassure in equal measure. But on getting his diagnosis, Italian robotic engineer and open-source artist Salvatore Iaconesi took things one step further. "I did what I know best and asked for my medical records so that I could share them with as many people as possible and get as many opinions as I can," he said. It was a brave decision and one that has touched a nerve. The site he set up - Open Source Cure - has attracted 200,000 responses since it was launched a month ago. On the website, he invites people to help him find a cure, and he is not just talking about a medical one. "Grab the information about my disease if you want and give me a cure, create a video, an artwork, a map, a text, a poem, a game, or try to find a solution for my health
problem," he wrote.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19899469
For many patients, remission of the disease is just the first step in a long and emotionally draining process of recovery. Cancer news usually involves unremittingly grim stories about carcinogens or rising cancer rates. But recently there was something more positive. A Cancer Research UK report shows that deaths are "set to fall dramatically" by 2030. The 17% drop will be the result of major improvements in diagnosis treatment and fewer people smoking. Many more of us can expect to survive cancer. This is marvellous news but unfortunately it's not the full story. "It is not that a magic wand has been waved and they are all cured. It actually means many people will be living longer with the disease. The impact of cancer does not suddenly stop when treatment is over. Many cancer patients have to deal with the physical and emotional effects of their cancer for years afterwards.
Christina Buffham, 32, from Staines, was diagnosed with breast cancer when her son, Jack, was only four months old. During her maternity leave from British Airways she had a mastectomy followed by gruelling chemotherapy. "I got the all-clear on Jack's first birthday," she says, "and I thought, 'Life's going to be brilliant now.' I was euphoric. But when all that dies down, it hits you: your body still isn't right and you are terrified that the cancer will come back." This is a common reaction. Rates of depression and anxiety are very high when treatment ends. Other emotional issues, such as low self-esteem, anger, stress or sleep problems are also widespread. On top of this, cancer survivors are often battling with physical and practical challenges, anything from huge financial losses, to the side effects of medication, profound fatigue, a confused-feeling known as "chemo brain", or lymphoedima (swelling). Their loved ones, meanwhile, might be increasingly baffled as to why they can't bounce back and make the most of life. People suffer for years, often in silence, without any real support. Life after cancer can actually be very difficult and lonely.
In the United States, most major cancer units have survivorship programmes where teams of psychologists, nurses, and other specialists offer ongoing information, advice and emotional support to patients when treatment ends. This, of course, is funded by health insurance. In contrast, NHS post-treatment psychological or practical services are limited, to say the least.
According to NCSI research, 60% of cancer survivors have unmet physical or psychological needs; over 33% have problems with close relationships, careers, or have difficulty performing household duties; over 90% have suffered financial losses. Waving these people off with a six-month follow up appointment, is simply not working. Cancer charities are trying to plug the gaping hole in post-cancer care. The charity Maggie's runs a free six-week programme called "Where Now?" that aims to help people adjust to life after treatment ends. There are, in fact, many highly effective ways to cope with tricky post-treatment issues. But without expert guidance, few people know where to begin. The fear that cancer will come back again is huge. It's impossible to ignore. There are reminders everywhere, on TV, the newspaper, the internet. Other people also say things without realising the impact they're having – more than once people tell about someone they know whose cancer came back, spread and killed them. In fact, fear sets in and – despite a supportive family – can feel very alone.
Your GP can be brilliant, but there's only so much they can do. The consultants are absolutely inundated, and understandably, since you don't have cancer, you can't be their top priority. But at times it can be terrifying, if you feel an unusual symptom and are told to wait and see. None of this must dampen the brilliant news about falling death rates. But there is a clear message behind the headlines and one that must not be ignored: NHS post-cancer treatment services need to change dramatically.
• Frances Goodhart, of The Cancer Survivor's Companion:
Practical ways to cope with your feelings after cancer
(Piatkus). http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/07/life-after-cancer
Researchers at Kansas StateUniversity have developed a simple blood test that can accurately detect the beginning stages of cancer. In less than an hour, the test can detect breast cancer and non-small lung cancer -- the most common type of lung cancer -- before symptoms like coughing and weight loss start. The researchers anticipate testing for the early stages of pancreatic cancer shortly. We see this as the first step into a new arena of investigation that could eventually lead to improved early detection of human cancers.. The idea is, at-risk groups could go to their physician's office quarterly or once a year to take an easy-to-do, non-invasive test, and be told early on whether cancer has possibly developed. The researchers say the test would be repeated a short time later.
Once the test is administered, comprehensive results are produced in roughly 60 minutes. They have designed a second testing method that is anticipated to produce the same results in about five minutes. In addition to early detection, researchers say the test can be tweaked to monitor cancer. For example, patients being treated with drugs can be observed for drug effectiveness. Similarly, doctors can use the dye in the test to determine if the entirety of a tumour has been successfully removed from a patient after surgery.
Researchers evaluated the test's accuracy on 32 separate participants in various stages of breast or lung cancer. Data was collected from 20 people with breast cancer -- ranging in age from 36 to 81 years old -- and 12 people with lung cancer -- ranging in age from 27 to 63 years old. Twelve people without cancer were also tested as a control group. This group ranged in age from 26 to 62 years old. A blood sample from each participant was tested three times. Analysis of the data showed a 95 percent success rate in detecting cancer in participants, including those with breast cancer in stages 0 and 1 and those with lung cancer in stages 1 and 2.
Tests detecting for pancreatic cancer are anticipated to begin in October . http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120926104224.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fhealth_medicine%2Flung_cancer+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Health+%26+Medicine+News+--+Lung+Cancer%29
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