Hampton University To Receive Cancer Treatment Grant Aug 20, 2008
The grant will be used to develop BioEclipse, which Hampton University calls the first biologically optimized treatment planning system for proton radiotherapy cancer treatment. The school says proton therapy is recognized as the most precise form of cancer treatment to date because it can target the tumor directly without harming the surrounding healthy tissue. (WTKR.com, VA)
Website on pancreatic cancer Aug 18, 2008
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the other options. However, 80% cases are likely to relapse post surgery and after that, survival is a matter of six months only. (India Times, India)
In Vietnam, alongside progress, a battle for life Aug 15, 2008
The treatment: radical mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy, then 25 fractions of radiotherapy spread over five weeks ... Wearing brightly coloured scarves over their sparse hair - the result of chemotherapy - they sit around the hospital in small groups, whiling away the time until their next radiotherapy session ... Radiotherapy is a powerful tool in the treatment of breast cancer. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Presbyterian builds state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology Center Aug 15, 2008
The freestanding facility, located on the east side of the hospital complex, currently provides Radiation treatment equipped with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), a sophisticated mode of high-precision radiotherapy that uses computer-generated images to deliver precise radiation doses to a tumor or specific areas within a tumor ... The IMRT approach allows higher and more effective radiation doses to be safely delivered to tumors, with typically fewer side effects than conventional... (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
What causes gigantism? Aug 14, 2008
The other treatment options for someone with acromegaly or gigantism, as she had, is --radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy that is, giving focused radiation to the pituitary tumor to avoid damage to surrounding structures. Then the third are medications that block the effects of growth hormone or block the actions of. (Scientific American)
Targeted Radiation Therapy Can Control Limited Cancer Spread Aug 14, 2008
"Previous studies determined the maximal radiotherapy doses for single organs," said Salama, lead author of the study, "but this technique has not been tested for simultaneous use on multiple organs. So we designed a dose-escalation trial to determine the optimal dose, starting with fairly low levels and increasing the dose in later groups of patients.". From November 2004 through February 2008, 29 patients, with a total of 56 cancerous lesions, enrolled in the trial. (Science Daily)
Cancer Cells With A Long Breath: Seeking Origin Of Brain Tumors In Children Aug 14, 2008
Up to now, medulloblastomas have only been treatable with the standard tools of cancer medicine: operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgical interventions to treat this condition, like all operations on the brain, are particularly delicate, since it is difficult to remove the tumour completely without affecting healthy tissue. (Science Daily)
Risk of Breast Cancer Relapse Can Linger Aug 14, 2008
The women had a variety of treatments -- surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy. Endocrine therapy involves tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors and a combination of the drugs and is usually given for five years. (MEDLINEplus)
Protein key to control, growth of blood cells Aug 14, 2008
Although much research remains to be done, added Tong, other researchers might build on this knowledge to manipulate HSCs for more effective bone marrow transplants for cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It might also improve treatments for particular blood disorders. (EurekAlert!)
Brain tumour discovery Aug 13, 2008
"Although current treatment is effectively successful in half of cases, there is often substantial damage to the brain from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well," Professor Wainwright said. "If we're ever going to tackle these childhood brain cancers, we need to be more targeted in our approach.". (The Age)
More states shred bills for medical errors Aug 13, 2008
Other states have chosen not to charge for eight, nine or 10 mistakes or theyve created their own lists that include errors ranging from the sudden amputation of a limb to directing radiotherapy to the wrong body region. Utah lists 31 potential errors, including the unanticipated death of a full-term newborn and death or serious disability caused by a health care-acquired infection. (MSNBC -- Health)
Struggling to pay Aug 13, 2008
Amanda, 45, from Chessington in Surrey, said: "Although my cancer treatment - the surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy - has finished, I still need medication. "As a result of my cancer I'm now on three different drugs. They cost me about 44 a month. (BBC News -- UK)
Gaza blockade Aug 12, 2008
PHR says the inability to send staff outside Gaza for training is also a problem, giving the example of a new radiotherapy facility that could not be used because there were no trained staff to use it. Fuel shortages have also affected hospitals, with ambulances running out of fuel at points in early 2008, and back-up generators - needed during power cuts - running low on fuel and lacking spare parts. (BBC News)
Cell Therapeutics Announces that the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Completes Enrollment in Phase II Clinical Trial of Brostallicin as First Line Therapy for Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma Aug 12, 2008
The ultimate goal of the EORTC is to improve the standard of cancer treatment in Europe, through the evaluation of new drugs and other innovative approaches, and to test more effective therapeutic strategies, using drugs which are already commercially available, or surgery or radiotherapy. The EORTC has the aim to facilitate the passage of experimental discoveries into state-of-the-art treatment by keeping to a minimum the time lapse between the discovery of new anticancer agents and the... (PR Newswire)
Student dies of leukaemia, one day after his marriage Aug 10, 2008
"The couple decided to have a traditional white wedding, attended by 40 guests at Brasenose College, which had agreed to organise it at short notice. Mr Carver had been having trouble walking after an exhausting regime of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. His health had seemed to be improving on their wedding day. His widow said he had been "just like any other groom" on the day of the wedding."He appeared to be in the best health he had been in for a long time. He looked fantastic, dressed up to... (Independent)
The new cancer trial that offers hope to thousands Aug 10, 2008
Conventional NHS cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy have failed them. They have nothing left to try. (guardian.co.uk)
Surgery 'saves more lives from cancer than drugs' Aug 8, 2008
Surgery cures more cancer patients than either radiotherapy or drugs yet just 2 per cent of biomedical research funding is spent on surgery, John Black said ... " It is thought half of all cancers that are cured were done so by surgery, 30 per cent by radiotherapy and 20 per cent by drugs. There are around 285,000 new diagnoses made of cancer each year in the UK and one in three people will develop some form of the disease in their lifetime. Clinical trials in surgery are difficult to set up and... (Telegraph.co.uk)
Palace denies Prince Philip prostate cancer scare Aug 7, 2008
Doctors often advise elderly patients to avoid aggressive treatments such as radiotherapy and hormone therapy unless the tumour begins growing rapidly. Dedicated: The Queen and Prince Philip marking their diamond wedding anniversary last year. (Daily Mail)
The question Vitamin C: good or bad? Aug 7, 2008
"Some research even suggests that high doses of antioxidants can make cancer treatment less effective, reducing the benefits of radiotherapy and chemotherapy," she says. Along with echinacea, vitamin C is either heroically good for you or ineffectual, depending on the study. (guardian.co.uk)
Vitamin C 'slows cancer growth' Aug 6, 2008
"Some research even suggests that high doses of antioxidants can make cancer treatment less effective, reducing the benefits of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.". Bookmark with. (BBC News -- Health)
Nanoparticles + Light = Dead Tumor Cells Aug 1, 2008
Yang and his colleagues realized that quantum dots also give off light when exposed to megavoltage x-rays, such as those used in cancer radiotherapy. That property, the scientists realized, makes quantum dots an ideal mediator in therapies employing light-activated compounds to treat cancer. (Science Daily)
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Announces 2008 Second Quarter Results Jul 30, 2008
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. as at and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, and should also be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MDntained in our annual... (PR Newswire)
Smoking risk of cancer survivors Jul 30, 2008
The study, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, pinpoints three types of childhood cancer - Hodgkin's lymphoma, soft tissue sarcomas and Wilms' tumour - which are known to carry an increased risk of further tumours due to the form of radiotherapy and chemotherapy used to treat them. The researchers found that smoking was most common among people who had been treated for these cancers when children - nearly a quarter of the 10,000 former cancer sufferers surveyed. (BBC News -- UK)
Swayze back to work Jul 30, 2008
Since his cancer diagnosis in January, Patrick has been undergoing pioneering Cyberknife radiotherapy at California's Stamford University Medical Center. In 'The Beast', Patrick plays an unorthodox FBI agent being pursued by a secret Internal Affairs team. (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
New Treatment Combination Safe For Pancreatic Cancer Patients Jul 23, 2008
ScienceDaily (June 6, 2008) Treating pancreatic cancer with a combination of chemotherapy, biotherapy and radiotherapy prior to surgery is safe and may be beneficial for patients, according to a University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) study presented at the 44th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago ... In a preliminary study, physicians from the Pancreatic Cancer Center of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Cancer Centers examined... (Yahoo News -- Cancer)
Prostate cancer 'wonder pill'... Jul 22, 2008
Trials of a new pill have shown that it can shrink tumours in up to 80 per cent of cases, and end the need for damaging chemotherapy and radiotherapy ... Many patients also have radiotherapy, to reduce associated pain in the bones ... Most men experienced far less pain, meaning radiotherapy could become a thing of the past. (The Drudge Report)
Cancer Survival Depends on Where You Live Jul 17, 2008
"Where the system is either slow in diagnosis, has too few doctors, has very few radiotherapy machines or in some countries, none, you would expect differences in outcome, and that's what these overall survival estimates are helping us provide," he said. Dr. Elmer Huerta, president of the American Cancer Society's National Volunteer Board of Directors, said the study provides evidence for what has long been suspected -- namely, that where you live plays a role in cancer survival. (Washington Post)
Ties that bind Jul 14, 2008
An Albanian doctor told me I should go to Belgrade for radiotherapy. Kurta Saltan. (BBC News -- Europe)
Appeal backs toddler's emergency cancer care Jul 13, 2008
"The trip to London is essential because there currently isn't anywhere in Australia that offers the kind of radiotherapy treatment which will give him the chance of keeping his remaining eye," his mother said. The Foundation hopes it can raise $35,000. (ABC Online)
Advances in fertility science spawn new issues Jul 13, 2008
But patients and their physicians usually want to get cancer treatment started right away in order to increase survival chances, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy are toxic for oocytes, leaving few if any viable eggs. Not covered. (Houston Business Journal, TX)
New Ovarian Stimulation Technique Offers More Cancer Patients The Chance To Preserve Their Fertility Jul 13, 2008
The finding offers the chance for more women who have been diagnosed with cancer to restore their fertility following chemotherapy or radiotherapy -- cancer treatments that can seriously damage the ovaries, often permanently. The findings were presented at the 24th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Barcelona July 7. (Science Daily)
Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Outcome among Prostate-Cancer Survivors Jul 13, 2008
First, although the authors show that hormone therapy diminishes the quality of life, class I evidence supports its use in intermediate-risk and high-risk patients receiving radiotherapy. 2,3,4,5 Highlighting a small effect on the quality of life, given the survival advantages, seems inappropriate. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Molecule That Kills Kidney Cancer Cells Discovered Jul 8, 2008
Radiotherapy, a powerful weapon used to fight cancer, has also proven to be ineffective in killing kidney cancer, in contrast to other types of cancer, Giaccia said. This new research could lead to a treatment to save patients from losing one of their two kidneys. (Science Daily)
Treatment delays result in poor outcomes for men with breast cancer Jul 7, 2008
After surgery, 48 received radiotherapy and 100 received adjuvant chemotherapy or hormone therapy. After a median follow-up of 5. (EurekAlert!)
Talking Shop Jul 4, 2008
I've been training hard to get fit because I was very ill during the radiotherapy. I was on steroids and I lost my hair and put a load of weight on. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
21st century NHS Jul 3, 2008
" Cancer treatment On the other side of the hospital Phil Wing is about to have a dose of radiotherapy to remove the cancer in his throat. Phil Wing is getting state-of-the-art cancer care He is being manoeuvred into a Tomotherapy machine - again the only one of its kind in the NHS. It does two very clever things. First, it pinpoints extremely accurately exactly where the radiation needs to go with a CT scanner. And secondly instead of delivering the radiation from one point it fires small... (BBC News -- Health)
EDAP Expands Ablatherm-HIFU Business in Germany Jul 3, 2008
Ablatherm-HIFU is generally recommended for patients with localized prostate cancer (stages T1-T2) who are not candidates for surgery or who prefer an alternative option, or for patients who failed radiotherapy treatment. Approved in Europe as a treatment for prostate cancer, Ablatherm-HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) is currently undergoing evaluation in a multicenter U.S. Phase II/III clinical trial under an Investigational Device Exemption granted by the FDA. The Company also is... (Primezone Releases)
Cuba approves first therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer Jul 2, 2008
The idea was to "maintain or consolidate" the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Tania Crombet, the centre's director of clinical investigations, said foreigners were welcome for treatment, though its cost had not yet been set. (Yahoo News -- Cancer)
Cancer wing for GMCH Jul 2, 2008
The proposed hospital will have three divisions radiotherapy, surgical oncology and medical oncology. According to the minister, the cancer hospital will have a Positron Emission Tomography scanner, which is one of the latest imaging techniques that can detect cancer at an early stage. (Calcutta Telegraph)
Journal of Clinical Oncology Publishes Leukine(R) Study Demonstrating Positive Survival Outcomes in Patients with High-Risk Melanoma Jul 1, 2008
Among its indications, Leukine is the only myeloid growth factor approved to reduce the incidence of infections resulting in early death following induction chemotherapy in older adults with AML. Important Safety Considerations Leukine is contraindicated in patients with excessive leukemic blasts in bone marrow or peripheral blood (10 percent), in patients with known hypersensitivity to GM-CSF, yeast derived products or any component of Leukine, and for concomitant use with chemotherapy and... (PR Newswire)
New Oral Angiogenesis Inhibitor Offers Potential Nontoxic Therapy For A Wide Range Of Cancers Jul 1, 2008
The success of TNP-470 in Phase I and II clinical trials opened up anti-angiogenesis as an entirely new modality of cancer therapy, along with conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical approaches, says Ingber, now co-interim director of the Vascular Biology Program at Children s.. TNP-470 was first reformulated several years ago by Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Folkman s lab, who attached a large polymer to prevent it from crossing the blood-brain barrier (Cancer... (Science Daily)
Cervical cancer a silent killer Jun 29, 2008
But at a cancerous stage, only radiotherapy can help. A common perception is that it's a poor woman's disease but doctors refute the claim. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Peritoneal Cancer; the Silent & Unk... Jun 27, 2008
Radiotherapy, the use of high-energy radiation, may be used to rid the body of cancer cells or reduce the tumor. This can be done from an external beam on the outside of the body, or internal radiation may be used. (Suite101.com)
Mr and Mrs Tennant want more information from Anglian Water Jun 27, 2008
The retired 62-year-old from Kilsby, Northamptonshire, is undergoing a course of radiotherapy - so any stomach upset could have a serious affect. She and husband Malcolm, 65, are among 250,000 people living in Northamptonshire being urged to boil water for drinking and food preparation after the parasite cryptosporidium was found in supplies. (BBC News)
Refusal Of Suicide Order: Why Tumor Cells Become Resistant Jun 25, 2008
Blocking this protein degradation might set apoptosis back in operation and, thus, increase the effectiveness of radiotherapy or chemotherapy ... "For example, we could use a Siah-1 blocker simultaneously with chemotherapy or radiotherapy to get the cells back into the apoptosis program.". (Science Daily)
Farewell to a fighter, an inspiration to all Jun 23, 2008
Jane underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy and in June 1998 was declared free of the disease. The McGraths, who married in 1999, began campaigning for cancer research. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Condolence book Jun 23, 2008
Fortunately because the lump was found so early it had not spread to the lymph nodes and I only needed a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Janes life was all too short but, Im sure, through being so public and so brave she will save many lives. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
An 11-year battle Jun 23, 2008
She has a mastectomy, followed by six months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 2000 Son James is born. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Cancer centre told to pay Rs 5 lakh to patients kin Jun 23, 2008
The Commission, however, refused to allow the hospitals plea and noted that after having radiotherapy treatment, the patient was totally cured but the hospital, without taking any investigation of cancer except a CT scan, conducted another operation, which was not at all required. The hospital did not even carry out the said operation properly as required which caused the metastasis later, the Commission said. (Delhi Newsline)
The hospital debate: What you should know Jun 22, 2008
Are you comfortable with the fact there is no mention of radiotherapy for Tamworth in the 10 year infrastructure plan ... knowledge do you have of plans for radiotherapy in Tamworth in the next 10 years ... Radiotherapy planning is carried out at State Government level, not regional level. (Blue Mountains Gazette)
Fair shares in the health service Jun 21, 2008
Toynbee is right to note that funds should be concentrated on genuinely effective treatment, but despite funding promises there are not enough scanners, not enough radiotherapy equipment or specialist staff. Separately, a Bangor University report has found that specialist NHS cancer centres rely on charitable donations, particularly for childhood and teenage cancers. (guardian.co.uk)
Radiation Therapy Prolongs Life In Men With Recurrent Prostate Cancer Jun 21, 2008
ScienceDaily (June 20, 2008) Men whose tumors recur after prostate cancer surgery are three times more likely to survive their disease long term if they undergo radiotherapy within two years of the recurrence ... Among men who had received radiotherapy for prostate cancer recurrence, the probability of surviving 10 years was 86 percent, compared to 62 percent among those who did not have radiation ... Prostate Cancer-Specific Survival Following Salvage Radiotherapy vs Observation in Men With... (Science Daily)
New medical research could lead to skin cancer vaccine Jun 20, 2008
He says in the future cancers will be treated by combination of vaccines and anti-cancer drugs that are more subtle than chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But those treatments are still several years away. (ABC Online)
Cancer Drug Gleevec Linked to Muscle Damage Jun 20, 2008
The woman's desmoid tumors were treated with radiotherapy, and she has not experienced any recurrence of rhabdomyolysis symptoms. "We considered our patient's rhabdomyolysis to be induced by imatinib because of the temporal relationship (the rhabdomyolysis occurred within a few days after the initiation of imatinib therapy), the recurrence of rhabdomyolysis with the reintroduction of the drug, and normalization of the creatine kinase level after discontinuation of the drug. Although there is... (MEDLINEplus)
New Therapy Shows Promise For Fighting Treatment-resistant Cancer Cells Jun 19, 2008
18, 2008) A gene radiotherapy system that detects and treats cancer cells that are resistant to traditional forms of chemotherapy and radiation showed success in the laboratory and could eventually prove beneficial for cancer patients, according to researchers at SNM's 55th Annual Meeting ... "These types of cancer cells pose a significant challenge in treating many patients," said June-key Chung, a professor of nuclear medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South... (Science Daily)
Jupiter Medical Center buys Trilogy system Jun 19, 2008
said it has a bought an image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and radiosurgery (IGRS) system for treating cancer and neurological lesions ... "Trilogy will enable us to treat patients with the most advanced radiotherapy techniques, using the most clinically efficient processes in the world. It provides us with tremendous versatility and precision for customizing treatments according to the specifics of each patient's case.". (South Florida Business Journal, FL)
Radiation May Help When Prostate Cancer Returns Jun 19, 2008
"We show that even men with aggressive disease that recurs after surgery seem to benefit from salvage radiotherapy," said lead researcher Bruce J. Trock, associate professor of urology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "In the past, surgeons would have said that the tumor had spread to other parts of the body and that salvage radiotherapy was not appropriate," he noted ... Among the 126 men in the study with aggressive disease, the death rate was 75 percent lower for those given salvage... (MEDLINEplus)
Nigeria: Cancer on the Loose Jun 18, 2008
Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti, has continuously bemoaned the state of cancer treatment in the country, stating that at the existing rate of population growth, only one radiotherapy machine is available to about 20 million Nigerians ... There are only a handful of functioning radiotherapy equipment; access to radio therapy is seriously limited by high cost; latest diagnostic methods are not widely available; scope for multidisciplinary cancer care is limited even as the average cancer patient presents... (allAfrica.com)
Non-Surgical Approach Can Treat Lung Cancers Jun 18, 2008
The alternatives, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, do not have good survival rates ... All the patients had been turned down for surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. (Health-Finder)
Miracle drug Jun 18, 2008
The head of RIMS radiotherapy department and regional cancer centre, Th. Tomcha Singh, said Chawlien, the healer, was putting the lives of the people at stake by freely distributing his medicine, based on a herb locally known as ranlung damdai. (Calcutta Telegraph)
Lung cancer radiation treatment offers new hope Jun 18, 2008
None of them were suitable for normal surgery and were too ill for chemotherapy or radiotherapy meaning their prognosis was extremely poor ... Professor Riccardo Lencioni, Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Cisanello University Hospital, Pisa, Italy, said: "This technique is much better than just radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with a chance of a complete cure of 90 per cent." ... With developments in the technique since the research began, Prof Lencioni, said it could become a... (Telegraph.co.uk)
New PET Scanner Could Improve Diagnosis Jun 18, 2008
"Unfortunately, reflux disease is a common problem in children, especially for those with respiratory problems. If left untreated, the disease can seriously impede children's health, growth and development, not to mention their quality of life. Our results show that scintigraphy is highly effective at safely diagnosing the condition," Wajiha Nasir, a researcher at the Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute in Islamabad, said in a prepared statement. In a third study, German... (MEDLINEplus)
FDA: Stop Hawking 'Natural' Cancer Cures Jun 18, 2008
The 25 companies mostly in the U.S., with the exception of one in Canada and another in Australia sell tonics, creams, teas and pills that make extraordinary claims like "cancers disappear" and will allow a patient to "avoid painful surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other conventional treatments.". Related. (ABC News)
Health Canada Approves First Low Dose Treatment Option to Help Women Better Manage Menopause Jun 17, 2008
QUICK SEARCH BY ORGANIZATION. FREE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES. (Canada Newswire)
Running to recover Jun 17, 2008
I had two rounds of surgery, five months' worth of chemotherapy, followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy, emerging from it all just before Christmas, weak, unfit and 2st overweight. It felt like 10 months of gruelling treatment had aged me by 10 years. (guardian.co.uk)