Alternative Treatments: April 2014

Friday, 18 April 2014

How Does the CyberKnife System Treat Prostate Cancer?

The challenge that doctors face in treating prostate tumors with radiation therapy is that the prostate moves unpredictably as air passes through the rectum and as the bladder empties and fills. Minimizing any large movements of the prostate can help reduce unnecessary irradiation of surrounding healthy tissue. The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is able to overcome this challenge by continuously identifying the exact location of the prostate and making active corrections for any movement of the prostate throughout the course of the treatment. During treatment, a patient lays still and breathes normally while the CyberKnife zeroes in on a moving target – the prostate – and irradiates it without harming surrounding areas. As a result, the procedure is more comfortable for patients, radiation is delivered more accurately and treatments can be completed in four to five days.

Currently the CyberKnife Radiosurgery System is most frequently used by itself for patients with early stage prostate cancer confined to the prostate or in combination with another therapy, such as external beam radiation for patients with disease that extends beyond the prostate. Depending on the stage of the patient’s prostate cancer the doctor will recommend a treatment plan.

Over a dozen clinical experiences have been published to date on CyberKnife prostate SBRT. At 5 years after treatment a recurrence-free rate of 93% has been reported [45]. Recurrence-free rates of 100% at 44 months [46], 97.5% at 51 months [47], and 94% at 4 years [48] have also been reported. Toxicity has been quite low; rates of grade 2-3 toxicity at 20-60 months after treatment range from 2-10% for urinary toxicity and 0-5% for bowel toxicity [45-52]. Erectile dysfunction has ranged from 60% at 35 months for an early experience [53] to 13-40% at 1.5-3 years for more recent experiences in which the prostate gland is delineated with the aid of MRI [49, 50, 54], which typically reduces the volume of the region exposed to radiation [55].

What does a typical CyberKnife treatment entail?
Prostate cancer treatment with the CyberKnife System involves a team approach, in which several specialists participate. A team may include:

a urologist
a radiation oncologist
a medical physicist
a radiation therapist
medical support staff

Once the team is in place, the patient will begin preparations for CyberKnife treatment. As part of their diagnosis, doctors will have measured prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels via a blood test that will be used to help track treatment results. Prior to CyberKnife treatment, patients will be scheduled for a short outpatient procedure in which three to five tiny gold seeds – called fiducial markers – are inserted into the prostate. The fiducials are placed through a needle, which is guided via an ultrasound. Patients may be asked to clean out their rectum with an enema the day of the fiducial placement.

The CyberKnife System uses the fiducials as reference points to identify the exact location of the prostate. Doctors will wait approximately one week after insertion of the fiducials before CyberKnife treatment planning can begin to ensure that fiducial movement has stabilized.

Prior to the treatment, a special custom-fit body cradle will be made. The cradle is made of a soft material that molds to the patient’s body, ensuring that the patient is in the same position for each treatment session and is comfortable during the procedure.

While lying in the cradle, patients will undergo a CT scan. This CT data will be used by the CyberKnife team to determine the exact size, shape and location of the prostate. An MRI scan also may be necessary to fully visualize the prostate and nearby anatomy. Once the imaging is done, the body cradle will be stored and used during CyberKnife treatment.

A treatment plan will be specifically designed by a medical physicist in conjunction with the patient’s doctors. Patients will not need to be present at this time. During treatment planning, CT and/or MRI data will be downloaded into the CyberKnife System’s treatment planning software. The medical team will determine the size of the area being targeted by radiation and the radiation dose, as well as identifying critical structures – such as the bladder and rectum – where radiation should be minimized.

At this time, the CyberKnife System will be able to calculate the optimal radiation delivery plan to treat the prostate. Each patient’s unique treatment plan will take full advantage of the CyberKnife System’s extreme maneuverability, allowing for a safe and accurate prostate cancer treatment. After the treatment plan is developed, patients return to the CyberKnife center for treatment. The treatment is usually delivered in one to five sessions.

For most patients, the CyberKnife treatment is a completely pain-free experience. They may dress comfortably in street clothes, and the CyberKnife center may allow patients to bring music to listen to during the treatment. Patients also may want to bring something to read or listen to during any waiting time, and have a friend or family member with them to provide support before and after treatment.

When it is time for treatment, patients will lay on their custom body cradle. The radiation therapist will ensure the body cradle is properly adjusted and that patients are appropriately positioned on the treatment couch. When patients are ready for treatment to begin, the location of the prostate will be tracked and detected. The medical team will be watching patients every step of the way as the CyberKnife tracks the patient’s prostate as it moves, and safely and precisely delivering radiation to it.

The CyberKnife System’s computer-controlled robot will move around the patient’s body to various locations from which it will deliver radiation. At each position, the robot will stop. Then, special software will determine precisely where the radiation should be delivered. Nothing will be required of the patient during the treatment, except to relax and lay as still as possible.

Once prostate cancer treatment is complete, most patients quickly return to their daily routines with little interruption to their normal activities. If treatment is being delivered in stages, patients will need to return for additional treatments over the next several days as determined by their doctors.

Occasionally patients report temporary symptoms following treatment, which may include reduced urinary stream, burning with urination, more frequent urination, increase in frequency of stools, loose stools and more gas with bowel movements than usual. To date, prostate cancer patients have experienced low rates of moderate to severe toxicity ranging from 0-3.5% for urinary and 0-2% bowel toxicity [45-52]. Doctors will discuss all possible side effects with their patients prior to treatment. In addition, doctors may prescribe medication to control any side effects, should they occur.

After completing a CyberKnife radiosurgery treatment, it is important for patients to schedule and attend any follow-up appointments. Response to prostate cancer treatment varies from patient to patient. Clinical experience today examining treatment outcomes up to 5 years following treatment has shown that most patients respond very well to CyberKnife treatments. CyberKnife physicians will monitor the outcome in the months and years following a patient’s treatment using PSA tests and digital rectal exams.

History of the Therapy

“I see in Dr. Max Gerson one of the most eminent geniuses in the history of medicine” Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

Dr. Max Gerson MD

Born in Wongwritz, Germany in 1881, Max Gerson studied medicine at the University of Freiburg from 1899-1906. While a student, Max Gerson suffered from severe, debilitating migraine headaches that left him unable to function for days. With his professors of medicine unable to help him, Max Gerson set out to cure himself of his condition by making dramatic changes to his diet and adding specific natural supplements. He eliminated the heavily salted, processed, fatty foods and meat that were a major component of the standard German diet and replaced them with raw and cooked, unsalted, organic fruits and vegetables. Within a matter of weeks the migraines disappeared.

Now graduated, and practicing in Bielefeld, Germany, Dr. Gerson was successfully applying his “migraine” diet to his patients when one returned to him completely cured of his skin tuberculosis. This success caught the attention of world renowned thoracic surgeon, Ferdinand Sauerbruch and, together Gerson and Sauerbruch commenced a study of the diet on 460 terminal tuberculosis patients. Of the 460 patients treated on the Gerson therapy, 456 were completely cured making Gerson a household name throughout all of Europe.

With Hitlers rise to power, Dr. Gerson (a German Jew) fled Germany while narrowly escaping his own death in the Holocaust. After briefly fleeing to France, Dr, Gerson eventually made his way to the United States where he set up practice on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Dr. Gerson lost all of his seven siblings in the Holocaust.

While practicing in Manhattan, Dr. Gerson was approached by a woman dying of stomach and gall bladder cancer. Having heard of his famous tuberculosis treatment, she implored him to apply it in her case but Dr. Gerson refused due to the enormous political pressure he knew he would eventually face from his colleagues….after continual pleas from the woman Dr. Gerson finally agreed to treat her in secret….and she, too, was cured. From that moment on Dr. Gerson admitted that he could no longer turn his face away from this deadly scourge of cancer and began to treat people given up to die by their medical doctors… many of which he also cured.

Rapidly, Gersons name began to spread and as a consequence, on July1-3 1946, he was called to testify before the United States Senate at a hearing for the Pepper- Neely Anticancer Bill which was designed to appropriate 100 million dollars in funding for anyone who could show promise in the realm of cancer treatment. Gerson presented five of his formerly “terminal” patients before the committee and the complete records of five more. So shocked were those in the room that renowned ABC news broadcaster, Raymond Gram Swing, present at the testimony, went on his national radio broadcast that night and announced to the entire nation that a cure for cancer had been discovered. Unfortunately the dark forces of medicine were also listening and from that point on Dr. Gerson became a marked and censured man and the Pepper-Neely Anticancer Bill (document # 8947 of the United States archives) was defeated by four senators who were medical doctors.

Over the next 13 years, Dr. Gerson would lose his membership privileges to the New York State Medical Society, be prohibited from publishing his work in peer-reviewed medical journals and, ultimately, murdered by a likely medical and pharmaceutical industry more interested in preserving vast pharmaceutical profits then curing a dying and suffering humanity.

Journal of Cancer Science & Therapy

Cancer is a pathological condition, where assemblage of cells displays uncontrolled growth, invasion and sometimes metastasis. Starting from diagnosis, therapy, and post therapy procedures, cancer treatment involves various Medical, Clinical, Pathological, Psychological approaches with several implications. Cancer research hence is an ever growing literature with the advancement of new therapeutic solutions to prevent, handle and fight it effectively.

Information plays a pivotal role at every stage of the cancer treatment and prevention. The Journal of Cancer Research and therapy (JCST) is a peer reviewed journal that offers a platform that accommodates a wide range of fields in its discipline for the authors to make their contribution towards the journal where the editorial office promises a quick and value added review process for the submitted manuscripts for the quality of publishing.

JCST is an Open Access publishing journal that aims to publish most complete and reliable source of information on the discoveries and current developments in the form of original articles, review articles, case reports, short communications, etc. related to Cancer research and therapy and making them freely available through online without any restrictions or any other subscriptions to researchers worldwide.

This top best open access journal is using Editorial Manager® System for quality in review process. Editorial Manager® is an online manuscript submission, review and tracking systems. Review processing is performed by the editorial board members of the JCST or outside experts; at least two independent reviewers approval followed by editor approval is required for acceptance of any citable manuscript. Authors may submit manuscripts and track their progress through the system. Reviewers can download manuscripts and submit their opinions to the editor. Editors can manage the whole submission/review/revise/publish process.
Aims and Scope

*Unofficial 2012 Impact Factor was established by dividing the number of articles published in 2010 and 2011 with the number of times they are cited in 2012 based on Google search and the Scholar Citation Index database. If ‘X’ is the total number of articles published in 2010 and 2011, and ‘Y’ is the number of times these articles were cited in indexed journals during 2012 than, impact factor = X/Y

Cancer Is Easy To Overcome -- I'll Show You How

oin the thousands of people who have read my book and are free of cancer today as a result. I've explored the cause of their breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, etc. with them. Together we can always determine the cause. Has your cancer doctor discussed the cause with you? Why not? Once we've agreed on a cause, reversing the cancer becomes easy. Don't believe me? Please read on.....
Typical causes include root canal teeth or other dental problems (most cancers), emotional trauma and/or long term stress and poor diets.
The thousands who are "cancer-free" include people with all types and stages of cancer, including many "terminal" cancer patients. These people are all over the world, in 86 countries. They tend to come to me and my book as a last resort -- after their cancer doctors have given up on them and assigned them a "survival time." "Get your affairs in order -- you have two months to live."
TRASH THAT "DEATH SENTENCE"

I never give up on anyone with cancer. I've seen too many people recover completely after that "survival time" sentence from their doctors. Can you follow a simple diet and supplement regimen for 6-8 weeks? That's all that my readers have found is necessary to reverse their cancer. My mission is to help you join their ranks as a "long-term cancer survivor." I want you to live out your normal lifespan, not just "survive" for five years with a destroyed quality of life.
Would you like a method for checking your progress at overcoming the cancer? You prepare the sample at home? You send it to the lab. It costs $55. I give you the instructions in my book.
I'm not selling anything except my book and the coaching service I offer (see below). Substances, clinics, doctors, and other resources I recommend pay me nothing. That's how I keep my readers' faith in my integrity. I'm not a medical professional. However, I've studied cancer and its treatment every day for fifteen (15!) years. The information I give you is exactly "what I would do if I had your cancer." It's not a prescription. You can "take it or leave it."
BRAND NEW UPDATE
My book "Cancer-Free -- Your Guide to Gentle, Non-toxic Healing" was just updated (4th Edition) in November, 2011. This edition adds Dr. Carlos M. Garcia, M.D. as a co-author with me. Dr. Garcia has contributed lots of his knowledge from his unique experience healing lots of cancer patients at his clinic in Clearwater, Florida. Of course, the book now also includes the information in the 155 newsletters I have published beginning in 2000. To buy it now, just CLICK HERE.
THE HEALING REGIMEN
The regimen I recommend for ALL cancer patients comes at the cancer from seven different "directions." Seven different theories about how to deal with cancer cells. All of these seven forms of treatment are gentle (no dangerous, too-rapid "die off"), non-toxic and they all work together. They are, in fact, synergistic. They help each other.
They address the five characteristics of every cancer. These five conditions must be corrected before anyone can get over cancer: 1) A weak immune system; 2) A lack of oxygen uptake by the cells; 3) Excessive toxins; 4) Acidity; and 5) Specific deficiencies. Conventional cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation and surgery) makes all of these conditions worse. In fact, it is responsible for almost all the deaths attributed to "cancer." That's right. The "treatment" causes the deaths -- not the cancer.
Why? The conventional cancer treatments are approaching the cancer tumor (or its existence in your blood, lymph system or bone marrow) as if it were the "enemy." Kill the cancer cells at all costs! Those costs may be your heart, your liver, your kidneys -- or your life.
Why do they do these things? There are literally 400 other effective ways to treat cancer. All of them are non-toxic and harmless to your other organs. Why doesn't your cancer doctor tell you about these options?
Can you spell M-O-N-E-Y?
The average cancer patient (like you) generates $1.3 million in revenue for the cancer "industry." Do you think they want you to be healed by something that costs pennies a day?
THE COST
How much would you think a regimen like mine should cost? Take a guess. $10,000 US Dollars? $2,500 US Dollars a month? Well, hold onto your chair. The cost is exactly $155 per month in U.S. Dollars. Please understand. You pay just $155 for the food and supplements. You don't pay me anything. I don't get any compensation from the sources where I recommend you buy the food and supplements. I just try to give you the cheapest and best source I can find. I have often changed my recommendations when I have found something better.
To buy the book with an unconditional money-back guarantee, just CLICK HERE.
MY CRUSADE
To get to this regimen, I have studied cancer treatment every day for the last fifteen years -- since 1998, when I first realized all the information that was available even then on the Internet. I've sifted through hundreds of "alternative" cancer "cures." I've talked to thousands of cancer survivors, cancer doctors, nutritionists, nurses, cancer experts of all kinds. I've read everything I could get my hands on. I am on a mission -- a crusade, if you will -- to help as many people as possible avoid my late wife's fate. [See "About Me" on the left of this screen.]
JUST A LIMITED TIME COMMITMENT
Now, you or your loved one can benefit from my experience. All I suggest is that you give this regimen six to eight weeks while postponing other treatment. I'm not asking for you to commit your life -- just six to eight weeks. I've found that within just a few days, 90% or more of the cancer patients who do this feel so much better that they continue with this regimen for life.
You see, I know it's not too difficult because I do it every day myself for prevention. I am 81 years old and in perfect health.
ADDITIONAL COACHING
To overcome cancer, it is important to have your loved ones "on board" with you. To make it easy to do that, just explore the Coaching service I offer at this website. The information in this Coaching service comes from the lessons I've learned from all my research, but, more importantly, from the lessons taught to me by all the thousands of coaching clients I've worked with all over the world. It is in a format now where you can easily share it with your loved ones.
A SIMPLE APPROACH
How does this work? Simple.
First, you buy my book, either in e-book (computer file) form or in paperback form. Just CLICK HERE.
Included in the book is a complete set of instructions on the "Self-Treatments That I Recommend." There is also information on locating holistic doctors, clinics and other resources. Usually you do not need a holistic doctor or clinic.
Second, you test the levels of cancer cells in your body using a test I teach you about in the book.
Third, you try my recommended regimen for 6-8 weeks.
Fourth, you take a second test. If that test shows you are not making progress (rare for people who have the discipline to follow my recommendations), you come back to this website and click on the "Coaching" link. Just follow the instructions there to get coaching from me anywhere in the world. We will discuss the causes of your cancer, how to reverse them, and then what to try next, based on your experience to that point.
Deal?
I'm committed to helping you. If you can commit to just this six to eight week program at a cost of less than $200, including the price of my book, the special food and the supplements, we have a deal.
Interested? If you think you need more information, you can click on one or more of the links below to learn more. Remember: The first step to complete and permanent healing is to buy my book "Cancer-Free." Just CLICK HERE.
FREE NEWSLETTER
You may also want to subscribe to my free "Cancer-Free" newsletter. I publish it by e-mail every month. It updates the information in the book with anything new I've discovered. Usually, I publish the story of a successful cancer survivor. Just remember, after you fill in the form and hit the "Sign Up" button, you need to come back here and read more of the free information, including the last two years of my newsletters. OK, to sign up for the newsletter, just click here.
Bill Henderson
Author, "Cure Your Cancer" and "Cancer-Free"

Alternative Cancer Treatment Information: Alternative cancer treatments heal lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, brain cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia and all other cancers.
Cancer-Free -- Your Guide to Gentle, Non-Toxic Healing: This "Cancer-Free" book is the result of ten years of research and writing by Bill Henderson. In addition to this book, he has written "Cure Your Cancer" and 123 newsletters on the same subject.
Cancer-Free -- Readers' Feedback: Readers' who are cancer-free using information in this book tell you what they think.
Cancer-Free -- About The Author: Bill Henderson, author of "Cancer-Free" has been helping cancer patients use alternative cancer treatments to get cancer-free since 1998. His mission: to help you!
Cancer Treatment Coaching: Personal coaching on your cancer treatment is available from the author of "Cancer-Free" and "Cure Your Cancer." Please be sure to read one of these books before you apply for coaching.
Cancer Treatment -- Its Nature And Options: Cancer treatment options befuddle most cancer patients. Here in "bite-sized" articles is information on both the nature of cancer and its treatment options..
Newsletter Archives: Every month Bill Henderson publishes a newsletter with the latest information on healing cancer with gentle, non-toxic methods. Access to past newsletters is free.
Links: Links to other sites with natural cancer treatment information.
Web Talk Radio Show: Bill Henderson's Web Talk Radio show covers cancer every week.
Reader's Comments and Testimonials: Readers express their opinions about the book "Cancer-Free"

Breast Cancer Treatment

Your doctor can determine the most ideal treatment methods for you depending on the type of breast cancer you have. This varies by cancer stage, grade and other factors.
There are numerous breast cancer treatment options available. It is possible to feel overwhelmed during the decision making on the best treatment for you. It is advisable to seek a second opinion on the matter from a cancer treatment specialist, and you can also talk to others who have undergone breast cancer treatment in the past.

Breast Cancer Treatment

First, watch a video for breast cancer treatments:

1. Surgery

There are several surgical procedures available. They include:

Lumpectomy

This is also referred to as breast-sparing surgery. In this procedure, the tumor is removed as well as a few tissues that were surrounding the tumor. This is an ideal treatment method for small tumors.

Mastectomy

This is a surgery done to remove all breast tissues in the entire breast. These tissues include lobules, fatty tissues, nipples, areolas, ducts and skin. There is also the skin sparing mastectomy which ensures the skin covering the breast is left intact for the purpose of reconstruction.

Sentinel node biopsy

This refers to the treatment method where a few infected lymph nodes (sentinel) are removed. However, the doctor must first ascertain that some lymph nodes have been infected before the procedure is undertaken.

Axillary lymph node dissection

This is the removal of additional lymph nodes if the sentinel lymph nodes are infected. These additional lymph nodes are mostly in the armpit.

Removal of both breasts

If one breast is highly infected by the cancer cells, some women prefer having the other uninfected breast removed too. This reduces the risk of developing the cancer again.
Depending on the surgical procedure you choose, you may be exposed to different complications. There is risk of infection and bleeding after surgery. After the procedure, you can go for breast reconstruction. You can discuss this possibility with your surgeon.

2. Radiation Therapy

This type of treatment involves the use of energy beams under high power. These can include X-rays which kill cancer cells. This procedure can be done using an external radiation machine or you can undergo brachytherapy where the radioactive elements are placed internally.
External radiation is most effective for lumpectomy in breast cancers during the early stages. Your doctor may recommend radiation after the surgical treatment procedure if you had advanced breast cancer or cancer that has spread to lymph nodes.
The side effects from radiation therapy are the appearance of a red rash (especially on the area receiving treatment) and fatigue. The breast tissues may also look swollen and firm. In some rare cases, radiation therapy has resulted in heart and lung damage even though it is in very rare cases. There are also cases of cancer developing later in the treated parts.

3. Chemotherapy

This is a type of treatment where drugs are used for killing the cancer cells. This type of therapy is recommended on cancer cases that have a high change of spreading. Chemotherapy decreases the chances of the cancer recurring.
If you have a larger breast tumor, you may be put under chemotherapy before surgery. Chemotherapy shrinks the tumor making it easier to remove through surgery. This treatment method is also used in women with cancers that have spread.
The side effects of chemotherapy treatment greatly depend on the drugs being used. Some of the common side effects are hair loss, fatigue, vomiting and an increased risk of infections. Other rare side effects include heart and kidney damage, premature menopause, blood cell cancer as well as damage to the nerves.

4. Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy or hormone blocking therapy treats hormone sensitive breast cancers. This type of cancer is referred to as ER (estrogen receptor) positive or PR (progesterone receptor) positive cancers.
The treatment can be administered after a surgical process to reduce the chances of the cancer recurring. In case the cancer has spread to other parts, hormone therapy can shrink the cancer and control it.
Treatments used in hormone therapy include:

Hormone blocking medication

This can include SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). These are medications that block estrogen from attaching to cancer infected estrogen receptors. These medications also slow down tumor growths and eventually kill cancer cells. Some of these medications include raloxifene, tamoxifen as well as toremifene. These medications can have side effects like night sweats, hot flashes as well as vaginal dryness.

Aromatase inhibitors

These are simply medications that inhibit the making of estrogen hormone. However, these medications are only useful for women who are past menopause. Examples of these medications include anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole. Some of the side effects of using these drugs include vaginal dryness, night sweats, hot flashes and muscle aches. You also run the risk of bone thinning.

ER destruction drugs

This is a drug that blocks cancer infected estrogen receptors and signals the cells to destroy these receptors. The fulvestrant drug is this type of drug and is ideal in post-menopausal women. Some of the side effects include joint pain, nausea and hot flashes.

Ovary hormone production inhibitors

This can be administered in form of medication or a surgical procedure. The medication is meant to inhibit the ovaries from producing estrogen. The surgical process is meant to remove the ovaries.

5. Targeted Therapies

These types of drugs attack abnormalities in cancer cells. Some of the targeted drugs ideal for treating breast cancer include:

Trastuzumab

This is a drug that stops the production of protein by cancer cells. Without the protein, these cells cannot multiply, and they consequently die. Side effects of this drug include heart problems, diarrhea and headaches.

Pertuzumab

This is a drug approved for use in chemotherapy and metastatic breast cancer. This is given to cancer patients who have not used any other drug for treating their breast cancer. Some of the side effects include hair loss, diarrhea and heart problems.

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (kadcyla)

This is simply trastuzumab blended together with a drug for killing cells. This makes the drug ideal in finding cancer cells while the cell killing drug attacks the cancer cells. This is a drug given to women who have tried the trastuzumab alone and chemo to no avail.

Lapatinib

This is a drug given to women with advanced breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer. It can be used alongside chemotherapy as well as hormone therapy.

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Family of tragic breast cancer victim call for revolutionary new treatment that could extend patients' lives to be made available in Scotland

JANE McGUIRE'S family are supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer's work to help patients with secondary cancer receive revolutionary new drugs that could give them more time with their families.

Jane's sisters Margie, left, and Catherine now take care of Ramone

WHEN Jane McGuire was broken the news that the breast cancer she had been fighting had spread to her brain, she had just one wish – to spend as much time as possible with her young son.

Jane, 42, a devoted mum to five-year-old Ramone, was deeply touched by the fundraising efforts of her family, friends and neighbours to raise enough money to allow her and her son to go on a dream holiday.

Her family say planning the holiday and even taking part in a sponsored walk to raise money for the trip helped lift her spirits and gave her something happy to look forward to, after being told she was so seriously ill.

But tragically Jane never got to take her son on holiday.

She died just weeks after her family’s fundraising efforts raised more than £6000 for the trip.

While some of the money was still used to pay for a holiday for Ramone, Jane’s family gave the rest of the cash raised to three charities including Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Now, almost two years on from Jane’s death, her family are supporting the charity’s work to help other women with secondary breast cancer receive revolutionary new drugs that can help extend the lives of those with the disease.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer say one such drug, Kadcyla, is the first and only targeted chemotherapy drug for secondary breast cancer.

While it is currently available for use in England, it has not yet been approved for patients in Scotland.

The charity are hopeful that imminent changes to the way the Scottish Medicines Consortium approve drugs will lead to the medicine being cleared for use north of the border.

And Jane’s family say they only wish their sister had been prescribed such a treatment that could have given her the chance of spending more precious months with Ramone.

Jane’s sister, Margie Duncan, 58, of Falkirk, said: “Jane was the type of person who wanted to live life to the full.

“She wanted to cram as much into life as she could and, most of all, she wanted to have as much fun as possible with Ramone.

“Jane loved to travel and the thought of going on holiday somewhere with Ramone, making special memories for him, really did give her a lift.

“To lose her so quickly and especially for Ramone to lose her when he was still so young was another cruel blow.

“It does break my heart to think that there are other women out there in exactly the same situation as Jane, who could benefit from such new drugs and who should be getting them now.

“And I know Jane would be happy that we were speaking out in her memory to make sure other people with secondary breast cancer aren’t denied the drugs they need, just because someone says they might be too expensive.”

Jane was keen to make very special memories with her son Ramone

Jane, a talented artist, was first diagnosed with breast cancer aged just 38 after experiencing pain in her left breast.

She initially underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy to remove the tumour.

When another lump appeared, she had a mastectomy to remove the breast, followed by reconstruction surgery.

Her family say she recovered well from the operation and, for the next couple of years, they believed she had put her illness behind her. But she returned to the hospital for further tests after starting to feel very breathless and suffering everything from an achy head to sore feet.

Her family were devastated when scans showed tumours in her liver, lungs and bones.

Just a few months later, the cancer had spread to her brain.

Nurse Margie said: “When Jane was told the cancer was back and had spread, we were all absolutely devastated.

“Jane was the youngest of seven siblings, our little sister, and she was also a single mum to Ramone.

“The doctors were very honest about not being able to cure the cancer but Jane was determined she was going to fight it with every breath in her body.

“She refused to talk about dying and only wanted to focus on being positive and strong. It was hard seeing her so ill.”
Margie said that as her sister’s illness progressed, she did everything she could to spend as much good quality time as possible with her son.

Margie said: “Ramone was just 18 months old when Jane first fell ill, so her illness was very much part of normal life to him.

“Jane was such a devoted mum. She really wanted to be out there making memories with him.

“She did manage to see him start school and was so proud of him but sadly her illness progressed far too fast.”

Jane died at Strathcarron Hospice in June 2012, aged just 42.

As her family continue to come to terms with her death, they have set up an annual fundraising event, the Jane McGuire Sunshine Memorial Walk, in her memory.

And they know she would be proud that they are helping other people battling cancer as part of her lasting legacy. Margie said: “Jane lives on in Ramone, who doesn’t look like his mum but is very like her in personality.

“He now lives with my sister, Catherine, and he is such a clever, funny, kind little boy – and I know he would make Jane very proud.

“But if she had known there might be drugs that could have given her an extra few quality months with her son, then I know she would have done anything she could to get them.

“I know she would want other women to get them, too.”

James Jopling, director for Scotland at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “We expect the Scottish Medicines Consortium to assess Kadcyla later this year.

“Kadcyla is a very exciting, ground-breaking drug, which has been shown to give up to six extra months of life in
HER2-positive secondary breast cancer patients. It has more manageable side effects and gives a better quality of life than that provided by existing treatments.

“We urge the Scottish Medicines Consortium to give serious thought to how innovative this drug is and do everything within their powers to approve it for use in Scotland.”

He added: “Around a thousand women died from secondary breast cancer in Scotland last year, yet some medicines that would have given these women extra precious quality time with their families are not available in Scotland, leaving clinicians and patients with few options.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Women with secondary breast cancer deserve the extra months that medicines such as Kadcyla offer.”

Run From the Cure 2 Trailer

The official Run From the Cure 2 trailer has now been released. The sequel powerfully illustrates how far the movement has come since the original film’s release. With testimony from terminal cancer survivors and leading cannabis researchers, activists, and dispensary owners, Run From the Cure 2 goes further than any other cannabis oil documentary.

Rick Simpson and several doctors are hosting a seminar in Slovenia where many topics related to cannabis extract medicine will be discussed. This event is a major opportunity for both the public and media to be educated about the full potential of cannabis.

The Path Forward for Cannabis Medicine
There is now enough information to convince anyone that cannabis extracts are remarkably effective against disease. With the Sanjay Gupta documentary, the world now knows that cannabis extracts have proven miraculously effective for Dravet syndrome. This case opens minds to other possibilities. With Charlotte Figi’s case as the primary catalyst, The Comprehensive Report on Cannabis Extract Medicine has been formed. You can read this to more intimately understand the different pieces of this movement, as well as share with others to educate them. Furthermore, by visiting the Media Bomb Campaign page, you can participate in coordinated efforts to share this information with influential people. The time for revolution has finally come, but it will take all of us working together to change the world in the most peaceful and beneficial way possible.
You can view the document for free at first link. The second link points to Kindle, where the report can be purchased for $2.99. Both versions are identical.

Cancer Patients To Test Personalised Drugs

The project, hailed as a "very important step forward", could see patients given a specific drug designed for their cancer.

7:10am UK, Thursday 17 April 2014

Video: Cancer Drugs Trial 'An Important Step Forward'

Enlarge

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Correspondent

A unique new trial could bring hope to thousands of lung cancer patients in the UK by targeting their tumours with more personalised medication.

Cancer Research UK is teaming up with pharmaceutical companies and the NHS to launch the "National Lung Matrix" trial this summer.
When a patient is diagnosed a sample of their tumour will be analysed by researchers to establish its genetic makeup and mutations.
The patient could then be given the opportunity to try out a specific drug designed to target their type of cancer.
Over the course of the trial up to 14 different medicines will be tested from pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Pfizer.
Clinical trials usually involve one type of medication.

Cancer Images — Around 42,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year

Speaking to Sky News, Professor Peter Johnson, Chief Clinician for Cancer Research UK, said the amazing advancements in molecular testing mean we now know a lot more about how different types of cancer develop.
"The reason this is exciting for patients with lung cancer is that really for the first time we're able to look at their cancers and screen them for a whole variety of molecular changes as the cancer has developed.
"Then we can say to them this is a treatment we think will be effective for you if chemotherapy hasn't worked.
"So instead of just having a conversation about one type of treatment at a time we now have a whole panel of drugs coming through into testing, and in this way we hope we can make progress much faster."
The drugs will first be tried out on a small group of patients, with researchers looking for signs of improvement, such as increased survival and tumour shrinkage.

Dr Harpul Kumar, Chief Executive at Cancer Research UK. — Dr Harpul Kumar has hailed the move towards personalised treatment

Medicines that show promise will then be tried out on a larger number of patients.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK, but the deadliest. Around 42,000 people are diagnosed every year, but over two-thirds find out at a stage when it is too late for them to be offered treatment that could cure them.
Fewer than 10% of people diagnosed with lung cancer survive for at least five years after diagnosis.
Dr Harpul Kumar, Chief Executive for Cancer Research UK, told Sky News this new clinical trial could rewrite the rule book on how research into new drugs is carried out.
He said: "This is a very important step forward in the fight against cancer.
"We know that every patient's cancer is unique, so we're moving away from a 'one size fits all' approach and striving for more personalised treatment.
"Critically we are shifting the emphasis from designing a trial around a specific drug, to designing it around selecting from a range of drugs for a specific patient.
"We could hope that within a couple of years we'll be talking about this type of approach in many forms of the disease."

A Novel Approach to Cancer Therapeutics

Oncolytics Biotech is a biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential therapeutics for use in a broad range of cancers. The Company is conducting clinical studies using REOLYSIN®, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, in some of the most prevalent forms of the disease including lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Oncolytics’ clinical program includes a number of human trials at a variety of stages including a Phase III trial in head and neck cancers. The Company has advanced its product manufacturing and intellectual property initiatives in parallel with its clinical development program to support development of a commercial product.

GMA’s Amy Robach Shares Her Emotional Hair Cut Due To Cancer Chemo Treatment

Good Morning America‘s Amy Robach has made her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment very public on the morning talk show and Wednesday she became very emotional as she debuted the new short haircut that she said gave her “control of something I have very little control of.”
She explained to her co-hosts and in a very personal video that “With chemo comes hair loss,” and she was feeling the effects after two of her six-session treatment plan.
“I am slowly starting to lose more and more each day,” she said, so she decided to chop off her long blonde locks.
“Today I am taking control of something I have very little control of.”
PHOTOS: They Said It! The 24 Most Explosive & Bizarre Celebrity Interviews Ever
Robach, 40 and a mother of two, filmed the haircut and truthfully showed the viewers that she was crying at the loss, but that she was doing so in order to be happier.
“I want to say I had something to do with how I look, not the cancer.”
Struggling through tears, she said: “It’s like a fresh start, a new chapter.”
PHOTOS: Celebs Stand Up To Cancer
Explaining that 2.1 million women are living with cancer in the United States, she says she shared the visit to the salon to let others know: “You’re not alone. And you too can be brave.”
Her co-host George Stephanopolous told her she looks “fantastic,” and Robin Roberts, who has shared her own cancer diagnosis and treatment told her it was a “powerful message” she was sending.
“I’m here and I’m going to stay here,” Amy said, showing off the new short cut.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer, "I Won't Back Down!"

Just in recent years, Triple Negative Breast Cancer has sparked interest in the news where instead of calling the tumor as ER-negative, PR-negative, and HER2-negative; researchers began using the shorthand term, "Triple Negative," dubbed the "new type" type of cancer. Being Triple Negative, you don't have a targeted therapy and that your only treatment option is chemotherapy.

Triple Negative is seen in about 15% of all breast cancers. Triple Negative is a very aggressive cancer that tends to strike younger women, pre-menopause, especially among African-American women and women who have BRCA1 mutations. The tumor tends to be fast growing and is less likely to show up on an annual mammogram. TN is more likely to metastasis early on; has a high rate of recurrence in the first 2-3 years from diagnosis and has a poorer prognosis than other types of breast cancer due to lack of specific, targeted treatment for TNBC.

Mother, 3 daughters, all fight cancer at the same time

MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - Imagine the devastation of finding out that your child has been diagnosed with cancer. Now, imagine what it would be like to have three children diagnosed with cancer. And that's not even all.
Felicia and Jayla are known throughout St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for their laughter, energy, and enthusiastic hugs. Both were diagnosed with optic nerve glioma at 3 and 4 years old. The oldest, Jayla, is now 10.
"Very unexpected. no warning signs anything like that," said the girls' mother, Elnora.
Both girls went in for eye checkups. When doctors saw the tumors, they ended up at St Jude.
"We do scans every three to six months," added Elnora. "They're on medication every morning. Blood work throughout the month. At St. Jude four out of five days a week."
Elnora and her husband, Frederick, were astounded when they learned that they would not have any out-of-pocket expenses for treatment at St. Jude.
"I was able to take care of my children, be there for them, walk with them, talk with them, be right by their side without having to worry about how am I going to pay for something," said Elnora.
But Elnora's worries are far from over.
Her youngest daughter is now being treated for the same condition as her older sisters. And if that were not enough, Elnora was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She had to battle her own cancer while her three girls were being treated for theirs.
"I had it in three spots in my neck, my chest area, and a spot on my back. Between stages two and three," she explained.
Thankfully, Elnora is doing better and keeping a positive attitude while focusing on her three children as they receive treatment at St. Jude.
"I hope and pray that you get to do this, you know, milestones you take for granted. Sixteenth birthday, sweet 16, or turning into a teenager, those things you pray for. But I am very optimistic. They're my inspiration," said Elnora.

When the cancer you beat comes back

Kezia Fitzgerald beat cancer once -- and she's determined to do it again, for her husband Mike and son Lochlan.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Kezia Fitzgerald went into remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011
The cancer relapsed in March of this year
Fitzgerald says relapse is the "fear of the known"

Editor's note: CNN first covered Kezia Fitzgerald's fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011. Her daughter Saoirse passed away later that year. In March, Kezia found out her cancer had relapsed. You can read more about her journey on her blog.

(CNN) -- When I "beat" cancer the first time, I was excited. My daughter was on her way to remission as well, and we were going to be a normal family again.

It was almost over.

Then Saoirse's cancer came back with a vengeance, and she was taken from us. I wanted to trade places with her, but I was better. I was in remission, and I had to learn to live again, even though my baby girl had died.

So I did just that. I pushed forward. I started a nonprofit neuroblastoma foundation in Saoirse's honor, helped my husband start a business called CareAline Products to distribute products I had made for her when she was sick, and gave birth to our second child.

Mom sews a new dream after toddler's death

Life seemed to be moving in the right direction. I felt great, and while there was always a little voice telling me remission wasn't a guarantee, I thought that I had made all the necessary changes in my lifestyle to keep me cancer-free forever.

Then, in one instant of excruciating pain, that belief that everything was going to be OK was gone.

A kidney stone sent me to the ER. When the doctor came back with the CT results, I wasn't expecting the words that would come out of her mouth:

"You have a 4-millimeter kidney stone. But you also have some swollen lymph nodes next to your aorta. They were flagged by the radiologist because of your history."

The world went silent, which is a feat, considering I was sitting in a busy ER. I'm pretty sure I stared dumbfounded at the doctor for at least a minute, unmoving. Lymph nodes. Swollen. Those words stuck in my head.

How could this be happening again? I didn't have time to deal with cancer.
Kezia Fitzgerald

While I did my best to believe that follow-up tests would be negative, in the back of my mind, I knew.

The cancer was back.

I was sent home to pass my kidney stone, and to start the excruciating process of figuring out what the heck was going on inside my body. First came the scans -- CT and PET. Then a biopsy.

Waiting for test results takes an extreme emotional toll. With every day that passed I grew more anxious, and more unfocused.

The news came at lunchtime on a Tuesday six weeks after that fateful ER trip. "They are calling it a Hodgkin's lymphoma," the doctor said. All I could say was, "OK."

I was numb. Then frustration set in, quickly followed by extreme annoyance.

How could this be happening again? I didn't have time to deal with cancer. I had a foundation to run, a business to help with, and first and foremost, an 8-month-old to take care of.

When I set out to fix something, I do it right. I think this is why my cancer relapse hit me so hard. It means I have to go back to the drawing board and start again. It's a feeling of failure that is hard to overcome.

I have tried not to let my family and friends see my disappointment, but it has been almost impossible to hide.

This time, cancer isn't the unknown beast it was the first time I was diagnosed. This time cancer was the nagging neighbor who finally moved and put their house on the market and then decided to come back instead of paying closing costs.

Relapse is a fear of the known.

I know what chemo feels like. I know the nausea, the hair loss, the numbness, the fatigue, the burning veins and the pain. I know that chemo can take me from feeling great to feeling like crap in less than four hours.

I know what high-dose chemo does to a patient whose only wish is to live a little bit longer. I've seen quality of life stripped away for a chance at a few more months, and the ever-diminishing chance of a cure.

With that knowledge came a major decision: Should I give in and allow myself to be thrown back into the chaos of toxic therapy -- or defy the fear and find a better way?

During the six weeks I waited for my test results, I started to think about, talk about, and research different treatment options. I wasn't comfortable doing chemotherapy again, as I knew the treatment would be much more intense and toxic than what I had already been through.

When relapse was confirmed, my general practitioner told me about homeopathic cancer therapy. I did more research, and made more phone calls. It just felt right. My doctors are on board, especially since I have a slow-growing disease.

While some may not understand my choice to forgo conventional treatment, this time around I'm determined not to be scared into toxic therapy. This is a chance to take back control of my body.

I'm determined to beat cancer, and I know that I am strong enough to do so.

After all, I did it once before.

Schoolboy set for US cancer treatment trip

A SCHOOLBOY from Overslade is to travel to America for specialist life-saving treatment against an extremely rare cancer.
Adrian Secareanu is one of only 77 people in the UK since 1967 to have Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma.
And after being diagnosed in 2012 and having several operations to remove it from his neck and jaw, the 12-year-old is to have Proton Therapy to prevent it returning in a more aggressive form.
The treatment - which directs radiation treatment to precisely where it is needed with minimal damage to surrounding tissue - will be funded by the NHS and carried out at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville where he will spend around three months.
Mum Corina, a nurse at St Cross, said: "We are overjoyed at being able to secure the funding and that he will be going to America as soon as possible.
"You think something like this wouldn’t happen to you and that it can’t touch you. But we now know this is not the case.
"Adrian is a wonderful child, very polite. We want to have his life back.
"Hopefully we can help raise awareness of the condition because another child could have to go through the exact same situation."
The family are now hoping to raise £10,000 with the help of charity Kids ‘N’ Cancer so his mum and dad can stay with him in America.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) Names Devin C. Carty Chief Talent and Experience Officer

Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) today announced the appointment of Devin C. Carty as Chief Talent and Experience Officer. Carty will serve as a key member of the CTCA leadership team, creating and executing an enterprise-wide talent strategy that includes talent acquisition and selecti..

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) today announced the appointment of Devin C. Carty as Chief Talent and Experience Officer. Carty will serve as a key member of the CTCA leadership team, creating and executing an enterprise-wide talent strategy that includes talent acquisition and selection, external talent brand reputation, stakeholder engagement, and leadership development. Cancer Treatment Centers Of America logo.

"We are truly fortunate to have someone of Devin's professional and personal caliber," said Gerard van Grinsven, President and CEO. "With the addition of Devin we look forward to continuing our mission of creating a world class, talent based organization that attracts individuals with a passion and expertise in treating the whole person and not just the disease of cancer."

Carty was most recently the VP, Culture, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer for Vanguard Health System where he oversaw a network of 30 hospitals and more than 45,000 employees. Prior to his role with Vanguard, Carty was a partner with Gallup Consulting where he worked extensively with healthcare clients on issues including culture improvement, human capital management, employee engagement and physician partnership and engagement. Carty also worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a researcher for its space program, studying the different rates of E. coli in an oxygenated vs. deoxygenated environment.

Carty received an Executive MBA in International Executive Leadership from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska. Prior to that, Carty received a dual bachelor's degree in biology and biochemistry from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. Additionally, Carty advanced his education through Executive Development and Certifications in Design Thinking from the Institute of Design at Stanford, Lean Process Improvement from Toyota University, Leadership and Organizational Transformation from Center for Creative Leadership, Strengths Coaching from Gallup University, Information Technology from SUNY-Binghamton School of Management, and Corporate Restructuring, Mergers and Acquisitions from Harvard Business School.

20 years of data shows treatment technique improvement for advanced abdominal cancer

Meaningful long-term survival is possible for selected patients suffering from advanced cancer of the abdomen when treated with cytoreductive surgery with Hyperthermic IntraPeritoneal Chemotherapy, or HIPEC, according to a first-of-its-size analysis by physicians at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Wake Forest Baptist has the largest reported, single-center experience with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC, said lead author Edward A. Levine, M.D., and analysis of 20 years' worth of patient data shows that outcomes have clearly improved for patients undergoing this treatment technique.
Cytoreductive surgery, or debulking, is removal of part of a malignant tumor which can't be completely excised and is done to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness. HIPEC is a perfusion technique in which heated chemotherapy is administered directly into the abdomen during the surgery to kill remaining cancer cells.
The findings are published in the current issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and were presented by Levine, professor of surgery and chief of surgical oncology service at Wake Forest Baptist, last year at the annual meeting of the Southern Surgical Association.
"Peritoneal dissemination of abdominal malignancy has a clinical course marked by bowel obstruction and death," Levine said. "It traditionally does not respond well to intravenous chemotherapy. This two-phase approach has clearly extended the lives of many of our patients."
For the study, Levine and colleagues reviewed data of 1,000 patients who underwent 1,095 HIPEC procedures over the past two decades. The average age of patients was almost 53 years and slightly more than half were female. Primary tumor sites were: appendix 472(47.2 percent), colorectal 248(24.8 percent), mesothelioma 72(7.2 percent), ovary 69(6.9 percent), gastric 46(4.6 percent), others 97(9.7 percent).
Levine said the median overall survival was 29.9 months, with a five-year survival of 32.5 percent. "The data further shows that patients with advanced abdominal cancer should no longer be approached with therapeutic nihilism," he said. "Long-term survival is clearly possible for selected patients treated with HIPEC."

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Molecular Biologist Explains How THC Completely Kills Cancer

Below is a video of Dr. Christina Sanchez, a molecular biologist at Compultense University in Madrid, Spain, clearly explaining how THC (the main psychoactive constitute of the cannabis plant) completely kills cancer cells.
Not long ago, we published an article examining a case study recently published where doctors used cannabis to treat Leukemia, you can read more about that here. To read more articles and view studies about how cannabis is an effective treatment and cure for cancer, click here.
Cannabinoids refer to any of group of related compounds that include cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis. They activate cannabinoid receptors in the body. The body itself produces compounds called endocannabinoids and they play a role in many processes within the body that help to create a healthy environment. I think it’s also important to note that cannabis has been shown to treat cancer without any psychoactive effects.
Cannabinoids have been proven to reduce cancer cells as they have a great impact on the rebuilding of the immune system. Although not every strain of cannabis has the same effect, more and more patients are seeing success in cancer reduction in a short period of time by using cannabis. Contrary to popular belief, smoking cannabis does not assist a great deal in treating disease within the body as therapeutic levels cannot be reached through smoking. Creating oil from the plant or eating the plant is the best way to go about getting the necessary ingredients, the cannabinoids.
The world has come a long way with regards to accepting this plant as a medicine rather than a harmful substance. It’s a plant that could benefit the planet in more ways than one. Cannabis is not something offered in the same regard as chemotherapy, but more people are becoming aware if it, which is why it’s so important to continue to spread information like this. Nobody can really deny the tremendous healing power of this plant.

Cancer treatment shows promise

Xiaoyang Qi, a research scientist in the Division of Human Genetics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, has discovered the compound SapC-DOPS, that has potential for brain cancer tr

An experimental cancer treatment developed locally has the potential to revolutionize the way doctors treat the disease.
The compound, called SapC-DOPS, tricks cancer cells into committing suicide without harming healthy tissues - and with no apparent side effects - developers say.
Bexion Pharmaceuticals in Covington, which manufactures the compound, plans to begin the first phase of testing it on humans by mid-2011, said president and CEO Ray Takigiku."There's nothing like this kind of drug in anyone's pipeline," he said ...

Cancer Treatment Options

At UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health we offer several types of cancer treatment options from chemotherapy to surgery. We want to make sure that we offer every patient the most personalized cancer care possible. With the advances in cancer treatment and our multidisciplinary team approach, we are able to provide you with the best treatment plan for your specific diagnosis.

Menopause-Like Woes Hinder Breast Cancer Treatment: Study

FRIDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) — Hot flashes and other unpleasant side effects are a major reason one-quarter of breast cancer patients do not start or do not complete their recommended hormone-blocking therapy, a new study finds.

Five years of daily pills — either tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors — is recommended for many women whose breast cancer expresses the hormones estrogen or progesterone. The drugs have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer returning and to extend survival.

Despite such benefits, this study of more than 700 breast cancer patients in Detroit and Los Angeles who were eligible for hormone therapy found that about 11 percent never started treatment and 15 percent stopped it early.

Unpleasant, menopause-type side effects, such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes or joint pain, were the most common reasons women either stopped or never started the therapy.

“We need to develop better ways of supporting women through this therapy,” lead study author Christopher Friese, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, said in a university news release.

Those most likely to complete their hormone therapy were patients who were most worried about their cancer returning and those who already took medication regularly, according to the study, which was published online March 31 in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

Patients least likely to begin hormone therapy included those who received less information about hormone therapy, which suggests that doctors need to properly educate patients before treatment begins, the researchers said.

Women who saw a breast cancer surgeon instead of a medical oncologist as their primary follow-up also were less likely to begin hormone therapy.

“It was particularly interesting that greater fear of recurrence was associated in our patient sample with greater adherence to endocrine therapy,” study senior study author Dr. Jennifer Griggs, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

“We don’t want our patients living under a cloud of fear, so we need to develop creative ways to both reassure and motivate them,” said Griggs, a medical oncologist. “This means providing better education about the importance of staying on these medications and partnering with primary care and cancer doctors to help patients manage symptoms.”

More than 234,000 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and more than 40,000 will die from the disease, the American Cancer Society estimates.

TA142 Anaemia (cancer-treatment induced) - erythropoietin (alfa and beta) and darbepoetin: understanding NICE guidance

The summary of the key recommendations on anaemia (cancer-treatment induced) - erythropoietin (alpha and beta) and darbepoetin. It is written for patients, carers and those with little medical knowledge and may be used in local patient information leaflets or any other suitable publication.

Tired after cancer treatment? Walking may help

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have been treated for cancer often have lingering fatigue, but a new analysis of more than three dozen studies suggests regular walking or cycling might help boost their energy.
Patients' long-lasting tiredness has been blamed both on the cancer itself, including cancer-related pain, and on the effects of treatments such as chemotherapy.
Prior studies point to talk therapy, nutrition counseling and acupuncture as possible ways to ease cancer-related fatigue during or after treatment (see Reuters Health story of October 29, 2012).
But light-to-moderate exercise has the advantage of being something people can do on their own time, for little or no cost.
"We're not expecting people to go out and be running a mile the next day," said Fiona Cramp, who worked on the analysis at the University of the West of England in Bristol.
"Some people will be well enough that they're able to go for a jog or go for a bike ride, and if they can, that's great. But we would encourage people to start with a low level of activity," she told Reuters Health - such as a 20-minute walk a couple of times each day.
Cramp and her colleague James Byron-Daniel pooled findings from 38 studies that directly compared more than 2,600 people with cancer-related fatigue who did or didn't go through an exercise program.
The majority of that research looked at women with breast cancer. The type of exercise program varied, from walking or biking to weight training or yoga. More than half of the studies included multiple exercises or allowed participants to choose their own type of physical activity.
The amount of prescribed exercise ranged from two times per week to daily workouts, lasting anywhere from ten minutes to two hours, depending on the study.
When they combined the results, the researchers found physical activity both during and after cancer treatment was tied to improved energy. In particular, aerobic exercise such as walking and cycling tended to reduce fatigue more than resistance training, they reported this week in the journal The Cochrane Library.
"What we do know is there will be an appreciable difference; the average patient will get a benefit from physical activity," Cramp said. "The actual amount of reduction in fatigue is going to vary according to the individual."
For example, the team saw exercise-related benefits for people with breast cancer and prostate cancer, although not for those with the blood and bone marrow cancers leukemia and lymphoma.
"Some of the hematologic patients may not have the reserves to always tolerate the aerobic exercise," said Carol Enderlin, who has studied fatigue and cancer at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
"They do not always have the oxygen carrying capacity, for instance," because the disease and treatment affect blood cell counts. For those people, non-aerobic exercise or exercise at a lower dose may be a better option, said Enderlin, who wasn't part of the research team.
Regular moderate exercise is one non-drug therapy recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Although it might seem intuitive to deal with fatigue by getting lots of rest and avoiding extra activity, that could lead to more loss of muscle mass and fitness, according to Cramp and Byron-Daniel.
One cancer specialist not involved in the new study said that along with reducing fatigue, a combination of moderate exercise and nutrition therapy may help women with breast cancer in particular lower their risk of recurrence. Women being treated for breast cancer tend to gain weight, said Dr. Roanne Segal, from the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada.
"We are now pushing... lifestyle programs which incorporate diet and exercise to get you to either maintain your weight or reduce your weight," she told Reuters Health.
But the most appropriate exercise program, Segal added, will depend on where patients are with their treatment and the details of their particular cancer.
Cramp emphasized that people will have different goals and abilities when it comes to exercise, and that they should discuss those with their doctor. And although most patients will be able to do some kind of physical activity, fragile bones and anemia might hold others back.
"Cancer patients should of course first talk with their doctor to see if it's safe to exercise," Enderlin told Reuters Health. "If it's felt they are safe to exercise, they should maintain a level of at least comfortable activity in order to keep up their endurance, to keep up their strength (and) to promote function."

Understanding the Roots of Dramatic Black-White Cancer Disparities in the Nation's Capital

cross the nation, cancer is the leading cause of death among men and women under the age of 85. However, the burden of cancer is not experienced equally across the population: Nationwide, black Americans have higher rates of death from cancer than white Americans. Nowhere has this disparity been more apparent than in the nation's capital.
Black residents of the District of Columbia were 90 percent more likely to die from cancer in 2008 than white District residents (mortality rate of 237.4 per 100,000 among black residents vs. 125.1 among white residents). While rates of death attributable to cancer are lower among white District residents than whites nationally, they are greater among black District residents compared to blacks nationally.
In a RAND report commissioned by the DC Cancer Consortium, my colleagues and I brought together data from a range of sources to examine factors that may contribute to these disparities, including cancer risk behaviors (like smoking), cancer prevention behaviors (like exercise and screening), cancer treatment, and health care access.
We find, for example, that black District residents are more likely to smoke and less likely to exercise than white residents (placing them at higher risk of the most common cancers) and that black residents are less likely to report having been screened for colorectal cancer compared to white residents. However, black and white residents report very similar—and relatively high—rates of screening for breast and cervical cancers. This likely in part reflects efforts to make screening more accessible and affordable in the District through programs that provide free screening and/or support patients with dedicated health care "navigators"
Although we find some differences in cancer risk and prevention behaviors among black and white District residents, their scope and magnitude suggest that other differences in the continuum of cancer prevention and treatment may be important to explaining observed disparities. For instance, disparities may reflect differences in access to treatment for cancer and differences in quality of care for black and white residents. Data from the National Cancer Database show that, once diagnosed with cancer, black patients in the District are more likely to begin treatment at a later stage compared to white patients. However, richer data on the trajectory of care among cancer patients in the District are lacking.
Further investigations of cancer treatment access and quality, as well as regular, sustained monitoring of cancer outcomes among District residents, are critical to efforts to address racial disparities in cancer outcomes. Eliminating these disparities has the potential to substantially decrease the burden of cancer in the District of Columbia.

Valerie Harper says she's no longer dying of cancer

Here's another reminder that doctors aren't always right and even "terminal" cancer isn't always a death sentence: Beloved TV actress Valerie Harper, who last year announced she had only months to live, now says she is "cancer-free."
"I'm now the poster child for not believing everything I'm told," Harper told Closer Weekly.
No kidding. In March of last year, when she was 73, friends and fans were shocked to learn Harper's diagnosis of a type of brain cancer, which she discussed freely in an emotional round of interviews in print and on TV. She was upbeat, saying she didn't think about dying, she thought about living for the moment.
Tests revealed she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain. Harper opted for chemotherapy treatment but her doctors told her she could have a little as three months left to live.

A year later, "I'm absolutely cancer-free!" says Harper, now 74 and best known for her role on Rhoda. "My last scans have been positive, and my doctors are very happy. (The oncologist) looked at the scans and said, 'Oh my God, Valerie, this is very encouraging!' "
In the last year, Harper also went back to work, cast in a new TV movie in August.
So what happened? Doctors rely on experience, she says, and they know that most people with this cancer die.
Is she in remission? "My doctor doesn't use that term. He likes to say, 'I give you a treatment, and it's either responsive or non-responsive — and you are having a phenomenal response.'"
She takes a lot of pills, all at once and once a week in what's called a "pulse dose."
"They can be difficult, but I try to sleep them off," she says. But she only has to see her doctor every eight weeks.
"There may come a time when I'm not feeling good," she told the magazine. "But then again, that time may never come!"
Closer Weekly is on newsstands now.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are a number of options for the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer treatment should be tailored to the individual cancer characteristics and personal preference. Our practice specializes in the diagnosis of prostate cancer by synergizing biopsy techniques with advanced imaging and genomics. We summarize primary prostate cancer treatment options below:

Active surveillance: Active surveillance has emerged as a viable option for men with prostate cancer who do not elect to have surgery or radiation for their primary prostate cancer. During this time men undergo a series of diagnostic tests to measure cancer progression. This includes PSA testing, repeat biopsies and digital rectal exams.

Radical Prostatectomy: A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure in which the entire prostate is removed, including the surrounding tissue, and seminal vesicles. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, also known as minimally invasive surgery, is surgery done through small incisions in the belly with robotic arms that allow the surgeon's hand motions to translate into finer and more precise action. The procedure is done primarily when the patient is generally in good health and there is a likelihood the disease is confined to the prostate, with the intent of curing the cancer.

Radiation therapy: Treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.Â Radiation can take several different forms including external beam radiation and brachytherapy (seeds).

Cryotherapy: A procedure in which a portion of the affected prostate is frozen.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU): Non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) to destroy cancer cells. To treat prostate cancer, an endorectal probe applies high-intensity focused sonic energy to locally heat and destroy diseased or damaged tissue through ablation.

New York City is home to Dr. Ash Tewari, the pioneer of the Advanced Robotic Technique, ARTâ„¢. Dr. Tewari specializes in nerve-sparing surgery, which may save the nerves that control erection and may results in high rates of sexual function post-surgery. Â The outcomes of robotic prostatectomy are comparable to open surgery in terms of both tumor removal and minimizing the likelihood of post-operative side effects, including impotence or incontinence.
Please contact our office if you have more questions related to prostate cancer treatment.