Cancer •

High-Tech Scans Deal With Chemotherapy

June 25, 2016 By John Birks

High-Tech scans will deal with chemotherapy side effects.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – Besides the consequences of cancer, chemotherapy is another challenge for patients. Thanks to the high-tech scans, doctors can now establish which patients who are suffering from cancer of the lymphatic system need a more intense chemotherapy.

In other words, some of them will be spared from the side effects of this strong treatment. A team of scientists from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, scanned over 1,200 patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma using positron emission tomography (PET).

Another important fact is that these patients had previously gone under two standard cycles of chemotherapy. Then, researchers divided the patients into two groups. In other words, one kept having the chemotherapy cycle with the use of the drug bleomycin, and the other group continued with standard chemotherapy without taking the drug.

Based on the results, patients from the second group had the same chances of survival as the ones from bleomycin group. In addition to this, it was no need for them to suffer the side effects of the drug. However, these two groups consisted only of patients who had a clear PET scan.

The ones who did not have a clear scan needed a stronger chemotherapy treatment as the disease was more resilient in their organism. It is known that bleomycin is a drug that proved to be very useful over the last 30 years in treating Hodgkin lymphoma.

Unfortunately, this drug is not only useful but also very strong, meaning that taking it for a longer period may lead to severe consequences, especially on lungs. Scientists found that bleomycin caused breathing problems to cancer survivors after a few years.

However, it seems like a good price to pay for fighting back cancer. Nowadays, thanks to these high-tech scans, doctors can accurately spot which are the patients who need a more intensive type of chemotherapy treatment.

According to Peter Johnson, a scientist from the University of Southampton, PET scans are a significant medical development that will brighten the future of Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Plus, these scans are like a fresh breath of air until experts develop a better approach and a more efficient strategy to deal with all types of cancer.

Besides chemotherapy, scientists aim to find a way to reduce the need for radiotherapy as well. Hopefully, their efforts will pay off as soon as possible.

Image Source:Aspen Times

Live Healthy And Beat Cancer

June 24, 2016 By Melissa Gansler

Eat healthy to live healthy.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – Without realizing that they have no healthy habits, many people have been wondering why cancer has become such a plague throughout the United States.

Recent research has proved that the way you eat and the activity you have is strictly related to your health. Furthermore, 70 percent of the leading causes of any disease comes from food. In other words, we have to be careful about what we eat and how we eat.

A team of researchers has recently discovered that the risk of cancer can be significantly dropped off if we have a healthier lifestyle consisting of a correct diet and physical activity.

According to Lindsay Kohler, lead researcher and doctoral student in epidemiology at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health from the University of Arizona, a healthy way of living can reduce the risk of developing cancer by 45 percent.

Plus, it drops down the risk of dying from this disease as well. In addition to this, patients who also relied on cancer prevention guidelines had a 61 percent lower chance of dying from cancer.

It is known that some people have won the battle with cancer by just following a treatment made only from medicinal plants and tea. The team of scientists underlined that a healthy lifestyle is our best bet against colon, endometrial and breast cancer.

The data collected from the study showed that the risk of colon cancer in men and women can be reduced by 27 to 52 percent. Moreover, the risk of endometrial cancer can be dropped off by 23 to 60 percent, whereas the chances of developing breast cancer may drop down by 19 to 60 percent.

These numbers are very encouraging for everyone and they can even inspire the United States population to start living healthier. Unfortunately, around 596,000 Americans are expected to die because of cancer in 2016, while approximately 1.7 people are most likely to develop the disease until January 2017. Over 20 percent of cancer cases occur from lack of activity, weight issues, alcohol, and unhealthy food.

The team of scientists reviewed 12 studies based on cancer prevention guidelines. They came up to the conclusion that a healthy lifestyle consists of eating vegetables and fruits at least five times a day, avoiding too much alcohol, reducing the consumption of red or processed meat, eating whole grains instead of refined, daily basis exercises and maintaining an average weight.

Image Source:Health Harvard

Komen Race Celebrates Cancer Survivors

June 11, 2016 By Tara Hamilton

Breast cancer survivor running in the race.

Komen race celebrates cancer survivors.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – Breast cancer is already known to be one of the primary health problems that affect a high number of women around the world, including the United States.

Unfortunately, experts predict that 25 years from now, around 25 million more women will have to deal with this plague. However, scientists have doubled their efforts to find a new strategy and more efficient treatments to tackle the spread of breast cancer throughout the United States.

Furthermore, many organizations around the world are trying to bring their contribution in this fight. Susan G. Komen Foundation is one of them. A race event is organized every year to raise awareness and funds to find the best treatment.

Phyllis Stevenson, breast cancer survivor, has 20 years since she has been participating in the Komen Race. Stevenson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994 after she had discovered a lump on her breast. Fortunately, the growth was surgically removed. However, she had to bear with an aggressive chemotherapy treatment and radiation to eliminate all cancer cells.

Presently, after 22 years, she confessed that God took care of her. Moreover, she underlined the importance of early detection and correct treatment.

Stevenson decided to participate every year in the Komen race because she felt the need to show her gratitude and offer her support to those who are still fighting cancer. Unfortunately, African-Americans are more vulnerable to breast cancer and have a higher mortality rate because of it.

Stevenson joined the Save Our Sisters organization to raise awareness among African-Americans regarding the risks of cancer. Their efforts are oriented not just towards breast cancer but also colorectal and prostate cancer.

The Komen race event is a symbol of celebration for those who fight with cancer and for those who survived it. Moreover, it is a race in the honor of those who passed away. Experts say that breast cancer can be prevented by having a healthy lifestyle.

Plus, this applies to men as well. Our best bet to prevent cancer is by having a healthy diet too. Scientists recommend at least 2 hours of physical exercises every week. If people are informed and aware of this problem, they will change their perspective and adopt a different approach to life.

Image Source:Wikipedia

Cancer Survivors Day Longer Than 24H

June 6, 2016 By Ryan Harris

Cancer Suvivors Day was a blast.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – The Cancer Survivors Day was a real success this Sunday in Centegra’s Sage Cancer Center where around 400 people gathered to celebrate life.

According to Terrence Bugno, radiation oncologist, it is crucial to learn how to celebrate every day of our lives. Bugno and many other nurses and doctors put aside their scrubs and suits and decided to treat the spirits of patients.

Furthermore, the target of this event was not about the label of cancer survivor but the survivors themselves and about every part of the community that wants to have the correct perspective about the cancer experience.

One of these survivors is Stacey Monsen (thyroid cancer survivor). She confessed after attending the event that having people around you and communicating with them is the most important thing. Stacey is only 23 years old, and she has been in remission for five years, so she decided to come back to Centegra to bond with others in remission and with the nursing staff.

While speaking, she was coloring a paper butterfly which is one of the therapeutic activities during the event. The bushes of the hospital’s garden will be decorated with these butterflies that will serve as a way to encourage those seeking inspiration and understanding.

According to Mary Schneider, one of the event organizers and a nurse, the primary goal of the Cancer Survivors Day is to make people understand that they are not alone. There is always hope, even if not in the physical treatment itself. People feel happier when they have someone to support and talk to them.

When Marianna Wolfmeyer, oncology counselor, and Schneider started organizing Centegra’s celebration, it was quite modest, with around 70 guests, staff included. This year’s event proves how people started to become more interested in bringing their contribution to the Cancer Survivors Day.

Nowadays, the entire oncology department is part of the event. Treatment cancer center is complex including dietitian care, financial counseling, spiritual support, counseling, infusion medications, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Schneider underlined that their target was to touch the participants’ minds and spirits as well. The Cancer Survivors Day included many activities, such as taking silly photos in a photo booth, making plant stakes, planting flowers, massage therapy, and free food.

This event will continue inspiring everyone in the fight to tackle cancer worldwide.

Image Source:Wikipedia

America Has 15.5 Million Cancer Survivors

June 3, 2016 By Tara Hamilton

Cancer survivors taking the survivor lap

America has a high number of cancer survivors.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – The United States has reached a 15.5 million record number of cancer survivors this year and according to the American Cancer Society, in 10 years they will be over 20 million.

However, there is a high demand for psychological, emotional and medical support to assure the long-term recovery of the survivors.

According to Kimberly Miller, American Cancer Society epidemiologist, it is crucial for all cancer survivors to deal with long-term psychological and physical effects of their cancer treatment. Plus, the public health community must become more committed to supporting these survivors.

The study authors underlined the fact that cancer rates dropped off for men and stabilized for women thanks to improved treatment and detection.

In addition to this, the aging population has grown as the statistics have shown that around half of the survivors are at least 70 years old, and 56 percent of them were diagnosed during the past 10 years. One-third of them were diagnosed 5 five years ago or less.

Men survivors used to suffer from melanoma, 614,000; colon or rectal cancer, 725,000; and prostate cancer, 3.3 million. Women survivors mostly suffered from colon or rectal cancer, 727,000; uterine cancer, 757,000; and breast cancer, 3.5 million.

However, these are not the most encountered forms of cancer because lung cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed in men, but it is ranked eighth among survivors because only a few fight back this disease.

Another finding regarding survivors is that there is a strong connection between their age and the type of cancer. For instance, 65,000 cancer survivors are 14 years old or under, whereas 47,000 are 15 to 19 years old. Furthermore, 64 percent of prostate cancer survivors are at least 70 years old compared to just 37 percent of melanoma survivors.

According to Dr. Stephanie Bernik, chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, because cancer has a tremendous impact on patients and their families, it is crucial to provide them with physical, financial and emotional support. Bernik underlined that cancer also affects the patient’s mind and spirit, making the fight with this disease at least twice more difficult.

Cancer survivors are those who are cancer free, have a history of cancer and the ones still in treatment.

Image Source:Bangor Daily News

Healthy Lifestyle Deals With Breast Cancer

May 29, 2016 By Ryan Harris

A healthy lifestyle prevents breast cancer.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – A recent study has established that women who are more likely to develop breast cancer can drop off the risk to that of an average woman by having a healthy lifestyle.

According to Dr. Robert Shenk, Medical Director at the Breast Center, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, this study has brought a new perspective regarding the prevention of breast cancer among women.

However, further research is needed to learn and understand more about all the factors regarding this situation. Until now, 23,000 high-risk white women with ages between 30 and 80 years old participated in the study so that the scientists could determine how much a healthy lifestyle would decline the chances of developing breast cancer.

Therefore, many researchers from major institutions such the Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health analyzed the health records data regarding the use of hormones, weight indexes, drinking habits and smoking among the women involved in the study.

There is an 11 percent standard chance of a 30-year-old woman of developing breast cancer by the time she is 80. Nevertheless, some women have 23.5 percent risk due to reproductive factors, genetic markers, and family history. However, researchers have discovered that these women can also lower their risk to 11 percent if they adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Plus, scientists underlined that women who did not use menopause hormone therapy (MHT), did not smoke or drink and had low BMI also had 11 percent risk. In other words, the purpose of the study is to determine which are the healthiest choices a woman can make in order to lower the risk of breast cancer as much as possible.

According to Shenk, this data may contribute to establishing more accurate information about cancer screening via yearly mammograms. However, experts are still not sure if women with family history of breast cancer have such a high-risk percentage.

In addition to this, the study included only a particular type of women, more specifically women from the U.S., Europe and Australia with ages between 30 and 80. Therefore, these findings can’t be considered valid for the entire women population. For instance, ethnic differences may also influence the risk of breast cancer.

Image Source:Wikipedia

Relay For Life Higher Goals

May 25, 2016 By John Birks

Relay For Life continues.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – The Relay For Life continues as the company Axiall’s Plaquemine raised an impressive amount of $80,000 for the Relay event in Iberville Parish. Plus, this year’s fundraising total is higher with 20 percent than last year.

The Axiall’s Plaquemine team was better than the other Relay teams two years in a row. Hundreds of local community members attended the event and raised a together over $116,000 which were donated to the American Cancer Society (ACS). These donations support patient services, programs, and cancer research.

According to Lauren Stein, chair of Relay For Life of Iberville Parish for the fourth year in a row and also Axiall buyer, if people do not contribute more so that there will be enough money for research, cancer will continue bringing down more and more people.

This year’s Relay For Life was held in honor of the late Chief of Police of Plaquemine, Orian Gulotta, who lost the fight with cancer shortly after last year’s Relay event. The team of Plaquemine employees on this year were Josh Wille, Sarah Simmers, Lionel Stein, Lauren Stein, Brandon Ruiz, Katie Roberson, Donna Purpera, Bill Mason, Shane LoBue, Stephen LeBlanc, Steven Leach, Cathy Edwards and Paula Behrnes.

A celebrity waiter event was organized by the Plaquemine facility to raise the money. Plus, there were also personal donations, silent auction and the annual Axiall Relay For Life Golf Tournament, which was the main attraction. More than 250 employees, volunteers, and suppliers contributed with almost $65,000.

The site manager at the Plaquemine facility, John Scroggins, said that he and his family were impressed by the event and the level of commitment of his co-workers. He also confessed that he was proud to be a part of the Relay For Life.

Among the American Cancer Society’s Mid-South Division, Axiall’s Plaquemine facility has one of the largest fundraising team, covering six states. According to Penny Cade, community manager of Relay For Life for the Mid-South Division, based in Baton Rouge, La, Axiall is the primary local partner of ACS thanks to their employees who engage every year in their mission.

Hopefully, people will continue being dedicated to this mission, and things will soon become better for everyone who suffer from cancer. The Relay For Life will do its best to make sure of that.

Image Source:Daily Journal Online

Boy who Donated Hair for Cancer faces Cancer

May 10, 2016 By Matthew Slotkin Leave a Comment

Boy who donated hair for cancer has to fight with cancer.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – After growing his hair for two years, a young boy gave it to cancer survivors. Now it is his turn to struggle against this disease.

Vinny and his parents believed that seasonal allergies were the cause for his puffy right eye. But after some tests, doctors discovered that the little boy had developed a stage 4 cancer. Vinny Desautels is seven years old and lives in Roseville, California with his parents.

According to his father, Jason Desautels, doctors will soon confirm if he has a type of tumor that forms in soft tissue or bone, called Ewing’s sarcoma. His treatment is scheduled to start this week with chemotherapy and a bone marrow biopsy.

Unfortunately, the 4 stage cancer is aggressive and already spread in two different locations. Despite this, his parents are not going to lose their hope, but they will come up with a plan as soon as they receive the doctors’ confirmation.

Vinnie’s problem started in March when his eye began to hurt and became swollen. They started to figure out that something is not right after the allergy medication and eye drops didn’t work. Furthermore, his knee starts to ache too, and his hip was already bloated.

After this, his parents took him to the emergency room on 28^th April. The doctor immediately sent him to a hospital in Sacramento when a significant growth on his hip was revealed by an X-ray. There, he went under MRIs, a CT scan and blood tests which confirmed that two tumors were situated on the bone around his eye and his hip.

When his case became known to the public, more than $50,000 were collected in just one week. His grandparents started an online fundraising campaign for him, and also many other supportive people around the country brought their contribution to Vinny’s heart-touching case.

Still, the situation is hard because Vinny’s mother is six months pregnant and cannot attend his radiation treatments. His parents now need to skip work and focus on supporting they boy. The boy’s medical condition is dangerous, but his parents are grateful for the people’s support.

Meanwhile, Vinny is trying to stay active and wants to go back to school and finish his tests.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Janice Dickinson Sued Bill Cosby Again

March 29, 2016 By John Birks Leave a Comment

Bill Cosby is now 78 years old and it has been a while since he done any acting.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – Just a few days after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Janice Dickinson sued Bill Cosby again. This time, the former supermodel claims that Cosby’s denial of his rape made her re-live the entire traumatic and experience and re-victimize herself.

According to Dickinson’s claims, back in 1982, she was at a lake cabin with the comedian actor. It seems that his charms were not convincing enough to get her to bed on her own free will, so he slipped some drugs into her drink and then raped her.

Cosby denied the accusation and his lawyers managed to prove his innocence. But Cosby’s subterfuge caused the ex-supermodel to feel re-victimized. But Dickinson’s lawyers are contending the denials.

Debre Katz Weintraub, the court judge in charge of the Dickinson vs. Cosby case, has emitted a motion that allows the lawyers of both parts to address questions.

The hearing taking place today, Tuesday the 29^th of March, comes only a day after the famous ex-supermodel announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and that she will be forced to undergo radiation treatment and surgery.

The comedian’s lawyers are seeking to obtain a dismissal because they claim that Dickinson has been giving different accounts of the incident between her and Cosby over the years.

Furthermore, they are arguing that the letters sent to the media by the comedian’s former attorney were not legally protected communications and that they shouldn’t receive any supplementary protection.

Dickinson tried to write about her traumatizing Lake Tahoe experience in a memoir from 2002 entitled “No Lifeguard on Duty: The Accidental Life of the World’s First Supermodel”, but the publisher she was collaborating with refused to include the story in the book.

Dickinson was then cast as a member of “The Surreal Life” show on VH1 and “America’s Next Top Model” on UPN.

This is not the first time that Cosby has been sued by a woman claiming she has been raped by the African American comedian. Dozens of such accusations have been directed towards the 78 years old actor. Most of the claims were resolved, but one will forever be remembered by his fans.

Back in 2004, a former worker at the Temple University charged Bill Cosby will sexual assault. She claimed that the comedian raped her in his suburban home in Philadelphia. He was found guilty, and the actor is now free because he paid his bail of $1 million.

And now, because Janice Dickinson sued Bill Cosby again after hearing she has breast cancer, his freedom could be put at risk.

Image source: Flickr

Join the Fight against Cancer on Twitter

March 4, 2016 By Ryan Harris Leave a Comment

Researchers want to use Twitter to spread the word of ongoing cancer clinical trials.

(Mirror Daily, United States) – A great number of doctors and patients are waiting for researchers to come up with cures and treatments. But few are aware of the fact that the work behind such solutions is gigantesque, and there is a serious lack of volunteer patients that must be involved in experimental trials before the FDA decides to approve anything. And now a team of young scientists wants to use social media in order to bring awareness to the need for study participants.

It may sound odd, but it seems that the biggest problem in the research for new cancer treatments is not the breakthrough medical work itself, but rather finding patients that are willing to participate in the experimental trials.

The researchers say that an average of 5 percent of cancer suffering adults participates in experimental trials. This is mostly because the people are not informed about these alternate treatment possibilities.

Doctors from Pennsylvania University wrote an article in the Oncology section of the JAMA journal stating that patients could join the fight against cancer on Twitter, or other social media platform.

According to Mina Sedrak, a fellow at the Penn University’s Abramson Center for Cancer Research, social media is uncharted territory. It may also be the key to a better promotion for trial recruitment campaigns.

There are plenty of cancer patients in the US that don’t even know about the possibility of participating in a study trial. These are people who are not informed about a possible life-saving solution. It may not always work for the trial patients, but it will ultimately save lives.

A survey made on a sample of 6000 patients diagnosed with cancer revealed that roughly 85 percent out of them weren’t even aware of the fact that clinical trial participation was an option for them.

Out of the same sample, 75 percent declared that they would have enrolled if they knew about the trials.

Unfortunately, Dr. Sedrak says that unless physicians inform their patients about outgoing tests, there are no other means of spreading the message.

Not until now. He and three other colleagues from Abramson, alongside an expert in social media conducted a pilot study of only 16 days in order to determine if Twitter was used to propagate cancer information.

He and his team searched for “lung cancer” on the social platform. The result was of more than 26,000 posts. They then removed the retweets and the ones unrelated to the actual diseases. After that, they randomized the posts and selected a 1,516 tweets sample.

The vast majority was focused on prevention or psychological support. A couple of them were talking about human research, but they were vague. Finally, one was posted with the intention of recruiting patients for a trial.

Further research is needed, but the team is confident that soon patients will be able to join the fight against cancer on Twitter or any other social media platforms.

Image source: jisc.ac.uk

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