21.4.07
Gleevec stops return of rare stomach cancer
Filed under: Drug, Chemotherapy, Stomach Cancer, Research, Daily news
The promise of Gleevec should make it standard treatment for people with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a stomach and intestine cancer diagnosed in 5,000 to 6,000 Americans each year.
The drug has already been used for patients whose disease is too advanced for surgery. Now it will be used for those whose tumors can be removed. The drug will be administered for at least one year post-surgery.
More than 600 people participated in this Gleevec trial. Each person took either Gleevec or a sugar pill for one year after surgery. After the one-year mark, cancer returned in 17 percent of people taking the sugar pill and in 3 percent of people taking the actual drug.
Since 50 to 90 percent of GIST cases recur over time, this is great news, say researchers who call Gleevec a highly targeted cancer drug with few side effects.
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Resource for helping those close to you diagnosed with cancer
Filed under: All Cancers, Books, Cancer Caregivers
I have not read the book but I think it would be a great resource for those who have a family or friend with cancer. There is a need for a guide --I think this book can fill that gap.
Why would a guide be needed? I have found throughout my cancer journey that fellow survivors have many stories of unthoughtful, tasteless, ridiculous and sometimes funny comments from those around them. We can laugh at a lot of the comments because we know the person means well -- but sometimes it does go too far and can hurt.
What this book does is give the friend or family member some insight on what would be most helpful to the cancer patient. Based on the author's own experience with the disease and other survivors, each chapter tells intimate stories about one of the 20 most important messages people with cancer want to convey.
Help Me Live will help you find the word or gestures to show how much you care. There is never a 'right thing' to say or do but learning how to communicate effectively is very important.
This book can also be helpful to the cancer survivors themselves says Kathy Latour who wrote the article in Cure Magazine. She says "This book is not just for its intended audience of friends and caregivers, but for cancer patients too. In part, it affirms the cutting edge comments we made when Uncle Jack said something tasteless and painful. But in addition to reminding me of the many challenging people in my journey, the stories also revealed ways I could have handled them a little better"
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Thought for the Day: The facts on fish
Filed under: All Cancers, Research, Diets, Thought for the Day
Ever wonder what fish to eat, what fish to avoid, what fish is healthy, what fish is cancer-causing? I do. I'm looking into this whole fish thing. And while my search for information is in no way exhaustive and my findings are far from conclusive, I have found some interesting fishy facts and figures.
Think about this:
Fish definitely has health benefits. It's low in fat, high in protein, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Americans love this. How do I know? Because on average, each of us eats a record 16.6 pounds of fish every year. Our intake of shrimp and salmon has doubled, in fact, since 1994.
Fish definitely has its drawbacks too. Headlines repeatedly warn us of dangerous contaminants in lakes, rivers, and oceans. Don't forget about mercury, the biggest fish health hazard. It's been linked to neurological problems in developing fetuses and children, making consumption of shark, swordfish, tilefish (aka golden snapper or golden bass), king mackeral, canned albacore tuna, and tuna steaks a no-no for hoards of women and children.
For just about everyone else, the benefits of eating moderate amounts of seafood greatly outweigh the risks. Just watch out for those PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) -- possible carcinogenic chemical compounds that end up in some seafood.
To avoid PCBs, steer clear of farmed salmon which contains high levels of these compounds or limit your intake to less than one single eight-ounce meal per month. Opt for the wild variety of salmon to avoid this concern altogether. Or take the side of the FDA. Their reports say salmon is a powerhouse when it comes to protecting heart and developing cancer from this source is much lower than the risk of heart disease.
Source: Good Housekeeping, April 2007Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Yoga good for the soul and breast cancer too
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Research, Stress Reduction, Exercise, Daily news
Surely, everyone can benefit in some way from yoga. Women with breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast, however, may benefit greatly from a tailored program featuring gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.The great benefits: less pain and fatigue and more vigor, relaxation, and acceptance," says Dr. James W. Carson from Duke University Medical Center and lead of a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
Carson says women with advanced breast cancer need effective methods for curbing cancer-related symptoms.
The pilot study included 13 women who attended yoga classes once per week for eight weeks. The women, with an average age of 59 and with diagnoses occurring an average of seven years earlier, were helped significantly. They felt more invigorated and gained a greater sense of acceptance. They also found they felt better not only on the day they practiced yoga but the next day too.
This study offers the first, small-scale evidence for yoga's potential benefits for women with limited life expectancy.
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Marijuana halts lung cancer growth by half
Filed under: Drug, Lung Cancer, Research, Daily news
More and more media reports are mentioning the potential merits of marijuana. The most recent headlines say the active ingredient in the drug cuts tumor growth in common lung cancers in half and greatly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread.Researchers at Harvard University tested marijuana's main ingredient, delta-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, in both lab and mouse studies and say their experiments are the first to show THC inhibits the growth of cancer.
Researchers are not certain why THC inhibits tumor growth, but it could be that the substance activates molecules that arrest the cell cycle. THC may also interfere with angiogenesis and vascularization, which promotes cancer growth.
There is a long way to go in the study of THC. Yet "the beauty of this study is that we are showing that a substance of abuse, if used prudently, may offer a new road to therapy against lung cancer," says Anju Preet, Ph.D., a researcher in the Division of Experimental Medicine.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Thought for the Day: Lucy arrives in heaven
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cancer Survivors, Thought for the Day
I'd never met Lucy. And I don't know how she died. I do know she was a loving pet for my friend Adriene, a breast cancer survivor diagnosed with the disease at the same time I was told the dreaded beast was living in my body.I've never met Adriene. We've communicated only through e-mail and letters and packages and holiday cards. Still, we have a friendship, anchored in shared experience.
Through our friendship, I've come to learn that Adriene and Lucy were the best of friends who relied on one another through good times and bad. Their love was mutual, strong, and evident to those who knew the pair.
Lucy passed away on Monday. I was notified by Adriene who directed me to a new post on her photo journal.
Think about this, a message from Adriene:
Lucy was sent to the heavens on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. I was lucky to have her in my arms as I gave her over to her spiritual playmates who will take care of her and give her the room to play and be the loving dog that she was here on earth. I was blessed to have Lucy as my constant companion. She traveled the U.S. trekking cross-country three times, traveled up and down the eastern seaboard, road the subways of Boston, and graced the pages of American Photography magazine not once, but twice. She was a famous dog who had a reputation for the devilish behavior she possessed. We all loved her for the spirit she was and I will always respect the gifts she gave me as she carried my soul from illness to wellness. Rest in Peace, Lucy. I will always keep you close to my heart.
Cancer husbands setting a strong example
Filed under: Breast Cancer, All Cancers, Fundraisers, Cancer Caregivers
Men With Heart --Their mission as seen on their website:
We are husbands who are doing something constructive rather than resigning ourselves to helplessness. We are sons who have seen our mothers courageously fight an insidious disease. We are brothers who want to stand beside our sisters in this battle. We are relatives, friends, lovers, colleagues, neighbors, and admirers of the women who are struggling with, often beating, and, regrettably, sometimes losing the fight with breast cancer.
We do our best to raise awareness, funds, and smiles. We participate in a variety of breast cancer events, wearing our trademark yellow shirts, including the Avon 2-Day Walks, the Komen 3-Day Walks, and the American Cancer Society Making Strides Walk. We walk with the goals of spreading good cheer, encouraging a spirit of camaraderie, and helping our fellow walkers. We also host a gala party every year and a racing event in the fall. We support and get involved with a variety of other breast cancer causes, organizations, and events.
Since our inception in 2001, Men With Heart has raised over $600,000 for breast cancer prevention, treatment, and awareness.
Men Against Breast Cancer -- The MABC mission is to provide targeted support services to educate and empower men to be effective caregivers when breast cancer strikes the family of a loved one: as well as target and mobilize men to be active participants in a fight to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease.
MABC recognizes breast cancer is a family issue that devastates the entire family. Our philosophy is to leverage the support of the whole family to help the patient, with special emphasis on the important role of the husband/partner in caring for the woman he loves. At the same time, MABC recognizes and supports that the ultimate decisions regarding treatment and care are those of the patient.
Together in Breast Cancer Survival: A Men's Caregiver Support Group --Their mission to be a presence that will give you the support and tools you will need to be a proactive and informed caregiver to your loved one. Our goal is to be here for you as you journey with your loved one through the cancer diagnosis, surgery, prognosis, recovery and beyond.
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Thought for the Day: What kind of world do you want?
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Fundraisers, Thought for the Day
John Ondrasik, the man and musician behind the band Five for Fighting, has released a new album and a new website that just happens to benefit the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 3-day, 60-mile walk sponsored by Susan G. Komen For the Cure.Think about this:
Ondrasik's new album, "Two Lights," features a song called "World" which is in heavy rotation on pop radio stations across the country. This single is the inspiration for Ondrasik's new website, What Kind of World Do You Want -- the first video community that gives back by allowing visitors a chance to make a difference.
This is how it works: reveal what kind of world you want and help raise money for charity by watching videos or creating and uploading a video of yourself, your friends, or your family. In your video, answer the question What Kind of World Do You Want? and then choose which charity you wish to help fund.
In addition to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, selected charities include the Fisher House, Save the Children, Autism Speaks, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, and NY Police and Fire Widows & Children. Video clips describing each charity, a message from Ondrasik, and a video of the song "World," are all featured on the site.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Sean Connery in good health, despite cancer fears
Filed under: Throat Cancer, Daily news, Celebrity news
You may not have known it but actor Sean Connery has been fearing cancer for the past two decades.The Scottish Connery, 76, has been seeing doctors for 20 years so growths in his throat could be monitored. Fearing the worst -- cancer -- Connery wanted to stay on top of things.
Results from a recent medical appointment reveal Connery has been given the all-clear, according to his brother Neil who is also plagued by throat polyps.
Some were concerned about Connery's absence from a New York Tartan Week charity show he was scheduled to host two weeks ago. Apparently, there was nothing to worry about. He was just just getting his check-up, and he later assured fans he is in good health.
"It is something which needs to be followed through," says his brother. "You have to have yearly checks and that is why Sean went to the hospital, just to make sure everything was all right."
Connery's father died of throat cancer at age 69. Connery himself was rushed home from filming in Africa in 1993 due to throat problems. He later received radiotherapy treatment.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Thought for the Day: Stomped into oblivion
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Exercise, Magazines, Cancer Survivors, Thought for the Day
I've said it before. Every time I go running I feel like I'm crushing cancer with each and every step I pound onto the pavement. It's exhilarating, knowing I'm doing something good for my body and my soul, knowing every day I run is one more day I've survived a nasty disease. Apparently, others agree.Think about this:
A new Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure magazine advertisement features a close-up shot of the bottom of a running shoe. Woven into the tread on the bottom of the shoe are these words:
Every step resounds with the satisfying crunch of breast cancer being stomped into oblivion.
This is exactly how I feel.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Thought for the Day: A vaccine for breast cancer too
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Drug, Research, Daily news, Thought for the Day
There's a new vaccine out there that stimulates the immune system to find and destroy breast cancer cells. In early experiments, the vaccine held off or stopped the growth of tumors in all of the mice studied. Some mice were even cured.Think about this:
Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research reveals this vaccine is different from most under development that help kick-start the immune systems of sick patients. In this case, the vaccine tells the immune system to recognize breast cancer cells and to attack and kill them on the spot.
One researcher says breast cancer cells usually fly under the radar of the immune system. To combat this problem, the injectable vaccine uses a bacteria-type substance that is altered to contain the gene HER2/neu and also antibodies that rev up the immune system. This makes the body react and wipe out cells containing HER2/neu.
If continued studies prove promising, the vaccine would work for the 15 to 25 percent of women whose breast cancers overexpress HER2/neu.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Congresswoman Millender-McDonald diagnosed with cancer
Filed under: Politics, Daily news
California Democratic Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald has been diagnosed with cancer and will take a four to six-week leave of absence from the House.Details about the congresswoman's condition have not been revealed but a statement from her office reports, "The congresswoman has been diagnosed with cancer and is recuperating with her family. The congresswoman wishes to thank everyone for their expressions of love, well wishes and prayers. She will maintain a limited schedule in her district and is requesting respect of her privacy at this time."
Millender-McDonald, 68, has been representing for seven terms a Southern California district that includes Compton, Long Beach, and parts of Los Angeles. She is also chair of the Committee on House Administration and oversees House operations and federal election procedures.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Cisplatin works for triple-nagative breast cancer
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Drug, Chemotherapy, Research, Daily news
It's called triple-negative breast cancer and it manifests itself in the lack of expression of two cell surface proteins -- estrogen and progesterone receptors -- and also the protein HER2. It's a disease that does not typically respond to treatment with standard chemotherapy drugs and therefore, diagnosis can come with a poor prognosis. But a new study out of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston indicates this type of disease is sensitive to the drug cisplatin.
The study, appearing online in the April 19 Journal of Clinical Investigation and in the journal's May print issue, shows that triple-negative breast cancer expresses larger amounts of two proteins, delta-Np63 and TAp73. Delta-Np63 binds to TAp73 and prevents it from killing cancerous cells. Cisplatin does the trick, though, and releases TAp73 from delta-Np63. This causes the cells to die and offers hope for a sometimes hopeless disease.
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President Bush authorizes cancer screening program
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Politics, Daily news
On Friday, President Bush re-authorized a federal program designed to help low-income women get screening for both breast and cervical cancer. While funding has not yet been allocated for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the President's support for this outreach initiative is considered by many a victory in the fight against cancer.
Bush, whose mother-in-law survived cancer, says "early detection makes treatment more effective. It gives hope to patients and it saves lives."
Currently, the government spends $202 million on this program and has reached three million women who may not have otherwise received screening. With the President's new stamp of approval, the program is authorized to spend up to $275 million.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Running Bear invests in fight against brain tumors
Filed under: Brain Cancer, Cancer events, Fundraisers
The Boston Marathon takes place today. And one runner -- known to friends and family as Running Bear -- will run to raise money for brain tumor research. She's already collected more than $3,500.Harvard student Sarah MacCarthy, 25, will run for her Uncle Tim, who is battling glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive form of the primary brain tumors known collectively as gliomas.
If Uncle Tim can fight for his life, MacCarthy can use her privilege of good health to make a difference -- even if it means stepping up her casual running to marathon standards.
The Brain Tumor Society will benefit from MacCarthy's determination. Dedicated to improving quality of life for patients, survivors, and families affected by this disease, BTS is committed to being a national leader in the quest for a cure.
It seems MacCarthy is pretty committed herself. To contribute to her efforts and check on her progress, click here.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Soy and broccoli's effect on cancer cells
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Prevention, All Cancers, Research, Diets, Nutrition, Cancer prevention foods
The researchers are convinced that there is a biological mechanism behind the protective effect. It is explained in the article that a compound resulting from the digestion of cruciferous vegetables, and genistein, an isofavone in soy, reduce the two proteins needed for breast and ovarian cancer to spread.
Cancer cells can be drawn to metastasize by having high levels of a surface recepter on the cell. The organs in which the cancer spreads also secrete high levels of a different receptor that binds to the cancer cell's receptor. This attraction stimulates the invasive properties of cancer cells and acts like a homing device, drawing the cancer cells to organs like the liver or brain.
The study found that when cancer cells were treated with high levels of compounds found in broccoli and soy, the drawing mechanism to the organs was reduced by 80 percent compared to untreated cells.
Dr. Alan Kristal, associate head of the cancer prevention program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center says "This is an entirely unique mechanism...Preventing the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells is crucial"
More studies are needed but the research suggests that this attraction can play a role in the development of more than 23 different types of cancer.
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The clouds parted, the rain fell
Filed under: Liver Cancer, Hospice
My friend's husband lost his mother to liver cancer during the wee hours of Sunday morning. He had traveled with his family from Ohio to Florida expecting to take his mom home with him so she could spend her last months where she once lived. Steve never got to take his mom home. She died just days after he landed in Florida. Still, I am confident he won't return to Ohio empty-handed. His positive and healthy perspective on losing his mom will surely keep him company.
I got to see Steve and Kim -- my very best friend whose bouncy ringlets I envied long before I got my own post-chemotherapy curls -- on the same day Steve's mom died. They needed to get away and wanted a distraction for their two small children.
I am honored to have been chosen as my friends' destination -- not only so they could begin to heal from their loss, but because I gained a renewed sense of calm about death and dying during the time we talked and laughed and reminisced.
Steve's mom, 69, died at home in the loving arms of hospice caretakers who offered her round-the-clock care. During her final hours, she received a bath, a back rub, and a massage with body lotion. She sent non-verbal messages to her family members indicating she wished to be alone and once she had convinced everyone to head for bed, she took her final breaths. She died facing a wall, in contrast to her usual position in which she faced the door, as if to welcome all visitors. Her final resting pose was perhaps her way of saying good-bye. Steve sees it this way.
Just moments after Steve's mom was driven away in a funeral home car, Steve saw the clouds part. And then the rain fell. "Mom just figured out how to turn on the water," Steve said.
I don't think I'll ever forget this remark. Or the fact that the rain didn't last for very long on Sunday. The day Steve's mom died was gorgeous, glorious, and sunny.
There's so much more we talked about -- like the convertible Steve's mom drove and how he thought about placing her urn, her photo, and a scarf in the seat and taking his mom for one last spin before turning the car in -- and we passed the day in a celebratory manner. This, I think, is exactly what Steve's mom would have wanted.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Eat your vegetables, fend off cancer
Filed under: Research, Diets, Cancer prevention foods, Daily news, Head and Neck cancer
If your mom was one to harp on you about eating your vegetables, it was likely because she knew how good veggies are for the body. Moms everywhere now have research on their side.A large study of 500,000 American retirees has shown that increasing consumption of fruits or vegetables is enough to reduce the risk of head and neck cancer. Specifically, eating six servings of fruit and vegetables per day per 1,000 calories cut the risk of these cancers by 29 percent compared to eating one and a half servings.
"It may not sound like news that vegetables protect from cancer, but there is actually some controversy in the literature," says Dr. Alan Kristal, associate head of the cancer prevention program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Clearly, diet plays a role in cancer. Experts believe that up to two-thirds of all cancer cases stem from lifestyle factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and diet. So keep crunching those carrots and growing those green beans. You'll make your momma proud.
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My sweet Cleo
Filed under: Animal, Liver Cancer
Cleo was part of my life for such a long time. One thing that sticks in my mind about her was that after I was diagnosed with breast cancer she would always come over to me when I was crying -- like she knew I was upset and she always made me feel better.
Goodbye Cleo -- mommy loves you.
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