‘Dog Scan’ for Cancer!!

We all know that ‘CAT Scan’ is used in the diagnosis of cancer, but now doctors believe that ‘Dogs’ can actually sense cancer, since they can smell hundreds of chemicals released by the body in sweat, urine and breath, as a result of cancer.

Well, if ‘CATs’ can, why not ‘Dogs’!

Check this news story from ABC News to learn more about this interesting find!

‘Supermouse’ helps in finding a holistic approach to fight cancer!

BBC News: Mice carrying a gene which appears to make them invulnerable to cancer may hold the key to safer and more effective treatments for humans.

The new breed, created with a more active "Par-4" gene, did not develop tumours, and even lived longer, said the journal Cancer Research.

University of Kentucky researchers said a human cancer treatment was possible. Cancer Research UK said that more research would be needed to prove it didn't just work in mice.

Par-4 was originally discovered in the early 1990s working inside human prostate cancers, and is believed to have a role in "programmed cell death", the body's own system for rooting out and destroying damaged or faulty cells.

The Kentucky team used an existing mouse breed known to be more vulnerable to cancers to test whether Par-4 could be used to fight them.

They introduced the gene to mouse eggs, and it was active in both the resulting pups - and their own offspring.

The mice with active Par-4 did not develop cancers, and lived slightly longer than those without the gene.

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Gene Therapy – The new frontier in the fight against cancer!

Scientists in the United Kingdom are using gene therapy, as a new approach to treat cancer. They are using genetically modified Human Herpes Virus (of the family Herpesviridae) to infect tumor cells and to destroy them and by doing so they are able to harness the destructive power of this virus (which usually causes infection in humans, marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes or on the genitals) to seek out and destroy cancer.

The genetically modified Herpes Virus not only destroys tumor cells, but also produces biomarkers that help our immune system to identify tumor cells. This new approach has been effective in animals and a handful of cancer patients in clinical trials. Scientists believe that gene therapy could become a radical new approach to fight cancer, in future.

This news video from BBC News throws more light on this ground-breaking research.

How cancer metastasis?

Metastasis is the spread of cancer from its primary location to other places in the body through blood streams and lymphatic vessels. This animated video shows how cancer can metastasis and spread to other areas in the body.

Quitting is hard, but …..?

There could be many reasons for not quitting smoking, but there are many more reasons for why we should and this short clip talks about them.

Howto-quitsmoking.com - Celebrity bloopers here

Stem cell research and cancer

Cancer stem cells are similar to adult stem cells in their abilities to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types and they persist in tumors as a distinct population, which causes disease relapse and metastasis. They are also capable to give rise to new tumors.

In this video Dr. Mike Magee, a Senior Fellow in the Humanities to the World Medical Association and the host of Health Politics with Dr. Mike Magee, a weekly, Internet-based electronic media program that explores complex issues of health care policy and public health for consumers, policy makers, educators and the news media, talks about cancer stem cells and how stem cell research can eventually find a cure to cancer.

Alcoholic beverages and fermented foods can cause cancer

Keep The Doctor Away: New links have been confirmed between wine, fermented foods and cancer. But luckily, garlic can reduce your risk, researchers say. New findings dispel the popular notion that eating so-called “natural” foods will protect against cancer.

In fact, the study found that a naturally-occurring carcinogen found in alcoholic beverages and fermented foods like cheese, yoghurt and bread causes DNA modification and mutations, ultimately leading to abnormal cell growth and lung cancer.

Vinyl carbamate is a substance derived from ethyl carbamate (urethane), a by-product of fermentation. It is also present naturally in tobacco.

Now labelled as a potential carcinogen by both the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, urethane was given inadvertently to millions of patients in Japan, between 1950 and 1975, in analgesic and sedative drugs. This is believed to be the largest dose on record of a pure carcinogen administered directly to people.

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Early warning signs and symptoms of cancer

There are many early warning signs to different types of cancer and here is a list of them, which is by no means, a complete list of symptoms. Consult your physician immediately if you experience any unusual symptoms, like the ones listed below,

Bladder and Kidney Cancer: You may see blood in urine, have pain or burning, and increased urination.

Breast Cancer: Lump or thickening of lumps, itching, redness or soreness of the nipples which isn't caused by pregnancy, breast feeding, or menstruation.

Cervical, Endometrial, and Uterine Cancer: Bleeding between menstrual cycles, any unusual discharge, painful menstruation, and heavy periods require consultation with your physician.

Colon Cancer: Rectal bleeding, blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits such as persistent diarrhea and or constipation are warning signs which should be investigated promptly.

Laryngeal Cancer: A persistent cough or a hoarse throat is a possible sign that you may experience.

Leukemia: Paleness, fatigue, weight loss, repeated infections, nosebleeds, bone or joint pain, and easy bruising are possible warning signs of Leukemia which should be investigated.

Lung Cancer: A persistent cough; sputum with blood; heavy chest and or chest pain.

Lymphoma: Enlarged, rubbery lymph nodes, itchy skin, night sweats, unexplained fever and weight loss indicate possible Lymphoma, discuss these symptoms with your physician.

Mouth and Throat Cancer: Any chronic ulcer (sore) of the mouth, tongue or throat which doesn't heal, or white areas in the mouth should be seen by your physician.

Ovarian Cancer: Unfortunately there are often no symptoms until it's in the later stages of development.

Pancreatic Cancer: There usually are no symptoms until it has progressed to the later stages when you may notice jaundiced skin and there may be pain deep in the stomach or back.

Skin Cancer: If you have moles that change color, size, or appearance, or flat sores (lesions that look like moles), a tumor or lump under the skin that resembles a wart or an ulceration that never heals, these are symptoms that should bring you quickly to your physician’s office.

Stomach Cancer: Vomiting blood or experiencing frequent indigestion and pain after eating, weight loss may indicate stomach cancer.

Source: www.womenshealth.about.com

Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal Cancer develops when the normal cells lining the larynx are replaced with abnormal cells (dysplasia) that become malignant and reproduce to form tumors. The development of dysplasia is strongly linked to life-long habits of smoking and heavy use of alcohol. The more a person smokes, the greater the risk of developing laryngeal cancer. It is unusual for someone who does not smoke or drink to develop cancer of the larynx. Occasionally, however, people who inhale asbestos particles, wood dust, paint or industrial chemical fumes over a long period of time develop the disease.

The symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend on the location of the tumor. Tumors on the vocal cords are rarely painful, but cause hoarseness. Anyone who is continually hoarse for more than two weeks or who has a cough that does not go away should be checked by a doctor.

Tumors in the supraglottal region above the vocal cords often cause more, but less distinct symptoms. These include:

• persistent sore throat
• pain when swallowing
• difficulty swallowing or frequent choking on food
• bad breath
• lumps in the neck
• persistent ear pain (called referred pain; the source of the pain is not the ear)
• change in voice quality

Tumors that begin below the vocal cords are rare, but may cause noisy or difficult breathing. All the symptoms above can also be caused other cancers as well as by less serious illnesses. However, if these symptoms persist, it is important to see a doctor and find their cause, because the earlier cancer treatment begins, the more successful it is.

Source: www.answers.com

‘Cone beam CT’ technology to revolutionize cancer treatment

A new tumor imaging technology – cone beam CT- could revolutionize cancer treatment in the years to come. This new technology creates three-dimensional axial CT slices of a patient’s tumor, enabling therapists and doctors to compare these images with initial treatment planning images to determine how precisely focused the radiation set-up is. They can then make position adjustments if necessary to deliver a more targeted therapy to the patient. The hope is that this technology will lead to more highly customized radiation treatments, where higher doses are directed at the tumor while sparing the patient’s normal body structures.

This video explains more about this new technology and how cancer patients could benefit from it.

Secondhand smoke at workplace doubles the risk of cancer

eitb24: Writing in the American Journal of Public Health, researchers said that for nonsmokers who were highly exposed to secondhand smoke at work, there was approximately a 100 percent increase in lung cancer risk.

High levels of secondhand smoke on the job can double nonsmokers' risk of developing lung cancer, and those who inhale it at work long-term face a 50 percent higher risk, researchers said on Wednesday. Scientists led by epidemiologist Leslie Stayner of the University of Illinois at Chicago combined the results of 22 studies on secondhand smoke conducted in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Japan and China.

Writing in the American Journal of Public Health, they said that for nonsmokers who were highly exposed to secondhand smoke at work, there was approximately a 100 percent increase in lung cancer risk.

The researchers adopted the previous studies' definitions of high exposure, based on factors like the numbers of smokers present in the workplace and actual amounts of smoke exposure. Lung cancer risk for nonsmokers exposed for 30 years to secondhand smoke on the job jumped by 50 percent. Nonsmokers exposed to any secondhand smoke in the workplace experienced a 24 percent increased risk that rose based on level and duration of exposure, they said.

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New device for detecting oral cancer

A new device called ‘Vizilite Plus’ is now helping doctors in the early detection of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer. Since early detection is a key in the treatment of oral cancer, this device is helping the medical community to address oral cancer at its most-easily treatable stage. This news story from FOX5 NEWS explains how ‘Vizilite Plus’ is helping doctors to save the lives of many people.

Scientists develop new tool to help cancer patients in coping with their disease

Innovations Report: A tool to detect depression in cancer patients launched by the University of Liverpool will vastly improve patients’ ability to come to terms with their disease.

Depression affects 25% of patients with advanced cancer – the stage at which the disease has begun to spread from its original tumour. At this stage, depression is difficult to diagnose as symptoms can be confused with a patient displaying ‘appropriate sadness’ – feelings which commonly result from suffering a terminal illness.

A team from the University’s Division of Primary Care has created a method of testing for depression so clinicians can introduce additional treatment to enable patients to cope with the cancer more effectively. The tool could also be applied to sufferers of other serious illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease and chronic heart disease.
Based on a screening system originally developed for sufferers of post-natal depression, the new tool - known as the ‘Brief Edinburgh Depression Scale’ (BEDS) - includes a six-step scale that assesses a cancer patient’s mental condition. The test includes questions on worthlessness, guilt and suicidal thoughts.

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‘Breakthrough’ in lung cancer diagnosis!

A new method, which could be considered as a breakthrough in lung cancer diagnosis, is developed by a team of French researchers. Scientists have developed a blood test that could detect lung cancer at an early stage and this test could prove to be a valuable tool in saving thousands of lung cancer patients. Cancer cells produce a few proteins in larger quantities than the normal cells. Scientists believe that by identifying the presence of these proteins produced by cancer cells in blood, it is possible to detect cancer even before visible symptoms arise. This test will enable health professionals to easily differentiate lung cancer from other lung diseases and help them to start treating the disease at its early stage, ultimately increasing the patient’s chances of survival.

Proper diagnosis is very important in the fight against cancer and early detection of cancer could help doctors in effectively treating the disease. Cancers detected at its early stages are easily curable. The maximum survival period of patients who are suffering from lung cancer, the most lethal form of all cancers, is only 5 years. Only 16% of patients live more than five years and this low survival rate of lung cancer is attributed to the inability to diagnose the disease at its early stage. Active and passive smoking is considered to be the main cause of this disease. People who are over 50 are considered to be more prone to this disease.

Scientists believe if this new development in cancer diagnosis is successfully tested then it could make a big difference in lung cancer detection and its treatment.


Source - The Herald - Web issue

Eating fatty fish can reduce the risk of cancer

Swedish researchers have found that eating fatty fish, which is rich in vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids, can reduce the risk of kidney cancer significantly. Fish like salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel were defined as fatty fish by researchers, while tuna and cod were considered to be lean fish.

A study carried out by ‘Journal of the American Medical Association’ revealed that women eating fatty fish once a week at a lesser risk to cancer compared to others, whereas, eating three fish a month for a period of 10years would reduce cancer risk by nearly 74 percent.

Kidney cancer also referred to as renal cell carcinoma is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States with a very low survival rate. It is the most common form of cancer in women above 40yrs of age.

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Vaccines under development could be a solution to breast cancer

Breast cancer, the most common form of cancer in women, can now be fought with new vaccines that are under development. Listeria monocytogenes, a microorganism found in diary products will be used in a new vaccine development program. Dr. Yvonne Paterson, the scientific founder of Advaxis Incorporation and a person who suffered from breast cancer herself, is heading a team of researchers, who are working to develop a new vaccine to fight cancer, using Listeria monocytogenes, which has a direct stimulatory effect on activities of immune killer T cells.

A new vaccine called Lovaxin B has been developed by this team and it is in pre-clinical study and Advaxis Incorporation has sought the approval of FDA for clinical trial of this vaccine. If the vaccine passes the clinical trials, the company plans to manufacture this vaccine in large quantities in future.

Only 20% of people, who are suffering from breast cancer, survive and breast cancer is considered to be a ‘killer disease’ in developing nations. If new initiatives like this one come out well, it would be a great achievement in the field of medicine.

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