May 27th, 2011
Trials to improve the survival rate for blood cancer patients will be underway soon with 13 UK research centres being linked together.
The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Charity is trying to speed up implementation of new drug treatments by connecting various blood cancer research centres. The hope is of speeding up the research into blood cancer, the most common cause of cancer deaths under the age of 35.
Each year blood cancers result in more than 12,000 deaths in the UK, a greater amount than those who die of breastr or prostate cancer. Until now, because there are so many different blood cancers it has meant that few drugs have been developed for many of the types. Even when drugs are available, it has proven difficult to run clinical trials because of the difficulties in having sufficient patients at a hospital prepared to take part in the trials. Those clinical trials that do go ahead can sometimes take up to 10 years to complete because of the lack of participants.
New drugs cannot be trialled because there are not the resources to do so. This means that patients cannot be offered “promising new drugs” because they haven’t been proven.
The charity hopes that uniting the 13 centres will allow drug trials to proceed and be conducted in a swifter manner, enabling certain drugs to move into mainstream treatment. The newly-created network will be able to complete trials within 2 years.
Most health insurance policies do not cover drugs that have not been approved by NICE.
Tags: blood cancer, cancer
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May 25th, 2011
A UK study has shown that Vitamin D can be used to help treat certain patient with Prostate Cancer.
The study by Imperial College has shown that a daily dose of Vitamin D2 can help reduce the PSA level of prostate cancer patients by up to 50%. PSA indicates how severe the prostate cancer is. A higher level indicates greater severity.
The study looked at a very small group of men, 26 in total. These men has recurrent prostate cancer and took a daily supplement of Vitamin D2. In 5 out of the 26 men sampled the PSA level fell.
- in 2 patients, the level fell by more than half
- in 2 patients, the level fell by 25-50%
- and in 1 patient, the PSA level fell by less than 25%
- The effects of this drop were sustained in one patient for 3 years
The study paves the way for a greater trial of the effect of Vitamin D2 on prostate cancer sufferers.
A number of studies have shown that Vitamin D can be used in general cancer prevention, although there is conflicting evidence. Additionally supplements of Vitamin D have been shown to cause toxicity in the body.
Vitamin D is important in human health. The two most useful forms are Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is made naturally by plants whereas Vitamin D3 is made by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight.
Vitamin D helps to improve muscle strength; immune function; reduce inflammation; helps the body to absorb calcium; helps in bone formation, growth and repair.
Humans get Vitamin D from sunlight and from certain foods, such as fatty fish, fish liver oil and eggs. It is also present in cheese, milk, meat and bread although in smaller amounts.
Tags: cancer, prostate cancer, vitamin d
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May 24th, 2011
The wider availability of HIV drugs in China have cut HIV related deaths by more than 60% in 7 years says a health study.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal has published the findings this month after a 7 year concerted effort by China’s National Centre for Aids / STD Control & Prevention. Free retroviral drugs were introduced in 2003 and these reached more than 60% of patients by 2009. However, this doesn’t go far enough and swifter diagnosis is required plus improved access to certain population groups.
Professor Fujie Zhang, from the Centre in Beijing, said: “Given the size of the country, and the geographical spread of individuals with HIV… China’s treatment coverage is remarkable… but it is far from the goal of complete coverage of people who meet the treatment criteria.”
The centre now wants to target men, migrants and ethnic minorities, the elderly, injecting drug users and those who have contracted HIV through sexual contact.
The earlier that diagnosis is made and the swifter the anti-retroviral drugs are used, the greater the chance of individuals leading a longer / healthier life.
China had previously imposed a law restricting travel to China by foreigners who have HIV or AIDs in a move to reduce the spread of the virus. In 2010 this was revoked and China allowed travel for foreigners who were HIV positive prior to the opening of the Shanghai World Expo in May 2010.
Tags: AIDS, CHina, HIV
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May 23rd, 2011
Further to our post last week on Selenium Supplements and Cancer Prevention , a bread ‘naturally’ containing Selenium is being produced and stocked on supermarket shelves.
There have been many studies about the role of selenium in the prevention of cancer. However a recent report indicated that the evidence does not suggest this. The Cochrane group looked at various studies which totalled over 1 million participants and concluded that taking a supplement of Selenium did not help to prevent cancer. In fact, taking too much Selenium can cause toxicity in the body.
Selenium has, however, been shown in many studies to help the immune system fight infections and diseases. Many people take the supplement specifically to help counteract skin cancer and prostate cancer.
Selenium is one of the minerals now regularly found in wheat and bread in the UK. British soil is not naturally rich in Selenium, unlike some of our continental neighbours. However, adding small amounts to fertilizer would then allow the mineral to be passed into wheat that would go into bread production. This is not a new idea and Selenium bread has been available since 2005. In 2009 there was a presentation to the British Science Festival that proposed the idea of enriching the soil instead of the flour itself.
Cancer Research UK indicated that eating a balanced diet that contained all vitamins and minerals could help your overall health and ability to fight infection.
Selenium is naturally found in tuna, pasta and in brazil nuts.
Tags: selenium
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May 19th, 2011
A team of researchers of the Scottish coast have found fluorescent sea creatures that could help track cancer cells.
The team in St. Abbs have identified a fluorescent protein in sea anemones that they can use to view and track cancerous cells that otherwise would be too small to see. This has been done previously in other parts of the world using the proteins from fluorescent jellyfish but this now means that a solution is closer to home.
The BBC’s Britains Secret Seas programme showed the fluorescent sea anemones in their natural environment and highlighted the practical use for this protein in lighting up microscopic cellular activity that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.
Cancer research is always a hot topic and huge gains are made by teams around the world on a regular basis. Cancer is a disease that affects one in three of us and insurance coverage is necessary to ensure that you can be treated if the worst should happen. Most health insurance companies cover cancer treatments, although it is always essential to check your policy and exclusions to ensure that you would be covered.
Tags: cancer
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May 18th, 2011
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development have released data that suggests costs for caring for the elderly could as much as treble by the year 2050.
The OECD says that 10% of people in industrialised nations will be over age 80 by 2050, up from 4% in 2010. It anticipates that the current 1.5% spending of GDP will have to double or even triple within the next 40 years to be able to cope with long term care costs of an ageing population.
The organisation encourages countries to abandon ‘piecemeal’ provision and policies and to get better value for money from their spending on long term care of the elderly.
This report follows on from our recent coverage of problems with elderly patients bed blocking the NHS.
Bed blocking is where hospital beds are taken up by elderly people who cannot be discharged due to lack of a care home bed or lack of support at home. In April, alone, there were 4640 ‘delayed discharges’ where this was the case. In addition to this, underfunding of the care home system; lack of places within residential care and nursing homes; and an ageing population means that there will be no option but to admit vulnerable people into hospital instead.
Tags: Elderly
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May 17th, 2011
Taking a selenium supplement every day does not ‘prevent’ cancer says the latest study.
The research, undertaken by The Cochrane Group, looked at over 1 million participants via 55 individual studies. It stated that there was ‘no evidence’ that a regular daily intake of selenium in those with healthy selenium levels would prevent cancer. Indeed, says the study, taking the supplement over a long period of time could actually have ‘toxic effects’.
Selenium has long been associated with cancer prevention and many do take it regularly to help protect them from skin or prostate cancer.
Small amounts of the supplement are essential for a healthy immune system to enable the body to fight infections and diseases. It is possible to ingest it naturally through a healthy diet which includes brazil nuts, tuna and pasta. As with many supplements, opinion is divided as to whether supplements actually provide a significant benefit.
Multiple studies have been done on Selenium and its role in cancer prevention. Some studies have showed it helps, some have not shown that. The Cochrane group’s overview study has pulled together all of these and drawn conclusions based upon the evidence within the different research papers.
Cancer Research UK has weighed in to the debate and indicated that vitamin and mineral supplements ‘are mostly ineffective in protecting against cancer, and can even increase the risk of cancer in some cases’. The advice is to eat healthily and get the range of vitamins and minerals from a balanced diet.
Tags: cancer, selenium
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May 16th, 2011
Mental Health Charity, MIND has competed a survey of 2000 workers regarding mental health issues in the workplace.
MIND’s study found that 1 in 5 people are frightened of losing their jobs if they admit to suffering from stress and 22% of people who had admitted to a mental health issue were fired or forced out of their jobs on disclosing mental health issues to employers.
The research into mental health found:
- 41% of workers are currently stressed / very stressed in their jobs
- Work causes more stress than money worries, marriage, relationship or health issues
- 2 out of 3 workers have been put under more pressure since the issues with the economy
- 1/3 are stressed because of a reduction in budgets
- 70% thought their boss wouldn’t help if they said they were stressed or had mental health issues.
- 1/4 thought they would be seen as less capable if they admitted to stress.
- 22% of those who admitted to having problems say that they were sacked or forced out of their jobs.
“Because it is seen as almost an invisible illness, it can be difficult for others to relate to what might be going on. ‘pull yourself together’ is one of the worse things that you can say to someone who has a mental health problem,” says Vicki Nash of Mind. “What people with mental health problems really need is the support and encouragement of staff to be able to create an open environment so they can talk about the problems that they are facing.”
Mental health issues, such as depression and stress could be covered under your health insurance policy as outpatient or inpatient cover for psychological therapies. Check your policy to see if you are covered.
Tags: mental health
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May 12th, 2011
The World Health Organisation has released data that shows chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes are the biggest killers in the the world.
Their report, called the Global Status Report showed that these type of deaths accounted for in excess of 36 million deaths in 2008. And these chronic non-infectious diseases were a greater threat than HIV, malaria, TB and other infectious diseases. It is interesting to note that 80% of these deaths occurred in countries with a low or middle income.
The WHO report signals the enormous crisis looming for some countries, ‘a disaster for health, for society and most of all for national economies’ says the Director General Dr Margaret Chan. By this she means that these chronic conditions stop people from working, thereby losing revenue for the economy and potentially causing poverty or extreme poverty for the sufferers and their families.
Government campaigns and policies that encouraged healthy eating, stopping smoking, exercising etc. were encouraged by the report. Education of the population is essential to prevent the ‘impending disaster’.
The WHO report noted that nearly 6 million people die from smoking each year, with this growing to an anticipated 7.5 million people by 2020. This will account for 10% of all deaths worldwide. Additionally, 3.2 million people die each year from lack of exercise; 2.8 million people as a result of obesity and 2.5 million from alcohol abuse.
Chronic conditions are not usually covered under your health insurance policy, however there are some policies that allow you to add chronic conditions to ensure full private coverage should one of these diseases develop. Cancer is covered under most insurance policies, including Freedom Healthnet, although as with all insurances it is essential to read the coverage and documentation.
Tags: cancer
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May 11th, 2011
The World Health Organisation has gone head to head with the US Sugar Association and published a report saying that sugar is a major cause of chronic conditions and to limit intake.
The WHO’s report looks at evidence on sugar intake and its association with conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, hyperactivity and tooth decay. It states that sugar should form no more than 10% of a person’s diet.
The US Sugar Association disputes these findings and says that sugar can safely form 25% of a person’s diet. It has called the report damaging and incorrect and has been threatening to lobby the American Congress to withdraw funding to the World Health Organisation unless it withdraws its sugar report.
Currently most governments support the World Health Organisation financially but the US Sugar Association is unhappy by this latest report. The Sugar Association includes members such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola who use sugar within some of their products.
The WHO’s director of non-communicable diseases, Dr Pekka Puska, commented “I don’t think this is a very wise strategy by the industry, because the evidence is so strong and the great public believes this message. I think it’s bit short-sighted to deny the facts and it would be better to collaborate. Food is different from tobacco. We always have to eat, so our aim is just to change consumption from unhealthy to healthy”.
Tags: cancer, diabetes, WHO
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