| Japanese, US lung cancer victims studied
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 4 (UPI) -- A U.S. study has determined why lung cancer drugs work better in Japanese patients than they do in U.S. lung cancer patients. A groundbreaking 2006 international study found a group of Japanese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer survived longer -- and had a higher rate of side effects -- than U.S. patients with the same diagnosis, when both groups were given two well-known drugs for the disease. Now, a U.S. follow-up study suggests the reasons appear to lie in subtle variations in certain genes that govern how the body metabolizes chemotherapy drugs. The discovery that Japanese and U.S. patients, matched in age, gender and other respects, had differences in key metabolism-related genes is the latest result from a seven-year collaboration between the Southwest Oncology Group of Ann Arbor, Mich., and two clinical trials groups in Japan.
Standards of prostate cancer treatment
As someone who has lived for more than 12 years with prostate cancer, I welcome the publicity generated by Messrs Robson and Kelly (pictured) in today's issue. Awareness of the disease must continue to be raised and men given choice in their treatment so long as it is likely to benefit the fight against this male cancer. Each of us goes to a consultant to get the best advice, and in most cases that is what we get. The article makes it clear that the treatment is available in Scotland and consultants in the North of Scotland are aware of that. So, what's going on here? I understand that brachytherapy is not suitable for all cases and am aware that the oncologists who deliver the service have to take account of an individual's dianostic tests to determine eligibility.
Queen’s new cancer program is well worth the effort
John's Lutheran School and an active coach in basketball, volleyball and track. During what he thought was a routine colonoscopy last August; he was diagnosed with colon cancer.“I was able to teach through the first semester during chemotherapy and radiation, but my first surgery had complications and I was in the hospital for six weeks," said Hauch, 58. “I had liver surgery in May and spent seven days in the hospital."Hauch wants to return to his classroom when school resumes in late August. To ready himself, he's enrolled in the new Cancer Wellness Program at Queen of the Valley Medical Center.“The Cancer Wellness Program has been a two-year project in the making," said Mike Smith, a physical therapist and catalyst for the program. “I've always had an interest in using exercise to relieve pain.
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