Visiting US Neurosurgeon helps thinking outside the Square
Professor Susan Cheng, professor in residence and vice Chair of Neurological Surgery, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, USA gave a wonderful presentation to a Brain Tumor Forum, at Cancer Council Queensland, August 11, 2012, sponsored by Brain Tumor Alliance Australia. with Mat Pitt, chair BTAA, as program coordinator for the Forum.
Susan held the attention of an audience made up of over 80 Brain Tumor support group members, cancer treatment medical staff from Brisbane hospitals, and joined other Australian Neurosurgeons and Oncologists and Radiation specialists in a group discussion, taking questions from attending floor members.
Susan pointed out the changes and thinking outside the square now taking place in Cancer Treatment Centers, where even more interest is being shown in the value of Carers, who play such an important role in looking after and monitoring their patients.
The UCSF Cancer Center has for sometime now placed a higher value on the role of Carer, to the point that Group meetings of Carers have unearthed some problems in their caring paths, that have been fed back into the system of care for cancer patients.  To this point, the Carer is now seen as a much more valuable part of the recovery process of the patient.  Working with the another 'relatively new direction of Critical Nurses', it seems problems can be picked up far in advance of it becoming a problem, that due to time elements and communication delays, can be corrected before any damage is recognised.
Professor Susan Cheng's visit will be remembered for instilling in us that while there is much more to explored  in finding a cure for cancer, there are times when we should stop and take stock on what can be done, or reviewed, to improve the patient's care and attention. Geoff

Less Alcohol not more Veg to cut Cancer Risk

Strong links to obesity and alcohol, rather than more fruit and veges, are main avenues to cancer, but the message does not seem to be getting through. Add smoking to the list and you have the perfect developer for Cancer.
Prof. Tim Key, an epidemiologist, Oxford University, says while there are undoubted benefits in eating fruits and vegetables, there is little hard evidence that they protect against cancer. But there is strong scientific evidence, that after smoking, overweight or obese, together with high alcohol intake are two of the biggest cancer risks.
Being overweight can increase risk of other common cancers like bowl, pancreatic, oesophageal and kidney cancers.
UK. stats show 15,000 cancers are caused by alcohol, and 19,000 cases caused by overweight.
Sarah Hiom, dir, Health Information, Cancer Research Ltd., suggests keeping alcohol intake to a maximum of one small drink a day for women and two small drinks per day for men and keeping weight within healthy limits can have enormous impact. Acknowlegment: British Journal of Cancer 2010. Geoff

Cyberknife versatility for low risk Prostrate Cancer

Cyberknife stereostatic radiation for low risk prostrate cancer has found most patients had disease-free survival after five years, with little toxicity, results that researchers say could help bolster support for treatment.
It's no longer investigational or experimental therapy says study co-author, Dr.Debra E. Freeman , radiation oncologist, Cyberknife Centers, Tampa Bay, Florida.
It is felt slower growing "indolent" prostrate cancers respond better to hypofractionated treatments, as opposed to radiotherapy treatments.
Dr.Freeman commented toxic side effects from zapping the prostrate were also rare, with no rectal bleeding or significant damage to the bladder.
The greater availability of Cyberknife could increase the menu of options for many patients. And we know of the performance of Cyberknife in treating brain tumors.
Acknowledgment: www.dotmed.com Geoff.

Health-Care Providers warn Overuse Radiation during Patient exams.

US. Health-Care providers are pledging to stop overuse of radiation on patients during examinations, launched in Chicago recently. Too much radiation can cause cancer.
Because of increased use of radiation in recent decades, particularly on new imaging and CT scans, questions were raised about possible increased cancer risk.
Addressing an imaging safety panel at Radiological Society of North America, William Hendee said "There are lots of reasons that medical images are over-utilised".
Patients can be part of the problem if they request a test they don't need because a friend had similar symptoms and got that test.
Duplicate test can also be done when a doctor doesn't know the patient's full medical record, Hendee said.
Another danger is "dose creep" when technologists increase radiation dose to get amazing-looking pictures.
"But you don't need pretty images to provide information necessary to yield a diagnosis" Hendee concluded. Acknowledgment: aolhealth.com Geoff.

Australian Consumers seek Mobile MRI unit

Australian Health Consumers researched several Health Consumer delegates at several seminars and conferences during latter part of 2009, to assess needs for a mobile MRI/Scanner vehicle to service large areas of rural and outback State of Queensland.
The interest shown came not only from health delegates, but also rural doctors' groups , pointing out a need for a mobile imagery system, that would save patients from travelling to provincial centres to receive treatment.
There are two imported US. designed and developed mobile units servicing some eastern parts of Queensland and Gippsland (Victoria) medical centres.
Research gathered from these US. units and information supplied from a UK. Dutch designed mobile MRI units, has led Australian Health Consumers to consider a locally designed and developed project for Australian conditions, which has received support from a leading vehicle manufacturer, and an Imagery Health equipment supplier. Geoff.

What NOT to say to Breast Cancer sufferer!

Breast Cancer, with all it diagnosis and treatments, comes in for some verbal treatment at times. Sympathy, yes, can be extended by someone, a friend, a husband, even a mother, who may have also suffered similar discomfort in her life time.
A comment to a BC sufferer should be given with sincere feelings, not to aggravate the situation, says psychologist Jeff Knajdl, director, psycho-Oncology services, Creighton University, Omaha, Nabraska, pointing out some common sayings to avoid upsetting Breast Cancer patients.
"Everything will be all right". You really have no way of knowing if it will be or not, says Jeff, such statements will sound like an empty platitudes, or something of mistrust. What a BC patient really wants to hear is that you're going to be there for her through good times and bad.
"I know how you feel". Often an automatic response to an inquiry of "How ya doing?" At this point in time, a depth of feeling assessment of the patient may not be received at the level of your understanding. Better to ask something like "How are your mood and spirits holding up?" This approach is not striking at a depth of feeling, but rather giving a sufferer a chance to tell you how she feels.
"Try to keep a positive attitude!". This tends to arrive at the patient like a salvo!. Cancer patients hear endless variations on this 'mind over body' theme. If a patient has a strong personality, they will dramatise the situation more than they need to do so.
"We can beat this!". In a rush to be supportive, it's all to easy to fall back on such encouraging and inspirational messages that can lead to deep seated feelings of failure.
"Now don't get worked up!". A statement directed by observations of a scared, angry, or in tears situation . Patients need to get their feelings out in the open. It is necessary to cry, get angry or get upset!
"Congratulations, you're done with chemo". This may not altogether produce the thrill a course of treatment is finished. During a treatment, a patient may feel she is actually taking action, because the focus is on a solution, either as a cure, or progress in pushing back the cancer.
It is important to accept the patient is feeling okay and that you are there to listen any time of the day.
Acknowledgment: Jeff Knajdl, Psychologist, Psycho-Oncology services, Crieghton University, Omaha, Nabraska. Breast Cancer, Caring.com Geoff.

FDA approves first human Stem Cell Clinical Trials

One of America's finest hospitals has been granted FDA approval to conduct first neural clinical Stem Cell trial on glioma brain tumors. Established in 1913, City of Hope neuroscience research teams will take 12 to 20 recurrent high grade glioma patients into their newly developed treatment strategy during coming summer months.
It is estimated over 22,500 US. citizens are diagnosed with malignant brain tumors annually, with just over 50% die each year. Survival rates vary with each type of brain tumor, but those with glioblastoma can expect a life period of around 15 months.
These tumors are highly invasive and ultimately resistant to current methods of treatment such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. One significant barrier to treating glioma type tumors is the presence of a blood-brain barrier, that can prevent chemotherapy agents entering the brain and reaching effective concentrations at tumor sites.
The first in-human clinical trial of a neural stem cell-based therapy will be an investigational targeted treatment option to see if eventual treatments develop a platform technology to target multiple agents to brain tumors, as well as other metastatic solid tumors inside and outside of brain.
This novel tumor-selective treatment has potential to overcome many obstacles that limit the success of currently available treatments of malignant tumors and other invasive cancers. Modified neural stem cells are injected during surgery into cavity wall of remaining tumor after tissue has been removed.
Study patients receive daily doses of prodrug 5-FC for one week. Once the 5-FC crosses blood brain barrier, the neural stem cell will convert 5-FC to an active chemotherapy agent 5-FU, at tumor sites in the brain.
As a delivery agent, the stem cells may allow researchers to target concentrated therapies specifically to tumor sites, reducing undesirable side effects to the patient.
Acknowledgment: City of Hope Dept. of Neurosciences, Durate, California. www.cityofhope.org Geoff.