New President Obama has moved quickly to get Stem Cell research underway following up on an election promise to review previous adminisatrations' inability to support medical research.
Geron, a biotechnology company, had sought permission to conduct clinical trials for spinal cord injuries, using paraplegic patients, the stem cell to stimulate nerve cells into action.
The Federal Drug regulators, following a review of a 22,000 page report, finally gave permision Friday, January 23.
From the basis of this stem cell research, further investigation by Geron Biotech may result in some help to cancer and brain tumor patients.
In the last couple of years, attention has turned away from embryonic stem cells to a newer technique that allows for the patient's own skin cells to be turned into a cell resembling embryonic cells. Acknowledgment New York Times. Geoff
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
New Tumor Group - Brain Tumour Alliance Australia
Brain Tumor patients' support just rose a notch with the development and release of a new Brain Tumor support group located in Australia's capital, Canberra. Brain Tumour Alliance Australia (BTAA) has been developed by a band of enthusiasts, all having a connection with brain Tumors, carers and research.
BTAA claims to be the only national Australian organsiation for the brain tumor patient, family and caregiver. More importantly, BTAA is not far from the seat of Australian Government; just down the road, as it were!
The new support Group will work closely with the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA), supporting the IBTA Awareness Week, November 1 to 7 2009, and the annual Walk around the World for Brain Tumors Jan.1 to Nov.7 2009. (see www.ibta.org).
Ensuring public policy influence, BTAA will seek to act as a channel of information to the proposed Federal Parliamentary brain tumor interest group as well as Federal and State governments. It aims to promote awareness about public policy issues of concern to the brain tumor community.
A Freecall phone number, available within Australia is 1800 857 221, where you can speak to someone who knows what it is like to travel the brain tumor highway. For further information, contact secretary@btaa.org.au
BTAA claims to be the only national Australian organsiation for the brain tumor patient, family and caregiver. More importantly, BTAA is not far from the seat of Australian Government; just down the road, as it were!
The new support Group will work closely with the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA), supporting the IBTA Awareness Week, November 1 to 7 2009, and the annual Walk around the World for Brain Tumors Jan.1 to Nov.7 2009. (see www.ibta.org).
Ensuring public policy influence, BTAA will seek to act as a channel of information to the proposed Federal Parliamentary brain tumor interest group as well as Federal and State governments. It aims to promote awareness about public policy issues of concern to the brain tumor community.
A Freecall phone number, available within Australia is 1800 857 221, where you can speak to someone who knows what it is like to travel the brain tumor highway. For further information, contact secretary@btaa.org.au
Monday, January 19, 2009
Pediatric Brain Tumors draw World attention
World attention to the plight of pediatric tumors and the lack of treatment development has drawn support from leading neurosurgeons and reasearch organisations. Supporting a call by International Brain Tumor Alliance (IBTA) for the Swiss-based International Union Against Cancer (UICC) to give greater prominence in its World Cancer Day activities, to be held on February 4, 2009, to brain tumors and the problems they cause, constituting one of the leading causes of cancer death among children.
IBTA chair Denis Strangman (Australia) said that worldwide roughly 200,000 people each year develop a malignant primary brain tumor, although not comparable with a wider range of cancers, there was no cure at present and little in way of effective treatments.
Expressing support for IBTA's letter, Dr.Larry Kun, chair of US.Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, descrtibed childhood brain tumors as "perhaps the most vexing area of pediatric oncology".
Describing childhood brain tumors as a most underdeserving area of cancer research, Mike Traynor, chair of Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, US , said it requires a philanthropic community to provide significant funds to bring an understanding of the disease.
Others to lend their support came from Prof. Martin van den Bent, Holland; Prof.David Walker, Nottingham,UK.; Prof. Victor Levin, MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Texas, and Matt Pitt, chair of newly established Brain Tumor Alliance Australia, who sumed up the feelings of many, when he said "I find it hard to convey the devastating impact of brain tumors on a peron's life. It is truely an insidious disease; funding for research and health care needs to acknowledge and deal with the wide ranging impact of brain tumors". Geoff.
IBTA chair Denis Strangman (Australia) said that worldwide roughly 200,000 people each year develop a malignant primary brain tumor, although not comparable with a wider range of cancers, there was no cure at present and little in way of effective treatments.
Expressing support for IBTA's letter, Dr.Larry Kun, chair of US.Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, descrtibed childhood brain tumors as "perhaps the most vexing area of pediatric oncology".
Describing childhood brain tumors as a most underdeserving area of cancer research, Mike Traynor, chair of Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, US , said it requires a philanthropic community to provide significant funds to bring an understanding of the disease.
Others to lend their support came from Prof. Martin van den Bent, Holland; Prof.David Walker, Nottingham,UK.; Prof. Victor Levin, MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Texas, and Matt Pitt, chair of newly established Brain Tumor Alliance Australia, who sumed up the feelings of many, when he said "I find it hard to convey the devastating impact of brain tumors on a peron's life. It is truely an insidious disease; funding for research and health care needs to acknowledge and deal with the wide ranging impact of brain tumors". Geoff.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Ann Breen's new blog: Other Tumor news and Info
Ann Breen, a Meningioma sufferer since the nineties, has been a mine of information on Brain Tumors and treatments, including use of Mifepristone that has controlled her tumor, and who conducted her news and information on AOl.com, which has now foreclosed their pages.
Now Ann has a new blog site to communicate to her many meningimates at http://gbyay.blogspot.com.
This will continue her excellent communications on meningiomas and treatment, news and activity happening on the American scene as well as news from the various seminars and meetings Ann manages to attend.
Ann has a 28 question and answers forum that you would find helpful should you need to question or want answers for your present situation. Geoff.
Now Ann has a new blog site to communicate to her many meningimates at http://gbyay.blogspot.com.
This will continue her excellent communications on meningiomas and treatment, news and activity happening on the American scene as well as news from the various seminars and meetings Ann manages to attend.
Ann has a 28 question and answers forum that you would find helpful should you need to question or want answers for your present situation. Geoff.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cancer Milestones in Treatment
We continue our series on Cancer Milestones in Treatments. Researchers continually strive to beat the cancer scouge, but it is good to view progress of the past.
1896
Removal of ovaries is performed for first time as part of breast cancer treatment
1941
Charles Huggins uses synthetic hormone to treat prostrate cancer and shows that some breast and prostrate cancer cells are hormone-dependent. In 1966, he is awarded the Nobel Prize
1946
The beginning of chemotherapy as treatment for cancer can be traced to chemical warfare used in World War 1.
Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman use nitrogen mustard, an agent derived from deadly gas employed during First World War, to treat a non-hodgkin's lymphoma patient. Their published report in 1946 demonstrates how chemotherapy can induce tumor regression
Acknowledgment curetoday.com Geoff
1896
Removal of ovaries is performed for first time as part of breast cancer treatment
1941
Charles Huggins uses synthetic hormone to treat prostrate cancer and shows that some breast and prostrate cancer cells are hormone-dependent. In 1966, he is awarded the Nobel Prize
1946
The beginning of chemotherapy as treatment for cancer can be traced to chemical warfare used in World War 1.
Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman use nitrogen mustard, an agent derived from deadly gas employed during First World War, to treat a non-hodgkin's lymphoma patient. Their published report in 1946 demonstrates how chemotherapy can induce tumor regression
Acknowledgment curetoday.com Geoff
Mifepristone's wider Uses - Australia lacks the nerve to move!
While Australian Health authorities lack the nerve to expand Mifepristone use, American researchers are plowing ahead with extended use of this Drug. Feminist Majority Foundation is closely monitoring the extended use of Mifepristone for health care of patients.
Dr.Beth Jordan, a medical director with the Foundation, says studies of cases of compassionate use for patients with terminal or life-threatening illnesses has found this drug very responsive where other drug treatments have failed.
At Rochester Medical Center, excellent regression of women's tumors were found to respond after six months of Mifepristone treatment. Last August, Stanford University Medical Center announced test results of Mifepristone bringing fast relief for patients suffering acute psychotic depression, for which previous treatment was electro-shock. FDA. considering fast-track approval.
Other success stories for Mifepristone use involves studies in endomentriosis, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostrate cancer, cushings syndrome, alzheimers and aids.
Commented one leading medical researcher "If it wern't for the anti-abortion groups, it would be a candidate for a Nobel Prize". Acknowledgement womensenews.org Geoff.
Dr.Beth Jordan, a medical director with the Foundation, says studies of cases of compassionate use for patients with terminal or life-threatening illnesses has found this drug very responsive where other drug treatments have failed.
At Rochester Medical Center, excellent regression of women's tumors were found to respond after six months of Mifepristone treatment. Last August, Stanford University Medical Center announced test results of Mifepristone bringing fast relief for patients suffering acute psychotic depression, for which previous treatment was electro-shock. FDA. considering fast-track approval.
Other success stories for Mifepristone use involves studies in endomentriosis, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostrate cancer, cushings syndrome, alzheimers and aids.
Commented one leading medical researcher "If it wern't for the anti-abortion groups, it would be a candidate for a Nobel Prize". Acknowledgement womensenews.org Geoff.
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