Cancer Commentary, Cancer Treatments, Cancer News, Cancer Stories, Cancer Research.

July 25th, 2008

Cellphone Use, Brain Cancer and UPMC Cancer Center Chief’s Advisory

Wednesday, 23 July 2008 is the day the UPMC Cancer Center and University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Director Dr. Ronald Herberman is to issue an advisory (pdf file link of the memorandum) on the possible health risks of cellphone use.

“Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer.

Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use.”

The advisory suggests certain measures to limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the devices, such as shortening the length of conversations or keeping the phones away from the head by text messaging or using headsets or speaker phone options. It also recommends that children not use cell phones except in emergencies.

Last year, reports were abound that cellphone use in not linked to brain cancer.

Now, Director Dr. Ronald Herberman believes that he is the first U.S. cancer center director to approve the release of such an advisory and is hopeful that his suggestions will spread to others within Pitt and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and also to the general public.

Now I am rattled and at the same time undecided about a personal opinion on this matter. (Especially not at this hour: I’m so sleepy! But I will definitely be not ’sleeping’ with my cellphone starting this very second! I swear.)

However, I believe it is better to be on the safer side as practicing precaution will do us all more good than harm.

Read more from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Do let us know.

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By Gloria Gamat -- 5 comments

July 25th, 2008

Is Steve Jobs Cancer-Free?

It must be difficult to be Steve Jobs. Rumors that his cancer might be back pulled down Apple’s stock to as much as 12 percent on Tuesday.

Then, just reports that Steve Jobs has told associates he is cancer-free — shares of Apple jumped nearly 3 percent the very next day!

According to reports, Jobs is having nutritional problems due to pancreatic cancer surgery he had four years ago while Apple remains adamant that Steve Jobs’ state of health is a private matter.

Well…the guy must be having a tough time, cancer-free or not. However, a person of his stature can make the state of his health really private if he wants to keep mum about it. With all the speculations I cannot help but think about this might all be a business strategy, in one way or another.

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By Gloria Gamat -- 0 comments

July 24th, 2008

Tobacco Plant-Derived Cancer Vaccine, In the works.

This report has been causing a stir earlier this week. The good in the evil tobacco? So reports are saying. Okay before we all get too excited…the tobacco plants used are genetically engineered.

To make the vaccine, researchers took a sample of a patient’s tumors, which in this trial were made up of B cells (white blood cells that help the body battle disease and infection). They then extracted the gene from the cells that coded for the antigen they needed (to help the immune system recognize the tumors as threats). The key, researchers say, was to make enough of the protein quickly to prompt an immune response.

In this case, the scientists achieved this by inserting the gene into a plant microbe known a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Plants are infected with TMV simply by scratching their leaves and depositing the virus into the tears. Researchers discovered that the virus spreads throughout tobacco plants within a week, in the process cranking out a surfeit of the coveted proteins. The scientists ground the leaves and separated out the antigen, which they then injected into volunteers.

Initial humans trial are safe, according to the PNAS report:

In the first human trial of its kind, a vaccine grown in genetically engineered tobacco plants has proved to be safe, paving the way to one day use it to help combat a potentially fatal form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Researchers report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA that the experimental vaccine triggered the immune systems of 11 of 16 volunteers (with so-called follicular B-cell lymphoma) to attack their tumors without any apparent dangerous side effects.

Well…this might just work. If biotech can do its job right? I don’t see this as something impossible. But yeah it is too early to tell if this will really work successfully. We’ll see.

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By Gloria Gamat -- 0 comments

July 24th, 2008

Independence is The Channel’s Theme This Month

A Hearty Life hosted this month’s Channel Theme Day, the topic is all about independence - in lieu of this month’s Fourth of July celebration in the U.S.

Each blog’s entry is all a good read.

However, for the cancer-related entry I particularly recommend Karen Lynch’s personal independence day entry at Pink Ribbon Review. Karen is a breast cancer survivor and hers is one inspiring story. Do check it out.

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July 23rd, 2008

Time For Some Good Cancer Story News: Patrick Swayze

It looks like Patrick Swayze is fighting a good fight with his pancreatic cancer — which is really great news to hear.

All over the news are the following words this weekend by Patrick Swayze that is hopeful:

“…a miracle, dude.”

I don’t know why. I am juicing every day along with other treatments and all I can say is that it’s working fine and really well.”

The actor, according to reports has been undergoing chemotherapy and the new CyberKnife (robotic radiosurgery system) for the pancreatic cancer he was diagnosed with in March.

It’s really inspiring to see him up and about and getting back to work.  Like I said in my previous post, not everyone that has access and can afford the best treatments are as lucky to be responding wel

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July 23rd, 2008

Freedom from Cancer. What does that really mean?

In lieu of this month’s Channel Theme Day and the recent Fourth of July celebration in the US, our topic is independence or freedom.

Speaking of freedom, in the context of cancer…what does freedom really mean? The definition varies from case to case, from person to person, from one’s perspective to another.

First of all nobody is free from the big-C. Each and everyone of us is at risk in one way or another. I mean we all walk on the face of the earth…all factors are at play contributing to the development of cancer. Environmental factors, genetics, lifestyle, diet, exposure to harmful chemicals and substances…just to name a few. Need I say more? Well yeah genetics. He he. You know what I mean.

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By Gloria Gamat -- 2 comments

July 20th, 2008

Dream Wedding and A Cancer Survivor

Here’s one story for the books: a cancer survivor has won a $100,000 dream wedding from US Magazine.

Courtney Dempsey, who has overcome incredible obstacles, is the winner of Us Weekly and WeddingChannel.com’s first ever Dream Wedding competition.

Dempsey, 33, met her now-fiancé Gary Courtney, 37, at a networking event three years ago.

Tampa, Florida-based Dempsey has battled melanoma, breast cancer (she’s had a double mastectomy plus reconstructive surgery), thyroid cancer and a lung condition — with Courtney, an insurance analyst by her side.

Wow. Isn’t this just wanna make you smile?! Good that good things still happen to people.

Read more from US Magazine.

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July 19th, 2008

ImClone’s Erbitux: Approved in Japan For Colorectal Cancer Use

ImClone Systems, Inc.’s advanced colorectal cancer drug has now received regulatory approval in Japan.

ERBITUX(R) (cetuximab) has received marketing authorization in Japan for use in treating patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Specifically, this approval allows for the use of ERBITUX to treat patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive, curatively unresectable (inoperable), advanced or recurrent CRC, and allows the use of ERBITUX plus irinotecan in second and further lines of mCRC.

With this approval, ERBITUX is the first ever EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibody to be submitted for and receive marketing authorization in Japan.

ERBITUX (cetuximab) is a monoclonal antibody (IgG1 Mab) designed to inhibit the function of a molecular structure expressed on the surface of normal and tumor cells called the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, HER1, c-ErbB-1) — a novel cancer drug developed by ImClone.

Read more from ImClone press release.

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July 18th, 2008

Molecular Markers May Predict Outcome of Stomach Cancer

Worldwide…stomach cancer is one of the most common and fatal cancers.

From Mayo Clinic:

“…two factors that play a major role in the development of stomach cancer — infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria and diet, especially the type of diet that’s high in salted, smoked and pickled foods common in areas that lack refrigeration as a means of preserving food.

Stomach cancer is more readily treated when caught early. Unfortunately, by the time stomach cancer causes symptoms, it’s often at an advanced stage and may have spread beyond the stomach. Yet there is encouraging news. You can reduce your risk of stomach cancer by making a few changes in your lifestyle.”

Now Rhode Island researchers have identified two potential molecular markers that may predict the outcome of  stomach cancer after treatment (usually surgery): two proteins, known as gastrokine 1 and 2 (GKN1 and GKN2) — which are produced by normal stomach cells.

The said research findings have reported (July 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research),that stomach cancer patients who had poor outcomes following surgery for stomach cancer also had extremely low amounts of those two proteins.

I’m such a sucker for such kinds of molecular markers. I really hope that they bring us to better treatment, better yet preventative therapies sometime in the future.

Read more about this report from Science Daily.

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July 17th, 2008

Wanna Help a Leukemia Patient? Become Amy’s Army.

I knew about Amy’s Army when I got the following in my inbox from Dori Persky:

Amy Katz was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in 2003. She volunteered to participate in a worldwide study for Gleevac in order to “help other kids.” But, while the drug allows her to lead a somewhat normal lift, the only known cure for CML is a stem cell transplant. Although Amy’s whole family has been tested, none of them are a match (although ironically, her two sisters are perfect matches for each other.)

Amy’s Army was founded by friends and family soon after learning about Amy’s diagnosis. They held their first marrow drive in 2004 and had a turnout of over 1,620 people! The second drive drew 500 people in the midst of a Pittsburgh snowstorm! Although the many marrow drives that have been hosted by Amy’s Army have found 22 other donor matches, none has yet been found for Amy.

The most likely matches for Amy are Jews of Eastern European descent. The Pittsburgh Jewish community has been enthusiastic in their support of the cause, but we are now trying to expand by encouraging national Jewish organizations to host donor drives. Amy’s Army has already hosted donor drives in 12 states and is hoping to increase this number.

Hey folks, to anybody who may bump into this post and you think you can help, please check out the website - Amy’s Army - for donor drives and any other way you can help.

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