 |
|
Cancer conflict with chemotherapy treatment
October 11, 2007Young women suffering from breast cancer do not necessarily benefit from chemotherapy treatment
Women under the age of forty with breast cancer who are given drugs in addition to lumpectomies or radiotherapy, known as adjuvant chemotherapy, may not be benefiting from these drugs. This is especially true if their tumors respond to changing levels of hormones such as estrogen, according to research published in the online journal, Breast Cancer Research.
"Developing breast cancer at a young age is very worrying in terms of survival," explained lead researcher Dr J van der Hage. "But some young women may be undergoing not only unpleasant but also unnecessary chemotherapy, which can be avoided."
Almost 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Europe are under the age of forty. Two thirds of breast cancers, known as estrogen receptor positive (ER+), contain high levels of cells which contain estrogen receptors. These tumors tend to grow less aggressively than estrogen receptor negative (ER-) tumors. Young patients with breast cancer are currently advised to undergo courses of chemotherapy as well as removal of the tumor and/or entire breast. A research team of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) selected patients from four EORTC-trials which were coordinated by Professor C.J.H. van de Velde from the Leiden University Medical Center, to study the effect of chemotherapy in young women. The research team found that ER+ patients, while they benefited from their chemotherapy treatment, did not survive at higher rates than ER- patients.
The difference in survival rates between the two treatment groups was just 5% (in favour of the ER- group), indicating that the chemotherapy gave no advantage. Of all the patients examined, including those who had only undergone primary treatment such as mastectomy, over 25% had died seven years after initial diagnosis.
"Adjuvant chemotherapy is a well established, but ineffective treatment in ER+ breast cancer patients aged 40 years or less . Hormone responsiveness is the key to tailoring therapy in the future fight against this disease for young women," concluded Dr van der Hage.
BioMed Central
Almost 10% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Europe are under the age of forty. Two thirds of breast cancers, known as estrogen receptor positive (ER+), contain high levels of cells which contain estrogen receptors. These tumors tend to grow less aggressively than estrogen receptor negative (ER-) tumors. Young patients with breast cancer are currently advised to undergo courses of chemotherapy as well as removal of the tumor and/or entire breast. A research team of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) selected patients from four EORTC-trials which were coordinated by Professor C.J.H. van de Velde from the Leiden University Medical Center, to study the effect of chemotherapy in young women. The research team found that ER+ patients, while they benefited from their chemotherapy treatment, did not survive at higher rates than ER- patients.
The difference in survival rates between the two treatment groups was just 5% (in favour of the ER- group), indicating that the chemotherapy gave no advantage. Of all the patients examined, including those who had only undergone primary treatment such as mastectomy, over 25% had died seven years after initial diagnosis.
"Adjuvant chemotherapy is a well established, but ineffective treatment in ER+ breast cancer patients aged 40 years or less . Hormone responsiveness is the key to tailoring therapy in the future fight against this disease for young women," concluded Dr van der Hage.
BioMed Central
Chemotherapy Current Events and Chemotherapy News RSSNew cancer target for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered a molecular mechanism that may prove to be a powerful target for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, or white blood cells.
Fertility procedures need not delay breast cancer treatment for younger women
A new study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that breast cancer patients under 40 years old who undergo fertility preservation do not face a significant delay in the treatment of their disease when their care is coordinated in a timely fashion.
Drugs to treat anemia in cancer patients linked to thromboembolism
Medications frequently given to cancer patients to reduce their risk of anemia are associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, according to new research led by Dawn Hershman, M.D, M.S., co-director of the breast cancer program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
For young boys with cancer, testicular tissue banking may be option to preserve fertility
For parents of children with cancer, the hopeful news is that pediatric survival rates have steadily improved for decades. Among the bad news-treatments that enable survival often cause infertility.
FDA approved leukemia drugs shows promise in ovarian cancer cells
The drug Sprycel, approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, significantly inhibited the growth and invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and also promoted their death, a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found.
1930s drug slows tumor growth
Drugs sometimes have beneficial side effects. A glaucoma treatment causes luscious eyelashes. A blood pressure drug also aids those with a rare genetic disease.
First use of antibody and stem cell transplantation to successfully treat advanced leukemia
For the first time, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported the use of a radiolabeled antibody to deliver targeted doses of radiation, followed by a stem cell transplant, to successfully treat a group of leukemia and pre-leukemia patients for whom there previously had been no other curative treatment options.
New Synthetic Molecules Trigger Immune Response to HIV and Prostate Cancer
Researchers at Yale University have developed synthetic molecules capable of enhancing the body's immune response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as well as to prostate cancer cells. Their findings, published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for these diseases.
Chemo-radiation before prostate removal may prevent cancer recurrence
Researchers in the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center have found a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy given before prostate removal is safe and may have the potential to reduce cancer recurrence and improve patient survival.
PMH finding may help some tonsil cancer patients avoid chemotherapy
Clinical researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) have confirmed that patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer ("tonsil cancer") harbour a common type of human papilloma virus (HPV16), but also that such cancers are very sensitive to radiation.
More Chemotherapy Current Events and Chemotherapy News Articles
 |
The Chemotherapy Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Get Through Treatment by Judith McKay (Author), Tamera Schacher (Author) The first and second editions of this best-selling guide have already helped thousands of people understand chemotherapy and prepare themselves or their loved ones for treatment. The book is used as the primary chemotherapy patient education tool in outpatient clinics nationwide. This new third edition of The Chemotherapy Survival Guide includes updated information on topics including biotherapy, immunotherapy, nutrition, stress reduction, chemotherapy drugs, and more. Written by experienced oncology nurses Judith McKay and Tamera Schacher, this reassuring, optimistic guide helps readers understand their treatment options and explains in plain English how different types of chemotherapy really work. The book includes detailed advice on how to cope with and alleviate the side... |
 |
Chemotherapy and Radiation For Dummies by Alan P. Lyss (Author), Humberto Fagundes (Author), Patricia Corrigan (Author) An informative, compassionate guide for cancer patients and their loved ones Each year, more than 1 million people get treated for cancer, and most of these will undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both. This reassuring, optimistic guide helps people get a handle on treatment options and explains in plain English how chemotherapy and radiation therapy really work. It offers detailed advice on how to alleviate and cope with side effects-which range from hair loss to nausea to anemia-and describes how good nutrition, meditation, support groups, and other techniques and resources can help in the recovery process. |
 |
Physicians' Cancer Chemotherapy Drug Manual: 2009 by Edward Chu (Author), Vincent DeVita Jr. (Author) Completely revised and updated for 2009, the Physicians Cancer Chemotherapy Drug Manual is an up-to-date guide to the latest information on standard therapy and recent advances in the field. Written by world-class experts in the clinical cancer therapeutics, this essential reference provides a complete, easy-to-use catalogue of over 100 drugs and commonly used drug regimens both on-and off-label for the treatment of all the major cancers. Special features: Features new drugs: Bendamustine, Ixabepilone, and Nilotinib; Revised to reflect rapid advances in the field, incorporating new drug and treatment strategies; diagrams of drug structures and pathways for each agent; Offers a comprehensive discussion of clinical pharmacology, special considerations, indications, and dosages; Covers... |
 |
Handbook of Cancer Chemotherapy by Roland T. Skeel (Editor) The Seventh Edition of this pocket reference is a practical, disease-focused guide to the best current medical practice in cancer chemotherapy. In easy-to-follow outline format, the book provides complete coverage of the principles of rational chemotherapy, the chemotherapeutic and biotherapeutic agents available, the treatment of specific cancers, and selected aspects of supportive care. Emphasis is on the indications, dosage/schedule, potential toxicities, and safe administration of the drugs and their use in treating specific malignancies. This edition describes seventeen new chemotherapeutic agents, with particular attention to molecular targeted agents. Updated chapters on individual cancers and supportive care provide state-of-the-art treatment recommendations. |
 |
Ensure Complete Balanced Nutrition Drink, Butter Pecan, 24 - 8 Fluid Ounce Bottles by Ensure New Bottle! Easy-Open and Reclosable. Same Nutritious Ensure Plus. For over 25 years, Ensure has been helping people bridge the gap between wheat they do eat and what they should eat. Use Ensure as a delicious meal supplement, occasional meal replacement or a convenient between-meal snack to help stay healthy, active and energetic. |
 |
Questioning Chemotherapy by Ralph W. Moss (Author) A revealing critique of chemotherapy, this book looks objectively at chemo's successes and failures. |
 |
Healthy Eating During Chemotherapy by Jose van Mil (Author) People undergoing chemotherapy often experience changes in appetite and taste. Similar problems frequently arise during radiotherapy, Another common side effect is a sore mouth, making it painful to eat. At the same time, it is vital for their recovery that patients keep their body weight up. This unique cookbook is the first of its kind, offering nutritional advice and delicious recipes to help cancer patients keep on enjoying food while fighting to get better. Devised by a chef and based on medical research, the first section of the book discusses which foods are good to eat and which are not. The second part of the book contains over 160 recipes that have been created to soothe the palate. With chapter titles like Smooth, Crispy, and Soft with a Bite, the recipes focus on the... |
 |
The Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy Survival Guide (Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Survivor's Guide) by Judith McKay (Author), Nancee Hirano (Author) |
 |
Pocket Guide to Chemotherapy Protocols, Fifth Edition by Edward Chu (Author) An indispensable quick reference for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers treating cancer patients! The updated Fifth Edition of the best-selling Pocket Guide to Chemotherapy Protocols is spiral bound and arranged alphabetically by cancer type for easy access, and contains combination as well as selected single-agent regimens for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. In each case, the regimens selected are based on the published literature and are used in clinical practice in the medical oncology community. Pocket Guide to Chemotherapy Protocols, Fifth Edition, continues the success of previous editions by offering cancer care professionals complete, authoritative information in a convenient format. |
 |
Chemotherapy Medication Guided Imagery Audio Program by IMADULATION Chemotherapy Medication Guided Imagery Audio Program - Utilizing this relaxation cd, guided imagery for chemotherapy, thus far, preliminary results are all positive, with patients reporting an improved ability to relax, and increased feelings of well being and comfort due to listening to the cd meditation. Results from studies measuring guided relaxation use for pain and nausea as well as quality of life will soon be available. Imagine it and you can achieve it! Athletes do it automatically. A batter at the plate, a golfer lining up a birdie putt, a runner at the starting line, all prepare themselves to succeed by visualizing the outcome they want. The reason they do this guided audio imagery : what we imagine with our senses, the brain responds to as if it were actually happening. Guided... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |