Comments for Cancer Research UK - Science Update

Comment on NCRI Cancer Conference 2009: PARSPORT – fewer side effects from radiotherapy by Warren kearns

Warren kearns — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:43:27 +0000

How about Proton Beam Therapy. We urgently need this in the UK, my son had to travel to Switzerland for 2 months for PBT on a skull base primary tumour, his only treatment was intensive chemotherapy and 72 gray PBT , he has so far had no reoccurances and very little side effects. We need easier access to this treatment here, either referrals to centres abroad or our own PBT facility

Comment on Vitamin supplements do not reduce the risk of cancer by Vanmaanen

Vanmaanen — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:56:54 +0000

Really think we have to look at all options in this day and age. It is also important to consider what the current economic conditions will allow – I still think we may have reached the bottom of the cycle, but will take a lot longer to improve.

Comment on NCRI Cancer Conference 2009: PARSPORT – fewer side effects from radiotherapy by Kat Arney

Kat Arney — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:42:23 +0000

Thanks for your comment and your support, Robert!
Best wishes,
Kat

Comment on NCRI Cancer Conference 2009: PARSPORT – fewer side effects from radiotherapy by Robert McAllister

Robert McAllister — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:16:32 +0000

Having undergone radiotherapy treatment for oral cancer and having the side effects associated with dry mouth I am delighted that research has found a way to reduce the damage to the salivary glands. Although too late to help me it is encouraging to know that the small amount of money I give monthly is helping to leviate the suffering of cancer patients through continued research. Keep up the excellent work.

Comment on I give up! A year since the smoking ban by Samantha Sinclair

Samantha Sinclair — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:22:37 +0000

Congratulations to all of those that have kicked that awful habit!
I too have given up. I had been smoking for 27 years, and at age 43 and 5 failed attempts, I decided to quit *Cold turkey* Something I couldnt of possibly done years ago!

The smoking ban is great! As it help a lot. As when I was a smoker I felt like an outcast anyhow. And its much easier to stay motivated when there is no-one smoking around you!

I havent quit for long yet, but I know I am not giving in this time, as I am enjoying my better tasting food, my whiter teeth and that fresh clean smell that now fills my home, without the use of air freshners to cover that stale smoke smell.

I would advise anyone who smokes to consider giving up, the health benefits outweigh the buzz you get from that cigarette!

Comment on Broccoli – the latest cancer-fighting “superfood”? by Kat Arney

Kat Arney — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:05:25 +0000

Hi Jo-Anne, We’re very sorry to hear about your father in law. Some researchers have been looking into the anti-cancer properties of purified chemicals from algae (for example http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/02/12/35177.aspx) but there is no evidence to suggest that taking whole algae as a supplement can treat or prevent cancer - here's a helpful page about it from the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre in the US: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69145.cfm. Best wishes, Kat

Comment on Broccoli – the latest cancer-fighting “superfood”? by Jo-Anne Harding

Jo-Anne Harding — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:38:43 +0000

My Father in Law just this Saturday passed away with Lung Cancer. Just before this happened we discovered some literature on Blue Green Algae and the benefits/possible cure for cancer. Does anyone know anything about this?

Comment on Positive early results for experimental melanoma drug by Kat Arney

Kat Arney — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:21:40 +0000

Hi Diane, We're sorry to hear about your mother. The trials of the drug are being run in the US. You may find it helpful to contact the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp) or the US National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov/) for further information. If you are interested in finding out about current UK clinical trials for people with melanoma, you can search our database: http://cancerhelp.org.uk/trials/index.htm And finally, you may be interested in our "What's new in melanoma research" page: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/melanoma/treatment/whats-new-in-melanoma-research Best wishes, Kat

Comment on Positive early results for experimental melanoma drug by Diane

Diane — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:41:30 +0000

my mother has metastatic melanoma (lung). She had surgery in April 2009, and just finished her chemotherapy.
Could this experimental drug PLX4032 help her?
If there is a place i could get more specific information and clinics she could get the drug?
thanks

Comment on The (multi) million pound question by Kat Arney

Kat Arney — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:02:32 +0000

Hi Paul, Cancer is not one disease, but more than 200. Although sadly many thousands of people still die from cancer every year around the world, it's important to highlight that significant progress has been made in improving survival from many types of cancer, through research. For example, survival rates from childhood cancer have risen from one in four children surviving in the 1960s, to three out of four today. Testicular cancer survival rates have risen from 70% in the 1970s to over 95% today. Breast and bowel cancer survival rates have also improved significantly, and overall, average long-term (10+ years) survival from cancer has doubled over the past thirty years. There is more about our progress and impact on our website: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerandresearch/progress/index.htm But there are other types of cancer - such as lung, pancreatic and oesophageal cancers - where progress has not been so good. As part of our research strategy we are putting extra research effort into these cancers. We know that research into cancer does save lives - we have already seen significant successes, as mentioned above - so we can expect to see survival rates continuing to climb in the future. To answer your second question, the information generated by our researchers is published in scientific journals. Companies do not pay us to access the information we generate (although, obviously, they have to subscribe to the independent journals that publish our work). However, we do have licensing deals that are negotiated by our wholly-owned technology transfer company, Cancer Research Technology. This enables us to license new discoveries, such as drugs or diagnostic techniques, to companies for further development and marketing. We then receive a royalty on any profits they make, which is reinvested in our research. A good example of this is the brain tumour drug temozolomide, which was discovered by Cancer Research UK-funded scientists. You can read more about the story of temozolomide here: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerandresearch/progress/cancer_drugs/drug_discovery/temozolomide/index.htm Developing cancer drugs costs a lot of money. Doing lab research and running clinical trials is very expensive, and many potential drugs turn out to be unsuitable. To use a metaphor, you have to kiss an awful lot of frogs to find the prince. We've written extensively about the cost of cancer care, and new schemes designed to cut the cost of cancer drugs here on the blog. You might find the following links interesting: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/01/06/the-pharmaceutical-price-regulation-scheme-cutting-the-cost-of-cancer-drugs/ http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2008/11/04/great-news-for-patients-as-government-announces-cancer-drug-access-package/ http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2008/10/21/ncri-session-the-cost-of-cancer-care/ Hope this is useful. Kat