To read more about this study, go to Aggressive Treatment Effective in Kids’ Brain Cancer

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Tags: cancer blog, childhood brain cancer, ependymoma, st judes hospital

Post from: Blisstree

Aggressive treatment best bet for ependymoma, childhood brain cancer

It’s no surprise that this may have happened and it may not be entirely related to the brain cancer itself. The day is a long and grueling day, with a lot of hurry up and wait. Not to mention, all the stuff that leads up to a day like today.

The reports do say that tests didn’t show any worsening of the cancer and that Senator Kennedy will be discharged home in the morning.

I’ve written about the Senator’s battle in these posts:

• Can my headaches mean I have a brain tumor?
• Ted Kennedy works through his incurable brain cancer
• Glioblastoma treatment may need adjustment for over 65s

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Tags: cancer blog, senator kennedy, senator edward kennedy, ted kennedy, ted kennedy brain cancer, senator edward kennedy brain cancer

Post from: Blisstree

Ted Kennedy has seizure at inaugural luncheon

According to a new study published in the Annals of Neurology, new treatment decisions may have to be made for seniors with this type of cancer because they tend to have more serious side effects compared with younger people and their life expectancy is shorter as well.

The press release, issued by the publisher says that researchers reviewed the:

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry to gather information on 4,137 on patients who were at least 65 years old and were diagnosed with glioblastoma between 1994 and 2002. They evaluated the associations of demographic characteristics (age, gender, race, marital status and residence in a metropolitan versus non-metropolitan county) and co-existing health conditions with the probability of undergoing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to treat the tumor.

The results showed that 61 percent of the patients underwent surgery, and that black patients had surgery less often than white patients. Radiation was performed in 65 percent of patients, while only 10 percent underwent chemotherapy. Patients who were older, unmarried and had additional health issues were less likely to receive radiation or chemotherapy within three months of diagnosis. The median survival for elderly patients was only four months.

The study showed that age was the most significant factor in predicting whether a patient received treatment, with older age associated with lower odds of undergoing surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. The authors attribute this to the fact that physicians may be concerned about increased toxic side effects or complications from treatment in elderly patients. “Another possibility is that elderly patients may decline more invasive and aggressive treatments because therapies are only palliative and may prolong life only for a short time,” the authors note, although the study did not evaluate this aspect. Although the reasons for the difference in surgery rates between blacks and whites are not clear, the authors speculate that blacks may have been more likely to have health conditions that made them poor candidates for surgery or may be more averse to having surgery than whites.

This is an important finding that may lead to a better understanding for glioblastoma treatment.

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Tags: cancer blog, senator edward kennedy brain cancer, brain cancer, ted kennedy brain cancer, glioblastoma, ted kennedy glioblastoma

Post from: Blisstree

Glioblastoma treatment may need adjustment for over 65s

According to the National Institutes of Health, a disease cluster is what occurs when a larger group of people than is usual become ill with the same disease. It could be that they all live in the same area, work in the same place, are from the same family, or over a specific time period. When a cluster occurs, they are puzzling, but often they also give researchers a strong foundation to work with.

Cancer clusters are no different. Last month, I wrote about such a cluster in the Canadian province of British Columbia (Lung cancer cluster in northern British Columbia town). Cancer clusters also have taught researchers about previously unknown causes of cancer. For example, this is how researchers learned that exposure to asbestos can cause a specific type of cancer called mesothelioma.

News of another cancer cluster has been released. In McHenry, IL, there are more people dying with a rare type of brain tumor than there should be. While usually perhaps 7 out of every 100,000 people in the United States may get the brain cancer, in McHenry, a town of 1000 people, 14 people have brain cancer.

The area around the town does have a history of illegal dumping, much of which is considered carcinogenic, or cancer causing. According to the article on CBS, it’s not only the town too though. This is wider spread, including researchers many miles away. To read more about the cancer cluster, go to What’s Behind The Mystery Cancer Cluster?.

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Tags: cancer blog, cancer clusters, brain cancer, brain tumor, mesothelioma, carcinogenic

Post from: Blisstree

Another cancer cluster found

Cancer isn’t supposed to happen. And it’s really not supposed to happen to young people. And even more, it’s not supposed to happen to athletic, fit young people. But it does. Cancer doesn’t discriminate and can happen to anyone at any me and 28-year-old Robert Muller, father of two and an elite hockey goaltender for Germany. Robert played in the world championship earlier this year.

His brain tumor was first found in 2006 and he underwent surgery and had both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But, the type of cancer Robert has, glioblastoma multiforme – the same type that Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with – is very aggressive and has no cure. And, sure enough, Robert’s brain cancer returned in early November.

He continues to play hockey, much to the amazement and admiration of his many fans. His story is much like the much-loved Finnish hockey player, Saku Koivu, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in September 2001. Saku is the captain of the storied Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. After undergoing rigorous chemotherapy, Saku stunned the hockey world by playing April 8, 2002, just in time for the season’s play offs. Saku remains cancer-free at this point and is a major source of inspiration for many.

While Robert’s cancer is different and his prognosis is worse, these two men have done a lot to help raise awareness and hope among those who are living with cancer.

My hat off to both of them and all the wonderful medical and health professionals that helped and continue to help them.

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Tags: german hockey goalie robert muller, robert muller photo, Montreal canadiens captain saku koivu, photo saku koivu, senator edward kennedy, ted kennedy, glioblastoma multiforma, brain tumor, brain cancer, non-hodgkins lymphoma

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German goalie keeps playing despite incurable brain tumor

B is for:

B-cell lymphoma

Basal cell carcinoma

Bellini duct carcinoma

Bladder cancer

Brain tumor

Breast cancer

Burkitt lymphoma

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Tags: cancer blog, burkitt lympohma, brain tumor, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma, basal cell cancer

Post from: Blisstree

B is for…

Yet, only three weeks after brain surgery, Senator Kennedy dismissed his doctors’ concerns and made his way back to work for a crucial vote. He has been moved to push harder for changes in the US healthcare system, something he had been advocating for a while, but now has taken a much more personal bent.

Of course, Senator Kennedy can afford good health care. He has people around him who can help him through the final stages of his life. He won’t have to worry about whether he will receive the proper end-of-life care that every human should be entitled to. But that’s what makes his battle all that more impressive. He wants others to have these same advantages. He wants proper and affordable healthcare for others who are battling brain cancer and every other type of cancer.

Whether you agree with the Senator’s politics or not, you do have to give him some credit for working when he could choose to live the rest of his life in a very different way.

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Tags: cancer blog, senator kennedy, senator edward kennedy, kennedy cancer, brain cancer, ed kennedy, malignant glioma

Post from: Blisstree

Ted Kennedy works through his incurable brain cancer

“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.

Post from: Blisstree

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

His doctors declared the said surgery as successful.

The surgery “was successful and accomplished our goals,” according to a statement released by the neurosurgeon, Dr. Allan Friedman, at the facility in Durham, N.C.

Friedman said Kennedy was awake throughout the entire procedure and should experience no permanent neurological effects from the surgery.

A Kennedy spokesman said the senator spoke with his wife, Vicki, immediately after the surgery and told her: “I feel like a million bucks. I think I will do that again tomorrow.”

Sen. Kennedy is expected to stay at the hospital for about a week.

Read the full report at The LA Times.

Post from: Blisstree

Sen. Edward Kennedy’s Brain Surgery, Declared Succesful

Meningiomas are slow-growing tumors that arise in the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. They are one of the most common forms of brain tumor, and occur most frequently in middle-aged women.

Such were what a U.S. study result suggests as published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Researchers found that among more than 1,400 U.S. adults with and without brain cancer, there was no overall link between the disease and on-the-job exposure to pesticides or herbicides — chemicals used to kill plants, usually weeds.

However, a closer look at the data showed that women who had ever been exposed to herbicides at work had a two-fold higher risk of meningioma than women with no such exposure.

Find more details from India Reuters.

Post from: Blisstree

Exposure to Pesticides and Herbicides, Linked to Brain Cancer in Women