New Research

Some interesting new findings and some local publicity!

Today has been an exciting day around here.  The London Fuse has published an article about the project. You can catch the article in full on their web site! More details for the planned show coming up on November 11 are coming together, with only one key element remaining to get moving on tickets and posters and start selling the event.  With crossed fingers, the show will be confirmed in a few more days! And if I don’t make it for the 11th of November, I will still push on with the plan and look for an alternate date perhaps later in November.  This show WILL go forward! And finally for now, head on over to Medical News Today for some very good news for Coffee Drinkers as well as a host of other very interesting articles from research teams around the world. Of course, stay tuned here as there will be a few more creative sessions coming up very soon now as we continue working on creating more art, and gathering more stories from survivors and others affected by Cancer. Live well!

A personal story related to PSA tests…

Yesterday I posted information offering a warning about PSA test results being misread or taken to a needless treatment for cancer of the prostate. The story I’ve linked to below is a personal experience relating the value of the PSA tests, and shows a very positive example of how to properly use test results to make an informed decision. A single PSA test with high results has, in some cases, been used to decide to take actions that may or may not have been beneficial to the patient, but in this case, a series of tests led to a biopsy and proper diagnosis and treatment of a developing cancer.  The important message here is to be properly and fully informed before making those choices! Follow the example of the author of this article, and you are likely to make the right choices for the right reasons.

From Medical News Today: Read the full article.

PSA Screening Tests may do more harm than good…

Prostate-specific antigen, more commonly known as PSA, can be a marker for early detection of Prostate Cancer, but blood tests that check PSA levels may lead to treatments and surgeries that are not required. A US Panel have reviewed the testing data and are concerned now that healthy men who have tested higher levels may have ended up doing more harm than good by having surgery and/or cancer treatments as a result. Such elevated levels of PSA can also show up in tests from men that have only an infection, enlarged prostate, or perhaps a small cancerous tumor that is too small and slow growing to be of concern.

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Cholesterol control in Brain Cancer and Viruses that kill Breast Cancer…

There’s been an increasing number of articles showing up from studies that are being published around the world related to both of these topics, and both are quite exciting. Treatment of any form of cancer first requires an understanding of how it forms, grows and thrives in the body. Then, and only then, are researchers able to consider ways to stop the growth and perhaps even destroy the cancerous cells, while hopefully leaving healthy ones alone. Current treatments are – as we’ve said in earlier posts – destructive to more than just cancer cells, and as a result cause long terms issues with reduced immune system function, lowered platelet production for clotting, and much more.

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Future Treatments to Target Cancer Cells…

More and more we are seeing new research leading to a range of different ‘targeted’ strategies for Cancer treatment. Another article published this past week (Protein Switches) tells of a research team working on this type of treatment in the US.  In essence they are creating a chemical ‘switch’ right within cells that are also infused with a dormant chemotherapy drug. When these switches detect cancerous activity within a cell, the drug is activated and destroys the now dangerous cell but has no effect on neighboring cells. Current chemotherapy drugs are not able to discriminate and can cause extensive damage to cells around the affected area, and have numerous side effects.  These new methods of delivering targeted treatment will leave healthy cells alone and reduce the long term after effects of treatment. Look for more news as testing continues into 2012, with hopes of animal testing possibly coming within the next year!