Saturday, December 05, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
Radiation recall dermatitis triggered by multi-tar... [Anticancer Drugs. 2009] - PubMed result
Radiation recall dermatitis triggered by multi-tar... [Anticancer Drugs. 2009] - PubMed result: "Radiation recall dermatitis triggered by multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors: sunitinib and sorafenib"
Tumor type and substage predict survival in stage I and II ovarian carcinoma: Insights and implications
Note: there is supplemental data that can be downloaded (word document) which is attached to this abstract - see link to view
Conclusions
A subset of ovarian carcinoma patients with an excellent outcome can be identified based on tumor type (endometrioid or mucinous) and stage (Ia or Ib). Type is more reproducibly assigned than grade and identifies a larger cohort of women with stage I/II ovarian carcinoma with favorable outcomes (12.2% vs. 6.5%), and therefore is superior to grade in estimating risk of death from ovarian carcinoma.
Gynecologic Oncology : Sequential chemotherapy with carboplatin followed by weekly paclitaxel in advanced ovarian cancer: Results of a multicenter phase II study of the northeastern German society of gynecological oncology
Gynecologic Oncology : Sequential chemotherapy with carboplatin followed by weekly paclitaxel in advanced ovarian cancer: Results of a multicenter phase II study of the northeastern German society of gynecological oncology
AHRQ Patient Safety Network - Patient Safety Primers
AHRQ Patient Safety Network - Patient Safety Primers: "The culture of individual blame still dominant and traditional in health care undoubtedly impairs the advancement of a safety culture. One issue is that, while 'no blame' is the appropriate stance for many errors, certain errors do seem blameworthy and demand accountability. In an effort to reconcile the twin needs for no-blame and appropriate accountability, the concept of 'just culture' is being introduced."
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Senate Affirms Screening Mammography for 40-Year-Olds - in Washington
In a 61 to 39 vote, the Senate dealt a significant blow to the power and credibility of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), by essentially deciding to disregard the task force's recent recommendation that women under 50 shouldn't undergo routine mammograms....
Drug company contributes $9 million to B.C.'s fight against cancer
Research in ovarian cancer will focus on identifying new biomarkers for diagnostic purposes as well as therapeutic targets
Recreational physical activity and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are compatible with an overall reduction in risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer associated with recreational activity but suggest that this association may differ in women with different histologic types of disease. Inconsistent findings across studies that have considered histologic type indicate that this issue is not yet resolved.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
James Kreppner’s Obituary by the Toronto Star.
James Kreppner Death Notice
"KREPPNER, James Rudolf - March 6, 1962 to May 14, 2009 The world has lost an extraordinary human being. It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of James, a man possessed of a brilliant mind, gentle soul and tender heart, after a long, courageous and feisty battle with illness, on May 14, 2009, in his 47th year due to HIV and Hepatitis C-related complications...James was a highly respected, articulate and exemplary activist who represented the true meaning of fairness and kindness."
response to prior letter: HINI and Cancer
Note/background: Please reference prior blog postings Nov 1-5th, 2009 regarding the apparent lack of access to care of an ovarian cancer woman and the systemic issues surrounding the H1N1.
email response (better late than never) December 2, 2009 4:57 pm:
"Thank you for writing and bringing to my attention your concerns regarding the government’s handling of the H1N1 vaccine roll out. As you are aware, the vaccine is now available to all members of the public.
Your views and comments are appreciated and helpful to my work as Leader of Canada’s New Democrats.
Between the conflicting messages, queue jumping, and sole sourced contracts; we feel the federal government could have done a better job handling the distribution of the vaccine. NDP Health Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis continues to be our lead on this issue and you can review her work by visiting: http://www.judywl.ndp.ca/news/health.
Looking forward, we will continue to press the federal government to take a proper role in helping Canadians stay healthy and providing access to treatment when needed through:
- promoting healthy living
- hiring and training more doctors and nurses
- creating a pan-Canadian home care program
- ensuring prescription medicines are affordable
If you are interested in our plans to improve health care in Canada, I encourage you to check for details here: http://www.ndp.ca/platform/healthcare.
Again, thank you for sharing your views and comments as they helpful to my work as Leader of Canada’s New Democrats. All the best.
Sincerely,
Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats"
14-3-3σ, the double-edged sword of human cancers
highly technical paper, but the issues that always seem to find ovarian cancer at 'odds' with other cancers:
Despite the above findings that 14-3-3σ expression correlates with and may predict poor prognosis of breast, colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, opposite observations have also been made in other cancers including endometrium [61] and ovary [30], where it was found that the absence or low expression level of 14-3-3σ predicted poor survival or showed no correlation (see Table 1). In another study of 192 cases of ovarian cancer patients, no significant correlation between 14-3-3σ expression and survival was found [62]. Thus, it is possible that 14-3-3σ in prognosis prediction is cancer type dependent, and more detailed studies on this issue will be needed.
In response to recent media: Does Morphine Stimulate Cancer Growth? | GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog
Please read the full article/discussion. Many questions were asked and responses given which may be helpful for many.
Over the last week Reuters, ABC news, MSNBC, BBC News, and more than 75 other outlets reported on how two "two new studies add to growing evidence that morphine and other opiate-based painkillers may promote the growth and spread of cancer cells." What was most shocking were the headlines used to promote the stories:
* Morphine 'might spread cancer' (BBC News)
* Morphine May Help Tumors Spread in Cancer Patients (US News and World Reports)
* Pain drug morphine may accelerate cancer growth (Reuters, ABC News)
* Common Pain Relief Medication May Encourage Cancer Growth (Science Daily)
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Cochrane Collaboration meta-analysis: Erythropoietin or Darbepoetin for patients with cancer - meta-analysis based on individual patient data
The authors of this new meta-analysis concluded that ESA treatment shortens survival. They could not identify with certainty any subgroup of patients at either increased or decreased risk of dying when taking ESAs. With their doctors' help, cancer patients should consider the risks of taking ESA against the risks of a blood transfusion. Be aware, however, that uncertainties remain about the magnitude of each.
favourite quote of the day
"... if you are really effective at what you do, 95% of the things said about you will be negative." Scott Boras
(incompetent) Ontario Health Ministry press release: Improving Patient Care in Ontario
email to Minister:
Please immediately hire a new writer. This has to be the worst press release I have ever read and has a new found meaning in 'dumbing it down'. Give the public a bit, just a bit of credit for health literacy. Also include in the future a direct link to the bill. Was this reviewed by a panel of patients/citizens before it was released? No need to answer as it is obvious.
Ontario
Improving Patient Care in Ontario
December 1, 2009 2:13 PM
Ontario has passed Third Reading of Bill 179 that would improve access to health care for Ontarians by allowing care providers to use all of their training to perform their jobs and to work more effectively in teams. The proposed legislation would:
Expand What Health Care Providers Do
Health profession Acts (e.g., Nursing Act) under the Regulated Health Professions Act would be changed to allow providers to perform specific health care actions (controlled acts) or order diagnostic tests:
Health Care Provider
Proposed New Controlled Acts and Powers
Nurse Practitioners
* Apply specified forms of energy (e.g., diagnostic ultrasound);
* Set or cast a fracture or dislocation of a joint
Pharmacists
* Prick or lance skin to educate a patient
Physiotherapists
* Tell patients their diagnosis
* Treat a wound
* Insert an instrument, hand or finger into certain body openings for assessment or rehabilitation of the pelvic musculature
* Order certain forms of energy (e.g., diagnostic ultrasound)
Midwives
* Tell patients their diagnosis
* Give suppository drugs
* Place a tube in the nose or mouth of a newborn
* Take blood samples from fathers and donors
Dietitians
* Prick skin to check a patient's blood readings
Medical Radiation Technologists
* On the order of a physician be able to:
- perform procedures below the skin (e.g., give a needle)
- suction a tracheotomy
- put contrast media into certain body openings and artificial openings into the body
- put an instrument, hand or finger past certain body openings and artificial openings into the body.
Professional Practice Changes Regarding Drugs
Health professions Acts (e.g., Pharmacy Act) under the Regulated Health Professions Act would be changed to give providers the power to administer, prescribe, dispense, compound (mix), sell and use drugs as follows:
Health Care Provider
Drug Authorities Proposed to be Added
Chiropodists and Podiatrists
Give a patient certain substances by inhalation
Dental hygienists
Prescribe, dispense, sell or mix certain drugs
Dentists
Sell or mix drugs (can already prescribe and dispense)
Midwives
Give a patient any substance on the order of a physician
Naturopaths
Prescribe, dispense, mix and sell certain drugs.
Nurse practitioners
Prescribe, dispense, mix and sell drugs without restrictions.
Pharmacists
Prescribe certain drugs to manage patient health
Give certain substances through injection and inhalation to demonstrate their use or to educate patients
Physiotherapists
Give certain substances by inhalation as ordered by authorized persons (e.g., a physician)
Respiratory therapists
Independently give a patient certain substances by inhalation
Increase Ability to Order X-Rays
Regulations would be changed under the Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act to allow:
* Nurse practitioners to order any X-rays
* Physiotherapists to order X-rays subject to conditions
CONTACTS
* David Jensen
Communications Branch
416-314-6197
media@nullmoh.gov.on.ca
* Ivan Langrish
Minister's Office
416-326-3986
* For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
null(Toll-free in Ontario only)
* Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media@nullmoh.gov.on.ca
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health
© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2008 - 2009 - Last Modified:December 01, 2009
Q & A transcript: Outlook: Fighting a smarter war on cancer - washingtonpost.com
"Outlook: Fighting a smarter war on cancer"
Cancers, infections, and endocrine diseases in women with endometriosis
"While ovarian cancer and melanoma were significantly more common than in the general population, breast cancer was surprisingly less common."
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) evaluation of pleural effusions in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian carcinoma can influence....
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) evaluation of pleural effusions in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian carcinoma can influence the primary management choice for these patients.
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