Turin, Italy: Radiation therapy not only kills cancer cells, but also helps to activate the immune system against their future proliferation. However, this immune response is often not strong enough to be able to cure tumours, and even when it is, its effect is limited to the area that has been irradiated. Now, however, research […]
Category: Cancer
Breast conserving therapy or mastectomy? New study sheds light on best choices for younger and older women with early breast cancer
Turin, Italy: Young women with early breast cancer face a difficult choice about whether to opt for a mastectomy or breast conserving therapy (BCT). This is because there is little evidence as to whether the greater risk of a return of the disease at the site of the original tumour after BCT is linked to […]
Massive failure to publish trial results exposes patients to risks without providing benefits for others
Turin, Italy: Although the publication of results of clinical trials carried out in the USA within 12 months of their completion has been mandatory since 2007, an astoundingly high number of Phase III radiotherapy trials did not do so, according to new research presented at the ESTRO 35 conference. An analysis of 802 trials with […]
BRCA1 gene mutation is linked to women having fewer eggs in their ovaries
Researchers have discovered a link between the BRCA1 gene mutation and lower levels of a hormone that is an indicator of the number of eggs left in a woman’s ovaries, according to research published in Human Reproduction [1], one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals. In the first large study looking at BRCA1 and […]
Demand for radiotherapy will rise substantially over next ten years; planning to deal with increase in new cancer cases should start now
The demand for radiotherapy across all European countries will increase by an average of 16% between 2012 and 2025, with the highest expected increase being for prostate cancer cases (24%), according to a new study published in Radiotherapy and Oncology [1]. These projections come from a new study by HERO, the Health Economics in Radiation […]
Important falls in death rates from leukaemia in Europe predicted for 2016
Death rates from leukaemia among people of all ages in Europe are falling, according to the latest predictions for European cancer deaths in 2016, published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1]. The study shows that falls in leukaemia death rates will be greatest among children and young adults of both sexes. Between […]
Some advanced breast cancer patients can survive longer with better treatments: experts call for clinical trial
Lisbon, Portugal: International experts have called for a clinical trial to investigate the best ways for identifying and treating a small but important group of patients with advanced breast cancer who can survive for long periods without their disease progressing. Although advanced breast cancer [1] is incurable, there are some patients who have just a […]
Medicines for breast cancer: the affordability controversy
Lisbon, Portugal: New and better drugs to treat diseases such as advanced breast cancer will have little effect on improving patient outcomes if a country does not have good healthcare structures in place, Professor Richard Sullivan told the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference on Friday. Without good systems, Prof Sullivan, of the Institute […]
Higher insulin is an independent prognostic factor in advanced breast cancer: patients may be helped by simple lifestyle changes
Lisbon, Portugal: Patients with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastasised) and who have higher insulin levels than normal, but are not diabetic, have a significantly worse prognosis compared with those with normal insulin levels, a researcher will tell the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference [1] on Friday. […]
Stop the damaging messages about advanced breast cancer and include us in your discussions say patients
Lisbon, Portugal: Organisations that issue “damaging messages” about advanced breast cancer [1] need to be identified and educated to change the way they talk about the disease, a patient told the Advanced Breast Cancer Third International Consensus Conference. In another presentation, a second leader from the community of USA patients with metastatic breast cancer told […]