| Scan can tell if body is cancer-free
A whole-body PET scan may be just what the doctor orders now to tell women how successful their cervical cancer treatment has been. Researchers at Washington University say they have found that a PET scan three months after treatment ends can determine whether a woman is disease-free -- or whether she needs additional therapy. "This is the first time we can say that we have a reliable test to follow cervical cancer patients after therapy," said Dr. Julie E. Schwarz, a resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology. "If the scan shows a complete response to treatment, we can say with confidence that they are going to do extremely well. That's really powerful." Without a test like PET (positron emission tomography), it can be difficult to tell whether treatment has destroyed the cervical tumors, Schwarz said.
Woman with cancer forming non-profit to fight back
Just as the Pap smear nearly wiped out cervical cancer, we hope this test will do the same for breast cancer." In addition to working on getting SOMAD running and undergoing chemotherapy, George has continued to work from home. She is a member of "Active Rain," a cyber community of real estate professionals from all over the country. "I worked and I still work all through my treatments. I find that working helps to divert my attention from the ominous pressure I'm under from the cancer," she said. "It keeps my mind focused on other things." Her posts on the Active Rain blog about her cancer fight caught the eye of Paula Henry, a Realtor from Indianapolis, as well as Phoenix Realtor Jay Thompson. Henry said she was so moved by George's story that she opened a bank account so others could help George with medical bills, which she said are more than $200,000.
WCN Editorial Contributors
Carolyn Y. Muller, MD, Chair, is currently the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dr. Muller completed her medical school education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and her Ob-Gyn residency at the nation's first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. After one year of general Ob-Gyn practice, she came to UT Southwestern for fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology. She continued her postdoctoral training in molecular biology through the Reproductive Scientist Development Program. Her main research interests include developing molecular biomarkers for cervical cancer prevention and supporting novel therapeutics (such as gene therapy) for ovarian cancer. Her passion is in improving patient education in cancer prevention and treatment.
Radio Waves Fire Up Nanotubes Embedded In Tumors, Destroying Liver ...
ScienceDaily (Nov. 3, 2007) Cancer cells treated with carbon nanotubes can be destroyed by non-invasive radio waves that heat up the nanotubes while sparing untreated tissue, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University has shown in preclinical experiments. .
15-year-old heads up effort to fight grandma's cancer
There are many ways to fight cancer: drugs, homeopathic medicines, chemotherapy, radiation. It can also be fought with a grandchild's love.Shirley Smalling, 69, got the phone call one year ago this month and the doctor was brief and to the point: You have infiltrating ductal carcinoma - in layman's terms, breast cancer.“That's not the news you want to hear," Smalling said.With heavy hearts, the family gathered at Smalling's Dillard Road farm as usual that Sunday after church for lunch.The weekly gathering has always been a special event for Shirley and Victor Smalling's three children and five grandchildren.“As long as I can remember, it's always been lunch at Grandma's house after church," said Victoria Dickson, the Smallings' 15-year-old granddaughter. “The first word out of everyone's mouth as babies is 'grandma.' "Shirley Smalling has endured months of radiation treatment and is now taking medication to fight the disease.Victoria, always the organizer in the family, has decided to tackle the disease in her own way.“I was sitting in church one Sunday and it just came to me," she said.
Key Indicators For Quality Colonoscopy Identified
OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Defining measurements and identifying quality standards in the delivery of colonoscopic care is a major priority for the nation's leading gastrointestinal endoscopic healthcare association. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recently identified objective measures related to colonoscopy. Using these guidelines and measurements, endoscopists can assess and improve their performance when delivering patient care. "Quality Indicators for Colonoscopy" was published as a supplement to the April 2006 issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, as part of a collection of quality indicators documents. "Setting quality standards for colonoscopy is a foremost concern for ASGE. These standards will assist in the fight to prevent colon cancer and for successful diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of digestive health conditions," said Gary W.
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