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New blood examination for cancer could improve early diagnosis

communityreply@lls.org — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:48:05 GMT

An experimental cancer blood test designed to pinpoint cancer cells is being developed for medical use. Earlier detection could possibly be one of the biggest benefits provided by the brand new cancer blood test. Testing a patient's blood using the brand new technique might result in more effective treatment and help determine if the cancer has been defeated. Post resource - New cancer blood test could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment by MoneyBlogNewz.

Cancer treatment breakthrough ahead of us

The Harvard University and Johnson & Johnson medical researchers are coming up with a new cancer blood test. There would no longer be biopsies, mammograms or even colonoscopies. Better outcomes would be produced with a teaspoon of blood. The cancer blood test is intended to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cancer cells that separate from a tumor and migrate to other organs via the bloodstream. The CTCs are in the body spreading cancer. This is the only way expected that it can spread too. Based on the number of CTCs detected, the test might reveal how well-off the patient is.

Ways to use the cancer blood examination

The cancer blood test involves a microchip the size of a business card covered with 78,000 tiny posts. Cancer cells are drawn from the blood sample because of antibodies on the posts. Nothing happens to the posts when all the cells are healthy blood cells. Any cells that are cancerous will stick to them though. The cancer cells will glow if they are stuck to the posts because of a dye added so they may be counted. The brand new cancer blood examination is extremely sensitive to cancerous cells also. In fact, out of millions of healthy blood cells, just one cancerous cell will be detected. In addition to counting the cancer cells, it's possible that a gene analysis of the cell could provide data leading to the most effective cancer treatments.

<p><strong>May be utilized in three to five years

Researchers said patients with prostate, bladder, colon, kidney and lung cancer could benefit most from the new cancer blood examination. Johnson & Johnson has invested $30 million within the process, which unfolds much like the development of new drugs that are submitted to the FDA for approval. The procedure might be available for clinical use in 3 to five years.

Information from

Business Week

businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/648465.html

Healthy Living

knowabouthealth.com/single-cancer-cell-can-be-detected-using-sensitive-microchip/7419/

CBS News

cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/03/eveningnews/main7209692.shtml

Hexavalent chromium present in tap water from thirty-one U.S. cities

communityreply@lls.org — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:28:54 GMT

Drinking water samples in several United States locations has tested positive for a chemical linked to cancer. Monday the EWG published the results of a study that detected hexavalent chromium in the drinking water of thirty-one out of 35 municipalities tested. In the film “Erin Brockovich,” hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, was the contaminant that sparked the lawsuit against the public utility that was the subject of the film. Resource for this article - Hexavalent chromium found in tap water from 31 U.S. cities

The hazards of hexavalent chromium

Hexavalent chromium is dumped to the environment by steel and pulp mills, metal-plating and leather-tanning industries, based on the Environmental Working Group. EWG paid labs to test normal water in 35 locations identified to be contaminated by the cancer-causing compound, which leaches into groundwater from eroding soil. A EWG scientist said evidence has been well-documented that a corollary exists between exposure to chromium-6 and stomach cancer in humans. Madison, WI, Honolulu, HI, Riverside, CA, and San Jose, CA; have had the highest amounts of hexavalent chromium found.

Examination of chromium-6

This is the 1st analyze of hexavalent chromium in water supplied to locations by the EWG. The research went public only since the EPA decided to try and cap the limit of chromium-6 released into water supplies. The National Institutes of Health classified hexavalent chromium a probable carcinogen in 2008. In 2009, CA proposed a safe limit of hexavalent chromium amounts in drinking water at 0.06 parts per billion. When the Environmental Working Group conducted their research they found the actual amount in water is over 200 times the allowed limit. 25 of the 35 cities in the research were above the limit California considered safe.

EWG recommendation: reverse osmosis water filtration

”Erin Brockovich” was where many people first learned about Hexavalent chromium. Brockovich, a real person, successfully sued Pacific Gas and Electric for contaminating the water supply of Hinckley, Calif., with chromium 6. Over $330 million in damages were paid by the electric company. The EWG highly advises using water filters for your normal water, at least until the EPA is successful in regulating the hexavalent chromium. Water filters for instance reverse osmosis will remove heavy metals such as chromium. For a reverse osmosis water filtration you'll pay around $120 to $300.

Details from

CNN

pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/20/carcinogen-found-in-31-of-35-cities-water-supply/?npt=NP1

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/12/tap-water-of-many-us-cities-has-probable-carcinogen-study/1

Medical News Today

medicalnewstoday.com/articles/212079.php

1 billion people can't afford basic medical care

communityreply@lls.org — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:28:39 GMT

The WHO confirms a most horrifying trend in their recent study: one billion individuals cannot afford paid health care of any kind. Reuters reports the issue is even more complicated than that, however. Each year, the high cost of medical care takes 100 million paying customers to the arms of poverty. Post resource - One billion people cannot afford health care, says WHO by Personal Money Store.

Nations that cannot afford medical care must improve efficiency

The WHO's global report on health care pays particular attention to financing, as the number of countries with large numbers of individuals who cannot afford medical care has growth significantly. It's extremely essential, with universal coverage as the goal, that there are methods to make medical care more affordable by doing things like fund-raising measures and improving taxes.

Who’s director of health systems financing in David Evans. He explained that individuals end up making the decision to go without medical care because of the current state of health care worldwide.

“When (health services) are not really affordable, it means you either choose not really to use them or you suffer severe financial hardship,” he said.

World Health Organization intends to improve worldwide medical care

In order to keep those who do pay for medical care from sliding into poverty, the World Health Organization recommends that health care and insurance business practices ought to be tweaked so that 15 to 20 percent of a country's total health spending amounts to direct, out-of-pocket payments. There are 33 low-to middle-income nations right now that pay way too much in out of pocket payments. Over 50 percent is paid for them. With the suggestion of sin, taxes, currency transaction taxes and wealth taxes in the report that governments could diversify their revenue sources with, there ought to be less spent.

Medical care being unused

Health care is wasted when you will find one billion individuals world health organization can’t afford to get it. According to WHO director general Margaret Chan, 20 percent to 40 percent of all worldwide medical care spending is wasted through purchase of expensive, unnecessary drugs and treatments. Lack of proper medical training also contributes to such inefficiency. Some countries end up paying 67 times more than the international average for some medications that they need. Many see this and know that solving the medical care dilemma isn’t going to take place quickly.

"There is no magic bullet to achieving universal access,” said Chan. “Nevertheless, a wide range of experiences from all more than the world suggests that nations can move forward faster."

Citations

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AL1GV20101122

The need for health care reform in India

youtube.com/watch?v=dPsX46Svjmo

Have you participated in a Weekend Sail With Gary Jobson?

communityreply@lls.org — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:20:05 GMT

The 2009 Weekend Sail With Gary Jobson is taking place October 16-18 in San Francisco, CA. If you have participated in past Fantasy Sails with Gary Jobson, share your experience!

What memories do you have of meeting Gary Jobson?

communityreply@lls.org — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:11:44 GMT

Have you met Gary Jobson at a Leukemia Cup Regatta or other program?

What ideas do you have to help sailors raise funds?

communityreply@lls.org — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:10:01 GMT

What have you done to raise funds towards your participation in The Leukemia Cup Regatta?