“Olaparib” is the new drug that is creating lot of hope among inherited Breast and Ovarian cancer patients. Drug succeeded in reducing the size of tumours in 40% of Breast cancer patients and also in 30% of ovarian cancer patients. Drug which is still in experimental stage is really a big hope for chronic patients. This research study is conducted by scientists at King’s college, London and is published in the magazine, Lancet. Mechanism of Olaparib: It will act by blocking poly ADP-ribose polymerase protein. “Olaparib” is an orally taken drug and reduced tumour growth in an experiment conducted on women with advanced breast cancer caused by a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. This gene is responsible for 5% of breast cancers and 10% of ovarian cancers. Important note: Olaparib does not help to cure cancer but only helps to prolong life by reducing tumour size. It is still in experimental stage but it is raising hope. … [Read more...]
Overuse of CT scans can cause cancer
Overuse of CT scans will increase risk of cancer due to excessive exposure to radiation. According to a research article in the "New England Journal of Medicine", this cancer risk is very high in children due to sensitive tissues in them. According to Columbia University scientists, 2% of cancers are due to this excessive exposure to radiation in the coming days. As per researchers, 30% of diagnostic tests recommended by doctors are unnecessary. But due to increase in legal suits by patients, physicians are not wanting to take undue risks and recommending as many tests as possible. According to a study, 20 million adults and 1 million children are undergoing unnecessary CT scans annually. 62 million scans were done on US citizens in 2006 of which 4 million were on children. 30% of these scans are unnecessary which is alarming. MRI and ultrasound are comparatively safer than CT scans as they have less radiation exposure. But CT scans are the best diagnostic method to detect cancer as they produce 3-dimensional images of the organs. Physicians should be extra cautious in recommending CT scans for children. They should evaluate other diagnostic options before recommending CT scan. You can read more information on this research report in the November issue of New England Journal of Medicine. … [Read more...]
10 year mobile use- 200% rise in cancer risk
If you are using mobile phone regularly for more than 10 years (1 hour daily use), you are at double the risk of getting cancer, according to a Spanish study . You will get malignant brain tumour on the side of brain where you held mobile handset. Researchers analyzed results from 11 studies before coming to conclusion. This research study was published in the Journal of Occupational Environmental Medicine. Children are at more risk of getting cancer as their skulls are thin and nervous system is in development stage. Parents should discourage children from using mobile by explaining health hazards Brain cancer of glial cells is the most common cancer that occurs from regular mobile use. Acoustic Neuroma is another form of cancer that occurs from mobile use. Those who have used their phones for at least a decade are 20 per cent more likely to contract acoustic neuromas and 30 per cent more likely to get malignant gliomas. Mobile users are also at risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. But mobile operators and handset manufacturers are regularly dismissing these claims because of lack of concrete evidence as most mobile users are using them for less than 10 years. There are claiming the report of Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme report as supporting evidence which was released in September. Every mobile manufacturer should publish Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels on mobile handsets. Low radiation models are defined as having SAR of 0.6 or under. … [Read more...]
