Treatment for Ovarian Cancer Recurrence

This past week I attended a conference focused on "The Calypso Study". This is a global clinical trial involving the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. The 2 drugs involved are Carboplatin and Caelyx. These 2 drugs have been in use for many years and are safe with side effects that are manageable. The difference here is that they are used in combination instead of the traditional Carboplatin and Taxol. Those who have received the frontline treatment of Carboplatin and Taxol during their first bout with ovarian cancer know the side effects of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, total hair loss, and remnants of neuropathy.

Findings have demonstrated that this new combination treatment plan of Carboplain and Caelyx has similar side effects but much less. Hair becomes thin but not lost, white blood cells and the platelets fall but not as drastically. Neuropathy is lessened by 20%. This makes the treatment easier to tolerate and generates more compliance. However the side effects of Caelyx are known as "the hands and feet syndrome". This is where tingling, loss of the nails and the sense of skin discomfort can occur and are moderate in nature.

Other findings indicate that the overall survival rate is 32 months. Although this may sound like not much, it is enough time for researchers to continue their efforts in finding new modalities for increasing survival rates and developing treatment plans that are easier to tolerate.

More and more we can look to the future that cancer is a disease that is managed with treatments that are easier to tolerate and therefore giving hope to everyone.

Trends and Events

An important component to successfully managing your cancer is to be as informed as possible regarding treatments and new trends. This coming Thursday, June 11th, a free public forum is being held sponsored by the CIHR (Canadian Institute for Health Research). This is Canada's leading research machine which devotes it's monies and energy to help discover new interventions and encourage research.

This event is titled "Hope for Cancer Patients...Tall and Small". At this interactive Forum you will be able to pose your questions and concerns to leading Canadian Cancer Researchers such as Dr. Gerald Batist (Jewish General Hospital, McGill University), Dr. Mark Kieran (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University) and others.

The event takes place at the McIntyre Building, 1200 Pine Ave West and begins at 6.oo pm.

This event is free and to register you can contact by email publicevent.cancercentre@mcgill.ca or by phone (514) 398.6268.

On another note, June 19th is the date for this year's Relay for Life. On the West-Island the event will occur on the grounds of Pierrefonds Comprehensive High Scchool. This is a fundraising event for the Canadian Cancer Society. Those who attend are cancer survivors who spend the evening and night walking a candle lit pathway remembering those who have survived their cancer. The host this year is Lori Graham (CTV TV). The Nova Support Group will be attending and are excited to celebrate renewed life and energy. They are actively searching for funds which will benefit research and help The Canadian Cancer Society to develop new programs to help those newly diagnosed and encourage survival. Our group leader is Suzanne (asjaneusse@videotron.ca), feel free to contact her at any time. Become energized and join the event.

Renewal and springtime

Spring has finally arrived and not a minute too soon ! We can take this opportunity to re-evaluate and renew our energies and be on the road to living fuller lives. We can get out and smell the air, get some sunshine and awaken our desire to live. Hope is an important component of the will to live. Hope comes primarily from yourself if you are willing to do the things that will improve your health, mind, body and spirit. Going to a concert, enjoying a walk outside, filling your lungs with fresh air, raking leaves, what ever gives you joy will help you gain control and strengthen your will to live. Ask yourself, what are the things that will bring renewal to me? Perhaps, you would like to share these things with others....

Commenting

Just a quick note to let everyone know you can now comment without a registered google account. You can comment anonymously or by simply leaving your name.

Hope this clears up some issues, and let the commenting begin!

The struggle to determine a cure for cancer

In the last few weeks there have been many articles in the newspapers regarding causes of cancer. It is most confusing to try and decipher what is valid. Some say genetics is the cause; others report that the environemnt is the cause; others are convinced that it is essentially life style that increases the chance of developping cancer.



The main concern of course is to determine the cause with the hope of preventing the occurence of cancer and developing a cure. This however lies some time in the future.



What we do know is that early detection is the key; the earlier the better. But then again, two studies this week reported that early detection for prostrate cancer did not improve the mortality rate and that some men underwent surgery (which may result in incontinence and/or impotency) needlessly which decreased the quality of their life.



But we do know that cancer rates are increasing, that more individuals are living with cancer, and that older Canadians are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer.



All this to say that in reality the research community is still struggling with trying to identify the cause of cancer, but there is hope for the future. With increasing mortality comes the chance that perhaps you will die of some other disease or accident before succumbing to cancer; that if you continue to live a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, exercise, and removing as many environmental poisons as possible, you can avoid developing cancer.



One of the keys to helping the research community to conduct the necessary research is more money and lots of money. In June, the Nova ladies will be participating in the Relay for Life and we should encourage their efforts and reward their determination. This disease can be erradicated by donating funds, by asking your friends and family to donate to this cause. The monies raised will go to young and brilliant individuals who are spending thier lives in the laboratories of Canada struggling to discover new methods to determine the cause and to cure this disease.

Post-Chemo Breast Cancer Treatment

Dr. Ashley Davidson from the Jewish General Hospital attended the Breast Cancer symposium in San Antonio, Texas. Several research papers were presented and here are some of the highlights:

• There is a thought that Tamoxifen could be administered for 2 years and Arimidex could follow for a 3 year period (therefore a 5 year treatment plan). For women who cannot tolerate Tamoxifen - the patient should be started on Arimidex.

• Another thought was to start the patient on Arimidex at the beginning, followed by Tamoxifen especially to women who are low risk, as the research indicated that the overall survival was better.

It's hard to decipher all the statistics but the main focus was taking a look on the current trend of treatment and seeing what happens when a newer approach is tried using the same medications.

I wanted you to know that no matter what kind of cancer you have, there are some very bright individuals who are on the cusp of new discoveries.

Nova West Island Cancer Support Group

In September 2005, Nova West Island decided to make available a support group for those individuals who are survivors of cancer and those who are presently undergoing treatment. This group is unique in that family members are welcome to participate where their concerns can be discussed. This gives an opportunity where individuals can gain perspective in understanding cancer and how it has impacted their lives. Expressing emotions is a crucial part of dealing effectively with the diagnosis; it lends to an increase of clarity, identification and connection that comes with knowing that your feelings and emotions are similar to others. The literature looking into methods that help survival indicate that those who attend and participate in a support group that life can be extended by 1.5 -2 years according to a study done at Massacheutts Medical Center. Understanding that cancer poses a life threat and that treatment offers hope from a physical standpoint but another crucial benefit to participating in a support group is talking about feelings and fears in order to reclaim a sense of inner control. This blog has been established as another modality for this expression and I hope will provide comfort, support and information. Peggy Bougie N., B.N. Nurse, Nove West Island