New NHS bladder cancer treatment doubles survival time
It's estimated that 1,250 people a year could benefit from a combination of drugs called enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab.
The first is an antibody-drug also known as Padcev, made by Astellas and Pfizer, while the latter is a PD-L1 inhibitor, also known as Keytruda, which is made by Merck.
Clinical trials suggest the combo leads to improved survival compared to platinum-based chemotherapy - increasing from an average of around 16 months to almost 34.
Researchers also found people survive for longer without their disease worsening, also known as progression-free survival - going up from six months to more than a year.
It will mark the first significant change to treatment of advanced bladder cancer since the 1980s, according to expert Professor Thomas Powels, director of Barts Cancer Institute Biomedical Research Centre (QMUL).
Around 18,000 people in England are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year.
Read more from Sky News:
The new treatment was approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which said it was "highly promising" and could make a "tremendous difference" to people.
One patient who took part in the trial said it had given him more time with his grandson.
Martyn Hewett, 75, from Stratford, east London, said: "I feel very, very lucky, because if I hadn't been on this trial, I imagine I would be dead by now.
"I am going to have an extra few years to see my grandson grow up - and maybe even be around to see him get married."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
What sharing a bottle of wine with your spouse every night really means for your health
Since they first met in 2009, Sarah Wellband and her partner James have settled into a nightly routine which involves, at the minimum, sharing the best part of a bottle of wine together. 'We have a gin and tonic, followed by two or three glasses of wine with dinner and watching TV,' says Wellband, a 62-year-old remedial hypnotherapist. Such a routine, seven nights a week, would probably amount to somewhere between 46 and 62 units of alcohol per week, depending on whether that third glass of wine was consumed – far more than the NHS recommended guidelines of 14 units. However, Wellband says that the drinking habits of her and her 70-year-old partner are far from an issue. Instead, she insists that they form an important part of their general wellbeing. '7pm is news and a drink time,' she says. 'It signals the end of the day and time to wind down and catch up with each other. The routine is more important than the alcohol, but it helps. We are well aware of our limits and will leave a glass rather than finish it for the sake of it, but we just find it a nice way to end the day.' Recently however, the potentially long-term harm from excessive daily drinking has been brought once more to the spotlight. Earlier this year, a study found that consuming more than eight alcoholic drinks a week increases your risk of incurring the brain degeneration commonly linked with dementia, while former TV executive Martin Frizell recently gave an interview about his wife Fiona Phillips's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, and openly mused as to whether their habit of drinking a bottle of wine a night in their younger years had been a contributing factor. Yet the link between alcohol and chronic diseases is a little more nuanced than often portrayed. While excessive drinking has been identified as a direct cause of at least seven types of cancer and a known risk factor for dementia, the exact risk varies considerably from person to person. As Debbie Shawcross, professor of hepatology and chronic liver failure at King's College London, explains, women have far lower levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol compared with men, which makes them more susceptible, and studies have even shown that women are more likely to display signs of 'leaky gut' – a term which characterises greater intestinal permeability, meaning that toxins are more likely to leak out into the bloodstream – following a binge than men. An alcohol 'binge' is characterised as more than six units (a standard-sized glass of wine contains 2.1 units) in a single session for women and eight units for men. Some people do also carry gene variants that improve alcohol metabolism, allowing them to knock back the booze with no apparent ill effects – and Wellband says that she and her partner never get drunk on their nightly routine – while your diet can also be a contributing factor. 'Environmental, social and lifestyle factors also play a role,' says Shawcross. 'For example, being overweight or having an unhealthy diet rich in ultra-processed foods can increase the risk of alcohol harm on the body.' On average though, sharing a bottle of wine every night with your spouse isn't the greatest thing for your long-term health. Here's the very latest on how this amount of daily booze can affect your body, and what some of the UK's leading experts advise in terms of how to still enjoy alcohol in a safer way. What are the effects on the brain? As Anya Topiwala, a senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford, points out, half a bottle of wine a night works out at a minimum of 35 units per week for white wine and 42 units if you're only drinking red wine, which generally contains more alcohol per volume. 'If sustained, I would say there is a high likelihood of this negatively impacting your brain and memory,' she says. This comes from studies she's conducted which have found that people drinking more than 14 units per week, or seven medium-sized glasses of wine, have small total brain volumes, greater age-related shrinkage of the hippocampus – the brain's memory hub and one of the areas particularly impacted by Alzheimer's – and faster cognitive decline. 'Alcohol is a neurotoxin,' says Topiwala. 'Put simply, it kills brain cells. Additionally, heavy drinking often leads to a deficiency in vitamin B1 which can also damage the brain.' But it's not all doom and gloom. By reducing the amount you drink, even by a glass or two per week, it's possible to mitigate and even reverse some of these issues, something which Topiwala has witnessed first-hand in her practice as an old-age psychiatrist, with various patients seeing their short-term memory and recall improving after reducing their alcohol intake. 'I can think of many patients who have experienced a cognitive benefit from cutting down,' she says. What are the effects on the liver? Between 90 and 98 per cent of the alcohol you consume is broken down by your liver, making it one of the organs most acutely impacted by booze. Based on her own clinical and research knowledge, Shawcross says that people consuming half a bottle of wine per night will be particularly at risk of developing fatty liver – a condition where the liver becomes progressively clogged up with harmful visceral fat. Over time, this makes you more prone to cirrhosis or scarring and liver cancer. But she says that cutting down, even slightly, would undoubtedly help. 'There is no safe level of drinking, but if you didn't drink at all for two to three nights per week, there would be even more benefits,' says Shawcross. 'For example, you'd see a reduction in the amount of liver fat, as measured on a scan.' Shawcross is keen to point out that if you are not getting drunk, as noted by Wellband and her partner, it is not necessarily a sign that you have a protective gene variant which allows you to metabolise alcohol more quickly, limiting its damaging effects on the body. She explains that people can develop a tolerance to higher amounts of alcohol because the liver has a different group of enzymes which kick into action when there are consistently large amounts of alcohol in the bloodstream. This isn't a good thing, as harmful fat and other forms of damage will still be accruing, but it makes you less aware of alcohol's effects. 'When this different set of enzymes is consistently activated, it means you need to drink more alcohol to feel its effects,' she says. What is the effect on the heart? Consuming more than 7.5 units of alcohol a day – or most of a bottle of wine by yourself – is thought to increase risk of hypertension, where the pressure on your blood vessels is too high. Over time, this may lead to other issues such as arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythms. 'Alcohol increases blood pressure and if this is untreated, it puts strain on the heart,' says Shawcross. Studies have indicated that hypertension risk seems to increase proportionally with the amount you drink. So a glass of wine per day will still make you more susceptible than not drinking at all, but is certainly less problematic than two or three glasses. What are the effects on the muscles and bones? As John Kiely, a researcher at the University of Limerick, puts it, alcohol accelerates many of the ravages of ageing, from loss of muscle to reduced coordination and increased vulnerability to twinges, strains and other injuries. In particular, if you've consumed half a bottle of wine one night, it probably isn't a wise idea to hit the gym or do some vigorous gardening the next day as the alcohol will impair your immune system's ability to reach and repair any damaged muscles or tendons, leaving you feeling all the more tender and sore. If you are drinking half a bottle of wine on a regular basis, Kiely suggests that you will be much more likely to get injured. There's also the matter of the progressive muscle and bone loss which most of us experience as part of ageing. Studies have long shown that regular, heavy drinking in middle age accelerates bone weakness and interrupts normal cycles of muscle repair, making it harder to hold onto the strength we have, as we age. 'An otherwise healthy diet and lifestyle will reduce these risks but persistent heavy drinking drives progressively accumulating issues that a healthy lifestyle alone can't fully counteract,' says Kiely. 'For example, alcohol lowers levels of key hormones [for muscle growth] like testosterone and growth hormone, while cortisol, a key stress hormone that drives muscle breakdown, rises. And because alcohol also reduces the absorption of calcium and suppresses the activity of bone-building cells, you're likely to have a faster decline in bone density, making your bones more fragile.' The good news is that such effects do not seem to be as pronounced with moderate drinking. 'A single glass of wine a night for women, or two for men, is unlikely to cause measurable harm to muscle health and little risk for bone health,' says Kiely. 'This is particularly the case for people who stay active and eat well.' What is the effect on how quickly you age? Drinking too much has long been associated with faster signs of visible ageing, such as more wrinkles, saggy skin and a duller complexion, but we now know that consuming half a bottle of wine each night actually ages you at the DNA level. In 2022, Topiwala carried out a study showing that consuming more than 17 units of alcohol per week – or around eight standard glasses of wine – causes damage to the tips of chromosomes, known as telomeres, which play an important role in keeping your DNA stable. 'Alcohol directly damages DNA, causing breaks and mutations,' says Topiwala. 'This is thought to explain why alcohol increases cancer risk.' What you can do to limit the risks While all of this may seem like something of a downer, all these risks are most apparent when it comes to heavy drinking. Research has also repeatedly shown that we can still enjoy alcohol throughout mid and later life and minimise the negative impacts on our health through having a few non-drinking days each week, eating well and exercising, and, particularly, consuming alcohol with a meal wherever possible. For example, one study of more than 300,000 people in the UK found that people who predominantly drank alcohol with meals had a 12 per cent lower risk of premature death from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, compared with those who mainly consumed their alcohol on its own. But for Wellband, like many others, the idea of changing the nightly drinking routine is not something that she and her partner are willing to contemplate, at least for now. 'We have no intention of changing our ways,' she says. 'Although I was adopted I have since discovered my birth mother is 82 and still drinks two or three glasses of wine every night so I'm following her lead. My partner and I have gradually reduced the amount we drink – on the rare occasion we go out for lunch we'll now have a glass of wine each rather than a bottle. Living on a farm with horses and other animals means that we have to be fit and active, but equally we enjoy our evening drinks and would be loath to give them up.' How can you adjust your drinking habit? For anyone looking to try to switch to drinking less, Dr Richard Piper, chief executive at Alcohol Change UK, offers the following guide: Try to spread your week's alcohol across more days Our bodies and our minds are grateful for any breaks we can give them. Pepper your week with several alcohol-free days. Aiming for fewer than five units in a single day will mean your overall weekly consumption should drop. Replace with lower-strength or alcohol-free alternatives There is a wonderful range and availability of alcohol-free alternatives in shops, pubs and bars now, which are improving year on year. Our taste testers particularly recommend the Mash Gang ranges of alcohol-free beers (Journey Juice and Lesser Evil were given a 5/5 rating), while Nozeco Spritz is an alcohol-free cocktail which stands out from others on the market. For wine, our tasters suggested Lindeman's Cabernet Sauvignon as a reliable alcohol-free red to go with a steak dinner. Download the free Try Dry app Developed by experts using behaviour-change science, this app allows you to track your consumption, take a health quiz to see what your current relationship with alcohol looks like and access tips and ideas on cutting back. Try having some alcohol-free weeks Not every week needs to have alcohol in it. In fact, if this idea feels alien to you, that is a sure sign you might have a stubborn drinking habit. Having one or two whole weeks off alcohol every month is a great way to cut back. Sarah Wellband's hypnotherapy clinic, Out of Chaos Therapy, advises on how to change problematic behaviours from disordered eating to phobias Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Country park issues warning over toxic levels of algae in lake
Warning signs have been erected at a popular beauty spot after algae levels in a lake became toxic. Testing of the water at Cotgrave Country Park revealed that potentially harmful concentrations of cyanobacteria – known to the general public as blue-green algae – had bloomed earlier this month. Dogs are recommended to be kept on leads and swimming is strictly prohibited at the current time. Regular repeat testing of the site will now be undertaken, but it is unclear how long the algae levels will take to return to normal, or at least drop under the toxic threshold. Signs erected at the sight say: 'Recent sampling of the water in the Dog Pond has indicated that levels of BGA are currently above warning sign levels. Excess BGA can produce toxins which may cause problems if animals drink the water of if accidentally cosnumed by humans. READ MORE: Police cordon set up after street fight in Nottingham city centre READ MORE: Amazon fraudster used refund scam to steal £128,000 then bragged about it online 'Avoid contact and wash your hands if you do come into contact with the water. Do not allow your pets into the siteuntil the current bloom subsides.' Toxic levels of the bacteria are rare and often when algae bloooms it is harmless to pets and humans. However the most recent tests – on July 27 and August 6 – suggested otherwise. The lake has been closed since August 8. It comes in the wake of another country park lake being closed in Nottinghamshire in June, at Colwick. Hot weather can contribute to algae growth. The UK's recent heatwaves have led to blooms all over the country. A Nottinghamshire County Council spokesperson said: 'We routinely test water quality at Cotgrave Country Park during the summer. Samples are taken on a fortnightly basis and sent to a lab for analysis. The most recent sample from Heron Lake within the country park showed elevated levels of blue-green algae, with the advice that there was a risk to public health and that warning signage should be erected at the lake. 'Signage has been installed, and water quality will continue to be monitored. Signage will be maintained until sampling confirms that there is no longer a health risk. Unfortunately, it is not possible to say how long this may be as it is dependent on weather conditions and given the warm and dry conditions it may take some time for levels to return to normal. 'It should be highlighted that as well as posing a potential risk to the public, blue-green algae can also pose a risk to dogs and they should not be allowed to enter or drink from the water.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
'I'm seeing young people in their 20s wearing nappies because of ketamine - I need to talk about it'
Young adults are wearing pads and nappies because of ketamine use, a business owner has said. Paige Loraine who runs The Pelvic Floor Clinic said she has had over 100 people contact her about pelvic floor and bladder issues as a result of using the drug. The 32-year-old set up the business in March last year. And since then she says she received dozens of enquiries from people about symptoms related to ketamine, including parents asking for their teenage and young adult children. The mum highlighted the issue in a TikTok video which has now been viewed more than 84,000 times, reports the Liverpool Echo. READ MORE: 'Mounjaro literally saved my life. It felt only right I honour it' READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing's Nick Knowles' wife says she 'doesn't recognise herself' in health update In the video, she said: "I need to talk about this. So ketamine is ruining lives and it is not just mentally. I am seeing young men and women in their 20s wearing pads and even nappies because of the damage it's caused to their bladder and pelvic floor. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here "So it's leading to bladder leakages, urgency, erectile dysfunction, pain during intimacy and a complete loss of control in day-to-day life. So chronic ketamine use can seriously weaken the pelvic floor. No one's talking about this side of it." Paige she remembers the first call she received about ketamine misuse. She said: "It was a mum for her daughter. "She just lost her way and become addicted to the ket. She was on it every day. She'd come clean off it but she was literally wearing nappies because of the damage." Ketamine is an anaesthetic for humans and animals, but is illegal for use recreationally. It is a Class B drug, making it illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell. The latest government figures show that the drug's usage among 16-24 year olds in England has tripled since 2016. Around 269,000 people aged 16-59 reported using ketamine in the year ending March 2024. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Chronic ketamine use has been linked to a number of serious health issues, including bladder damage and raising heart rate. Paige added: "I just imagine it being my kids. I just think it's awful. A bit more awareness needs to be raised about it because I don't think people realise how serious it is and I don't think kids realise how bad the drug is. "And it's only now that these things are happening because it's a taboo subject of bladder leaks and stuff. Not many people speak about it, so they're not aware of them side effects when they're taking it because no one wants to say they're weeing themselves or wearing nappies. "My purpose for doing this is for raising awareness. First, it started because one in three women suffer with pelvic floor and bladder problems and leaks. "But now, it's the epidemic of ketamine use. That's become part of my purpose as well. I'm all about raising awareness for women's and men's health." Through her business, based in Wallasey in Merseyside, Paige supports men and women with pelvic floor strengthening, bladder control and vaginal tightening. This includes treatment for women who are postpartum or going through menopause. The pelvic floor specialist does this through non invasive physiotherapy treatment called the Magic Chair. The chair works by giving off the equivalent to 12000 kegel exercises using electromagnetic stimulation. Paige also uses a non-surgical solution for vaginal tightening, pelvic floor strengthening, and improved intimate health called the 360 Magic Wand treatment.
