Latest news with #CardiffUniversity
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer drug which could 'double survival time' rolled out
A drug which has been proven to extend the life of some people with incurable breast cancer has been given to patients on the NHS in Wales for the first time. Gwen Buchan, 62, who has terminal breast cancer, said capivasertib would allow her to see her son's wedding and gave her "hope". Half of women with breast cancer fuelled by the hormone oestrogen are likely to see their life expectancy double when capivasertib is combined with hormone therapy, research has shown. Prof Rob Jones, who co-led a study looking at capivasertib's effectiveness, said the drug offered "a real life impact for people to spend extra time with their relatives, with their friends". Cancer pill gave me 'four years of extra time' Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with one in seven women affected in their lifetimes and 75% surviving for 10 years or more after diagnosis. In Wales, more than 2,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Capivasertib, which was developed by experts at Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff University, became available to breast cancer patients on the NHS in April. When Ms Buchan's first line of treatment for her terminal breast cancer stopped working, it was a set-back. However, the recent approval of capivasertib for use on the NHS alongside hormone therapy will allow her to enjoy more time with family and friends. She has a common genetic abnormality in her cancer which tests have shown responds well to the drug. "To be told I had secondary breast cancer but my life can be extended, I think it's that hope you have to keep in your mind," said Ms Buchan from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. "I know that prior to the first line of treatment going down it was expected I'd live five or six years, maybe more. "The way I cope with this is by thinking about today and today is a good day." Ms Buchan is among thousands in the UK and millions worldwide who could benefit from the drug. "I think I'm really lucky because I've got the most supportive husband, children and their partners and extended family and wonderful friends. "What this drug can do for me is allow me to see my son's wedding next year and to look into the future." Despite its approval for use globally by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, capivasertib only became available to patients via the NHS in England and Wales this year. Dr Simon Waters, consultant medical oncologist at Velindre Cancer Centre, said it was a "great opportunity now we've got to this point". "People have been working on it for a long time. It's great we can now put it in to practice as a standard treatment," he said. "We've been using a similar treatment for a smaller group of patients for a few years and that's had quite a lot of issues with side effects and we think this treatment will not only be more effective but also will have fewer issues with side effects. "It's also applicable to a larger group of patients with this common type of breast cancer." The drug is suitable for those with certain gene mutations that affect up to half of people with hormone receptor positive secondary breast cancer - the most common type, which grows in the presence of oestrogen. Although hormone therapy usually works, eventually the cancer can become resistant to it. A clinical trial found a particular protein which drives the resistance can be neutralised when hormone therapy is combined with capivasertib. Prof Rob Jones said: "Patients who received the hormone therapy with a placebo had an overall survival of around 20 months and those who received the capivasertib with the hormone therapy had an extra 39 months. "It really is a doubling of survival time so that really is significant. It's not just a statistic - it's a real life impact for people to spend extra time with their relatives, with their friends." Dr Nicola Williams, national director of support and delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said: "A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating and one in seven women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. "This diagnosis is even more painful if you're told your cancer is incurable. "Thanks to the trial and the licensing of capivasertib, when used alongside a standard hormonal therapy, patients like Gwen now have the potential to receive a very significant extension in their lifespan and improved quality of life." Amy Dowden reflects on life after cancer treatment Call for NHS to give women with dense breasts extra cancer scans New hope for patients with breast cancer gene
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Capivasertib given to breast cancer patients in Wales for first time
A drug which has been proven to extend the life of some people with incurable breast cancer has been given to patients on the NHS in Wales for the first Buchan, 62, who has terminal breast cancer, said capivasertib would allow her to see her son's wedding and gave her "hope".Half of women with breast cancer fuelled by the hormone oestrogen are likely to see their life expectancy double when capivasertib is combined with hormone therapy, research has Rob Jones, who co-led a study looking at capivasertib's effectiveness, said the drug offered "a real life impact for people to spend extra time with their relatives, with their friends". Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with one in seven women affected in their lifetimes and 75% surviving for 10 years or more after Wales, more than 2,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every which was developed by experts at Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff University, became available to breast cancer patients on the NHS in April. When Ms Buchan's first line of treatment for her terminal breast cancer stopped working, it was a the recent approval of capivasertib for use on the NHS alongside hormone therapy will allow her to enjoy more time with family and has a common genetic abnormality in her cancer which tests have shown responds well to the drug."To be told I had secondary breast cancer but my life can be extended, I think it's that hope you have to keep in your mind," said Ms Buchan from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan."I know that prior to the first line of treatment going down it was expected I'd live five or six years, maybe more. "The way I cope with this is by thinking about today and today is a good day."Ms Buchan is among thousands in the UK and millions worldwide who could benefit from the drug."I think I'm really lucky because I've got the most supportive husband, children and their partners and extended family and wonderful friends. "What this drug can do for me is allow me to see my son's wedding next year and to look into the future." Despite its approval for use globally by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, capivasertib only became available to patients via the NHS in England and Wales this Simon Waters, consultant medical oncologist at Velindre Cancer Centre, said it was a "great opportunity now we've got to this point". "People have been working on it for a long time. It's great we can now put it in to practice as a standard treatment," he said. "We've been using a similar treatment for a smaller group of patients for a few years and that's had quite a lot of issues with side effects and we think this treatment will not only be more effective but also will have fewer issues with side effects. "It's also applicable to a larger group of patients with this common type of breast cancer." How does capivasertib work? The drug is suitable for those with certain gene mutations that affect up to half of people with hormone receptor positive secondary breast cancer - the most common type, which grows in the presence of hormone therapy usually works, eventually the cancer can become resistant to it.A clinical trial found a particular protein which drives the resistance can be neutralised when hormone therapy is combined with capivasertib. 'Doubling of survival time' Prof Rob Jones said: "Patients who received the hormone therapy with a placebo had an overall survival of around 20 months and those who received the capivasertib with the hormone therapy had an extra 39 months."It really is a doubling of survival time so that really is significant. It's not just a statistic - it's a real life impact for people to spend extra time with their relatives, with their friends."Dr Nicola Williams, national director of support and delivery at Health and Care Research Wales, said: "A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating and one in seven women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. "This diagnosis is even more painful if you're told your cancer is incurable. "Thanks to the trial and the licensing of capivasertib, when used alongside a standard hormonal therapy, patients like Gwen now have the potential to receive a very significant extension in their lifespan and improved quality of life."
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Urdd Eisteddfod 2025 Main Prose Writer winner announced
The winner of the Main Prose Writer for the Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr, Parc Margam a'r Fro 2025, has been announced at the main ceremony yesterday (Friday). The title was taken by Mali Elwy, originally from Tan-y-Fron near Llansannan. Catrin Morris from Llanberis came second, and Elain Roberts (the winner of Thursday's Chair) from Pentre'r Bryn, Ceredigion took third place. The ceremony was sponsored by Cardiff University. The requirements of this year's Crown competition were to compose a piece or pieces of prose over 2,500 words on the theme 'Toddi / Ymdoddi' ( to melt). A total of 17 entries were received and the adjudicators, Menna Elfyn and Emyr Lewis, were 'particularly pleased with each of the entries". They both agreed on the winning entry: 'This is the story of a young woman whose relationship has broken down, and she decides to follow an evening creative writing course. We gradually get to know her and her history. There is humour and intensity here – a story within a story. 'This is a mature writer who knows how to craft a story. This is an exciting new voice that fully deserves to win the Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr, Parc Margam a'r Fro Crown.' 24-year-old Mali now lives in Y Felinheli. A former pupil of Ysgol Glan Clwyd, she graduated in Welsh and Creative Writing from Bangor University and works as a freelance facilitator in Gwynedd. This is the first time she has competed for the Crown, and she said she would like to thank Dr Marged Tudur and staff at the School of Welsh, Bangor University for all their support, and Ysgol Glan Clwyd for inspiring and encouraging her to start writing many years ago. Nicola Palterman from Neath created this year's Crown, and the prize is given by primary schools in the West Glamorgan Region. 'I wanted the design to be based on the steel and sea theme,' explains jeweller Nicola Palterman. 'The waves of the coastal landscape in the Aberavon area can be seen, while the birds are a strong symbol in this year's Welcome Song and offer much hope for the future. But the design also recognises the importance of the steel industry, which has been the lifeblood of people over the years.' It was Siân Lloyd, winner of the crown exactly 50 years ago at Eisteddfod yr Urdd 1975, who presented the winner with the crown today. The top three will be invited to take part in a course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre, Literature Wales in memory of Olwen Dafydd. This is made possible through the Olwen Griffith Trust.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sleep disorders increase dementia risk
People who experience sleep disorders are at greater risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia, new research has found. The study, conducted by researchers at Cardiff University, found that diagnoses of sleep disorder made people up to twice as likely to develop a neurodegenerative disease in the 15 years that followed. The peer-reviewed study used data from more than a million electronic health records. "This increased risk was occurring independently of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, with sleep disorders almost 'compensating' for low genetic risk," said Prof Valentina Escott-Price, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Call for danger warnings to rugby parents over dementia fears I love dad to bits - but being his carer has broken me The researchers examined data from three biobanks – facilities that store biological samples and are used for health research – from which they were "able to obtain accurate, timestamped records of when people experienced sleep disorders". The team analysed those who had been diagnosed with one of more sleep disorder, grouping them into those associated with "circadian rhythm" – or body clock – such as sleepwalking and narcolepsy, and "non-organic" sleep disorders not linked to a known psychological condition, including generalised insomnia and nightmares. The key findings were: Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders were associated with an increased risk of dementia in the 10 to 15 years that followed. The risk was further increased for those with multiple sleep disorders. Circadian sleep disorders increased the risk of Alzheimer's in the 10 to 15 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders increased the risk of vascular dementia in the 5 to 10 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. The risk was further increased for those with multiple sleep disorders. Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders increased risk of Parkinson's in the 10 to 15 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. Dr Emily Simmonds, bioinformatician at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University, said the study aimed to "understand the complicated relationship between sleep and dementia". She said: "People living with dementia often experience sleep problems, but there is not yet enough evidence to say for sure whether poor sleep increases risk of dementia. "Our results are compelling, indicating a clear increased risk of neurodegenerative disease following a sleep disorder." Prof Escott-Price, also from Cardiff University, said that while further investigation is needed the research "points towards sleep disorders as a risk factor for these conditions". Future research will examine whether improving sleep through the use of medication leads to a reduction in risk.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sleep disorders increase dementia risk
People who experience sleep disorders are at greater risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia, new research has found. The study, conducted by researchers at Cardiff University, found that diagnoses of sleep disorder made people up to twice as likely to develop a neurodegenerative disease in the 15 years that followed. The peer-reviewed study used data from more than a million electronic health records. "This increased risk was occurring independently of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, with sleep disorders almost 'compensating' for low genetic risk," said Prof Valentina Escott-Price, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Call for danger warnings to rugby parents over dementia fears I love dad to bits - but being his carer has broken me The researchers examined data from three biobanks – facilities that store biological samples and are used for health research – from which they were "able to obtain accurate, timestamped records of when people experienced sleep disorders". The team analysed those who had been diagnosed with one of more sleep disorder, grouping them into those associated with "circadian rhythm" – or body clock – such as sleepwalking and narcolepsy, and "non-organic" sleep disorders not linked to a known psychological condition, including generalised insomnia and nightmares. The key findings were: Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders were associated with an increased risk of dementia in the 10 to 15 years that followed. The risk was further increased for those with multiple sleep disorders. Circadian sleep disorders increased the risk of Alzheimer's in the 10 to 15 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders increased the risk of vascular dementia in the 5 to 10 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. The risk was further increased for those with multiple sleep disorders. Circadian sleep disorders and non-organic sleep disorders increased risk of Parkinson's in the 10 to 15 years following sleep disorder diagnosis. Dr Emily Simmonds, bioinformatician at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University, said the study aimed to "understand the complicated relationship between sleep and dementia". She said: "People living with dementia often experience sleep problems, but there is not yet enough evidence to say for sure whether poor sleep increases risk of dementia. "Our results are compelling, indicating a clear increased risk of neurodegenerative disease following a sleep disorder." Prof Escott-Price, also from Cardiff University, said that while further investigation is needed the research "points towards sleep disorders as a risk factor for these conditions". Future research will examine whether improving sleep through the use of medication leads to a reduction in risk.
