Latest news with #cancerTreatment
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Southend Hospital to receive second new 'state-of-the-art' radiotherapy machine
A second new state-of-the-art radiotherapy machine is set to be introduced at Southend Hospital in a bid to provide faster cancer treatment. The new linear accelerator (LINAC) machine is set to be installed by March next year and will be funded by the government. This will sit alongside the current operating machine that was brought in earlier this year. The addition comes as part of the government's £70 million investment to enhance cancer care through its Plan for Change. David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, expressed his delight at the news. Mr Burton-Sampson said: "It is great that we are one of the lucky ones earmarked to receive a new radiography machine at our hospital. "It is fantastic news for people needing crucial cancer care. "It was wonderful to go to the hospital only last week and see the newly installed LINAC machine, to now hear we will be getting another in a few months' time is a huge leap forward for treatment in our city. "This modern technology will reduce delays, which is critically important when treating cancer. "It will improve outcomes for everyone. "The new machines mean that some people will need fewer rounds of treatment, and they will receive more precise treatments, which helps them to recover sooner." "This government said it would fix the NHS and it is doing exactly that. "I welcome the improvements in care at our hospital; it is excellent news for patients and their families." This comes after a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Southend Hospital earlier this week to mark the opening of the first LINAC machine. This introduction was described as a "major step forward" in cancer treatment across Essex, and is part of a £5.3million purpose-built extension to the radiotherapy department at Southend Hospital. The first machine has already been in use for several weeks, with 20 patients having received daily radiotherapy courses.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
What is the Nordic Protocol? The very intense treatment Magda Szubanski will undergo to treat her stage 4 blood cancer - and why it's 'the best'
Magda Szubanski will undergo one of the 'best' - yet most intense - treatments after receiving a soul-crushing stage four blood cancer diagnosis. The Australian comedian broke news to her fans that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma - a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. 'It's serious, but I've started one of the best treatments available (the Nordic protocol), and I'm lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne,' the 64-year-old actress said in a post on Instagram. The Nordic protocol is a treatment regimen for Mantle Cell Lymphoma that works by shrinking tumours using a combination of drugs administered in five phases. While it's unclear what Magda's treatment in Australia involves specifically, the regimen usually follows the same structure. The Nordic regimen - which earned its name from clinical trials performed in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland - is also known as Maxi-CHOP and uses several high doses of intense drugs to kill cancer cells, stop their growth, help the immune system attack them and, ideally, assist patients in long-term remission. So how does it work? Patients undergo intensive chemotherapy, alternating cycles of Maxi-CHOP and high-dose Cytarabine (another chemo drug) every 21 days, for a total of six rounds. During the first five days of treatment, patients are required to take an oral medication called Prednisone - a white tablet that's a type of steroid used to reduce inflammation and also help fight cancer. What is the Nordic protocol? The Nordic protocol, also known as Maxi-CHOP, is a treatment regimen for Mantle Cell Lymphoma that works by shrinking tumours using a combination of drugs administered over five phases. The treatment is said to use several high doses of intensive drugs to kill cancer cells, stop their growth, help the immune system attack them and achieve long-term remission. What's in the treatments? Rituximab - helps your immune system find and destroy cancer cells Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine - kill fast-growing cancer cells in different ways Prednisone - a steroid that reduces inflammation and also helps fight cancer Cytarabine - another chemo drug that stops cancer cells from copying themselves After a few rounds, healthy cells are collected from the blood for future transplantation. The third phase involves stem cell purging, where an antibody drug called rituximab is administered that targets specific proteins on cancer cells, aiding the immune system in destroying them. During high-dose therapy, patients undergo intensive chemotherapy to eradicate residual cancer cells, followed by the reinfusion of their purified stem cells to restore healthy bone marrow function. If relapse occurs, patients may be administered another dose of rituximab to prevent cancer from coming back. The average age of diagnosis for Mantle Cell Lymphoma is between 60 and 65 years, with the condition being two to three times more common in men than in women. In a gut-wrenching post, the beloved comedian revealed she had been battling a rare and 'fast-moving' blood cancer. 'I won't sugar-coat it: it's rough. But I'm hopeful. I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I've never felt more held by the people around me,' she said. 'I'll be lying very low while my immune system takes a hammering, so if you see me out and about - don't hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly. 'This is an obscure cancer and was only discovered incidentally via a breast screen where they found my lymph nodes were up.' The TV personality said she had been feeling pretty unwell for a while, so she decided to get extra blood tests as a precaution - but ended up discovering her devastating diagnosis. 'So the take away is - get tested and listen to your body,' she urged her fans. 'For now, just know I'm in good hands, good spirits - but I reserve my yuman right to be a cranky old moll. 'Love you all, Mags.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Senior royal aide reveals how King has managed since cancer diagnosis
A senior royal aide says he has seen 'no difference' in King Charles, who has been receiving cancer treatment for more than a year. The King has maintained a busy schedule since the start of the year, reflected by his whirlwind 24 hours in Canada this week to deliver a speech opening the country's parliament, and is dealing 'incredibly well' with his undisclosed cancer by living life as 'normal as possible'. 'The thing you learn about this illness is that you just manage it and that's what he does,' the aide said. 'The medical science has made incredible advances and I genuinely see no difference in him. 'As long as you just do what the doctors say, just live your life as normal as possible… that's exactly what he is doing.' The senior royal aide described Charles' speech, written by the Canadian government, as 'thought-provoking, not provocative' and set out the agenda of Prime Minister Mark Carney 's new administration, outlining measures widely seen as combating US President Donald Trump. The US leader has launched a trade war against his neighbour, spoken of annexing the nation and has made fresh claims that Canada is in talks to become America's 51st state in return for free military protection. The King warned Canada is facing a 'critical moment' in its history and the government would bond with 'reliable trading partners and allies,' a move that follows Mr Trump's economic tactics. Charles told the gathered parliamentarians the Canadian government would also boost its armed forces to 'protect Canada's sovereignty'. The two-day visit with the Queen to Canada – the most senior foreign country where Charles is head of state – was seen as the completion of a series of firsts for the King. Charles has been passing a number of milestones since becoming monarch, from his inaugural address to the country, first trips to the home nations, and now his first visit to Canada as its King. A senior royal aide said: 'It is a reset of that relationship, and for Their Majesties to see so many people turn out and to be so thrilled to see them was fantastic.' The King's royal aides gave careful consideration to the issue of continuity and change from one monarch to the next in light of Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign, which had come to define the modern role of the head of state. Charles wanted to use his position as the Prince of Wales to make an impact and still does now he is King, a change from the late Queen who rarely spoke about issues. The Carolean reign, begun in September 2022, is underpinned by Charles' core commitments, what aides have called the four Cs – climate, community, culture and Commonwealth – with the addition of a smaller c for his own illness being used to show support for others affected by cancer. The aide said about the Carolean age: 'Almost three years on, everyone has a clear impression of what that is and the role that he will play – one that is both traditional for the monarchy and distinct to His Majesty. 'Leveraging on the long relationships he has built over the years, he has enhanced his role as a global statesman on so many issues, wielding soft power to the benefit of all the realms and commonwealth nations at a time of great international challenge. 'He has dealt with his illness in a very human way and the way he's engaging with the public at a very human level. I think we now have a clear idea of what the Carolean age looks like and what it stands for – now and hopefully for many years to come.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump cuts to NIH causing life-or-death delays in care: ‘Cancer shouldn't be political'
A 43-year-old woman and mother of two with advanced cancer is experiencing life-or-death delays in treatment because of the Trump administration's cuts to the National Institutes of Health. Natalie Phelps, who has stage 4 colorectal cancer, has spoken publicly, raising the alarm about a setback in care for herself and others who are part of clinical trials run by the agency. Her story has made it into congressional hearings and spurred a spat between a Democratic senator and health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. Behind the scenes, she and others are advocating to get her treatment started sooner. So far, Phelps has been told that her treatment, which should have started around mid-June, will not begin until after mid-July. 'I've done everything I can do,' Phelps, who lives in Washington state, told the Guardian. 'There's nothing else I can do. I'm really just out of options. There's very limited treatments approved for colorectal cancer.' Phelps is one of many Americans whose lives have been disrupted or altered by the ongoing cuts to government services made by the Trump administration's so-called 'department of government efficiency' or Doge. NIH scientists have lost their jobs, and some have seen their grants ended. Researchers told the Associated Press that cuts to the agency and its programs would end treatment for cancer patients and delay cures and treatment discoveries. Phelps was diagnosed in 2020, soon after giving birth to her second child, and after her symptoms were dismissed by doctors for months. Since then, she's done 48 rounds of chemotherapy. She had an 18-hour surgery to remove her primary tumor, plus two follow-up liver surgeries. She's had radiation to her brain, leg and pelvis. Dr Steven Rosenberg's cell-based immunotherapy trial at the National Institutes of Health offered hope. The treatment uses a person's own cells to fight cancer and has seen some promise for patients with colon, rectal and GI cancers. This was deemed an exciting step by the medical community because the process had previously worked on blood cancers, but not solid cancers, the Washington Post reported. But these promising developments are coming alongside cuts to federal agencies, including ones that have affected these trials, Rosenberg has publicly confirmed. The trial itself was not cut, but it is experiencing delays because of staff reductions. Phelps passed the initial medical steps to enter the trial in March, then flew to Bethesda, Maryland, at the end of April this year. There, they drew her blood to use to engineer T-cells for her treatment, which she previously was told takes about four weeks. Instead, she was told it would now take eight weeks, which the doctors told her was because of funding cuts from Doge. 'That got me motivated enough to start to really panic, because my cancer between March and April really exploded and progressed to my lymph nodes and my bones,' she said. 'My oncologist was very anxious about the difference between four and eight weeks could make, waiting for those treatment products.' One month can make a huge difference in late-stage cancer treatment, but the delay also brought up major decisions for Phelps. She wouldn't be able to do chemo for a month before the treatment began. With a delay, she could maybe do chemo for a bit, then stop a month before. Then there was the size of her tumors – which would become the subject of the spat in a congressional hearing. She needed a tumor of at least one centimeter in size to start the trial, or an exemption – her disease was spreading in the number of tumors, not in one large tumor. The tumor would help scientists track how the treatment was working. If she did chemo before doing a final scan needed to start the trial, tumors could shrink, affecting her eligibility. But if she waited for two months and did nothing, the disease could keep spreading. Her oncologist thought maybe the trial would have to go on the back burner, given the extended timeline. Phelps posted on social media, explaining her predicament. After seeing her videos, friends suggested she reach out to her members of Congress, who could intervene with the agency and help her get treated sooner. The office of Pat Murray, a Washington Democratic senator, got involved. On 14 May, Murray questioned Kennedy during a Senate health, education, labor and pensions committee hearing, sharing Phelps' story and asking how many staff have been cut from the NIH's clinical center. Kennedy said to reach out to his office for specifics on Phelps and claimed no cuts had been made to clinical trials. 'I don't think that should happen to anybody,' he said. Later in the hearing, though, Kennedy said his office had looked into the case and claimed that Phelps was 'medically ineligible' for the trial, so her case had nothing to do with staff reductions. 'That was a canard,' he told the committee, and he told Murray: 'You don't care. You don't care about Natalie.' The exchange became a Fox News headline. It was a 'spurious statement' to say she was medically ineligible, Phelps said – she was waiting for one final scan to see if her tumor was one centimeter, but had met all other criteria. She had a scan the day after the hearing, which showed her tumor had now grown large enough to qualify. 'It's been so much extra stress. The night after the hearing, I threw up all night. I barely made it to my scan because I was so stressed out,' she said. 'It's been very intense emotionally and an extreme added stress that nobody needs. Cancer just shouldn't be political.' In a Senate appropriations hearing the next week, Kennedy again argued with Murray, saying it was 'untrue' that Phelps' care was delayed. In statements after the second exchange, Murray said her staff has been in 'constant touch' with career staff at NIH and FDA to get help on Phelps' case. 'I still have no answer about how many NIH clinical staff have been fired,' Murray's 20 May statement says. 'I still have no answer why Natalie was told by her NIH doctor that her care was being delayed due to staffing cuts. For weeks, my staff has been demanding answers about agency staffing cuts.' In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said cancer research is a 'high priority' for NIH and HHS. 'Ongoing investments reflect our dedication to addressing both urgent and long-term health challenges,' the agency said. 'There have been no cuts to clinical trials.' But Rosenberg, the doctor leading the trial Phelps is in, confirmed to the Washington Post in April that two patients were delayed care because of staff cuts and 'purchasing slowdowns', and these delays were confirmed before big layoffs hit the agency. Rosenberg didn't respond to requests for comment this week. He previously told the Cancer Letter, an oncology publication, that Phelps was, at the time of the hearing, not eligible because of her tumors' size, but was scheduled for additional scans to see if they had grown. He confirmed that, if determined eligible, her case would be delayed by a month because of reductions in force. Phelps wasn't alone, he told the publication – nearly all of the trial patients were seeing a delay of about a month, which he attributed to a 'loss of technicians' as part of reductions in force done by the Trump administration. It isn't just delays, either. 'We've had to drop the number of patients we treat by about half. We're just having to turn away more patients,' Rosenberg said. Phelps is still waiting to hear when she can start treatment. As of last Thursday, she was told she had a spot in the queue and the agency was seeing if it could be moved up. On Tuesday, she was told it would now be 21 July. NIH told her the agency tried to hire back staff, but it hasn't worked out. 'I have nothing to lose at this point. I'm pleading for my life. I'm begging for help,' she said.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
M42, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Gunma University in Japan to drive innovation in heavy ion therapy
ABU DHABI - M42 and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Gunma University in Japan to accelerate research and innovation in heavy ion therapy, one of the most advanced and precise forms of radiation therapy for cancer treatment. This collaboration, which took place during M42 and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's recent delegation visit to Japan, will see the three entities exchange knowledge, expertise and research to deepen scientific understanding and broaden the clinical applications of heavy ion therapy. The collaboration builds on M42 and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's recent partnership with Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) to establish the region's first heavy ion therapy facility in Abu Dhabi. This initiative will introduce one of the world's most innovative cancer treatment technologies to the Middle East, positioning Abu Dhabi as a centre of excellence in oncology and precision medicine. With no heavy ion therapy centre within a five-hour flight of the UAE, the upcoming facility—strategically located on the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi campus, adjacent to the Fatima bint Mubarak Centre, the region's first-of-its-kind comprehensive cancer centre—will enhance access to this treatment for patients across the Middle East. Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said, 'At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, our vision is to bring the most advanced, evidence-based treatments to our patients, and this partnership with Gunma University exemplifies that commitment. By combining our clinical expertise with Gunma's decades of leadership in heavy ion therapy, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also laying the groundwork for a new era of cancer care in the region." President Ishizaki Yasuki at Gunma University, commented, 'Gunma University has long been committed to advancing the science of heavy ion therapy through rigorous research and clinical innovation." He added, "Partnering with M42 will enable us to expand the reach of this transformative therapy, fostering international collaboration and ensuring that more patients worldwide benefit from the latest advancements in cancer treatment.' Gunma University has been at the forefront of radiation oncology and nuclear medicine in Japan for decades. The Gunma University Heavy Ion Medical Centre (GHMC), established in 2005, has been instrumental in refining heavy ion radiotherapy by integrating radiation biology, clinical studies, and cutting-edge treatment technologies.
