Important to balance benefits of cancer-related care with risks related to COVID-19: Dr Hari Menon – Express Healthcare

While explaining how healthcare organisations have reinvented and adapted to the new normal to ensure that citizens get definitive cancer care during the COVID-19 crisis, Dr Hari Menon, senior consultant, haemato-oncology, Cytecare Cancer Hospitalcautions that demographic changes alone will cause cancer cases to double over next two decades in India and therefore suggests three top measures that can accelerate the countrys fight against cancer, in an interaction with Viveka Roychowdhury

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted access to cancer care in India?

The pandemic has altered every aspect of life worldwide. Understandably, the impact on access to cancer care in India was unavoidable especially during the initial lockdown. However, over the last couple of months, healthcare organisations have reinvented and adapted to the new normal to ensure that citizens get definitive cancer care during the crisis.

Its important to balance the benefits of cancer-related care with the risks related to COVID-19. At Cytecare, our primary concern has been to ensure that patients continue their treatment while alleviating their concerns about compromised immunity leading to infection. Here are a few measures that we took:

What is Indias burden of cancer cases and how is it projected to increase in the next five years?

According to the National Cancer Registry Programme Report, 2020, there are 1.39 million cancer cases in India currently. By 2025, the number is estimated to reach 1.57 million.

The report, released recently by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), finds that tobacco-related cancer contributes to 27.1 per cent of the total cancer burden about 370,000 cases in 2020.

It is expected that demographic changes alone will cause the number of cancer cases to double over the next two decades. Currently, non-communicable disease is the second leading cause of adult death in urban India and fourth leading mortality cause in rural India.

What are the most prevalent cancers in India and do we have an epidemiological study of cancers to prevent them or lessen incidence in the next generation?

The term cancer refers not just to one disease, but a collection of several diseases, with wide-ranging characteristics that usually call for varied treatments. In India, cancers of the lung, mouth, stomach, prostate cancer and oesophagus are the most prevalent among men, while breast and cervical cancer rank the highest in terms of prevalence among women.

The National Cancer Registry Programmes Report, 2020, notes that cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (in men and women) account for about 19 per cent of the countrys cancer burden. The report also states that the incidence of breast cancer is rising, while cervical cancer is declining.

Another insightful study published in The Lancet Oncology last year had stated that cervical cancer could be potentially eliminated as a public health problem in India within the next 60 years given the promise shown by the vaccination programme against human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical screening made more accessible.

Better and early diagnosis of cancer through screening and awareness campaigns has improved the chances of survival and quality of life. To what extent?

Early detection with specified treatment protocols is critical for better long term outcomes. Delay in diagnosis can lead to compromised outcomes to treatment. In fact, it also means giving more aggressive treatment inviting complications and impinging quality of life. A delay in detection will consecutively cause the cancer cells to spread in the adjacent areas of the affected region, thus increasing the morbidity. Also, in the absence of early detection and simultaneous treatment, the patients cancer-related disability increases, thereby dipping the chances of survival.

We have observed that early detection is particularly true for superficial cancers such as breast, head and neck and cervical cancers among others. We need to spread more awareness about the importance of screening programmes and invest in diagnostic facilities at local healthcare centers across the country.

Also, the five-year survival rate increases significantly when the cancer is detected at an early stage I or II, as compared to the more advanced stage III or IV tumours. Given the socio-economic inequalities in access to healthcare and the high out-of-pocket expenditure in India, these are important factors to consider.

It is a perceived notion that cancer afflicts the Indian population about a decade younger than their western counterparts. However, this may not be entirely true given that the older population are less inclined to come forward for treatment and may present at more advanced stage as compared to younger population. Therefore early diagnosis and treatment becomes all the more significant.

Are cancer care facilities, from screening, diagnosis, and treatment, accessible and affordable to all patients in India? Especially in rural areas? How successful have government schemes like Ayushman Bharat been while addressing these issues?

Theres no denying that India is grappling with inadequate infrastructure and poor access to healthcare. The country has merely 0.98 oncologists per million population.

It is also true that cancer treatments can be expensive most of the time because the treatment involves a comprehensive approach involving not only the management of the patient and his well-being but also supportive care management of disabilities that might be temporary or permanent and the need to get them back to main stream after a curative treatment has been implemented.

As the worlds largest fully government-financed health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat could be the game changer. Right now, there are about 150 oncology packages that cater to patients from economically disadvantaged sections of the society. Once Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat succeed in screening effectively for cancers, detection and timely treatment can become a reality for the 1.3 billion population.

There are three top measures that can accelerate Indias fight against cancer:

How has the National Cancer Grid worked to solve these issues? In terms of teleconsultation, reference network etc?

At a conceptual level, the National Cancer Grid represents a collaborative approach for addressing cancer at the national level. By bringing together institutions both in public and private sector under one roof, it can ensure uniformity in protocols and implementation of cancer care and treatment. The potential is immense and there is a lot of promise for this umbrella organisation to implement definitive therapy for cancer patients, while also addressing methods to improve cancer care in the future

What is the future of cancer care in India, at institutions like Cytecare Cancer Hospital? In terms of expansion and investment plans to reach more patients, cover more types of cancers, offer the latest treatment options in cancer care in India?

We know a lot more about this complex disease today than we did a decade or two ago, thanks to cutting-edge cancer research that is being conducted across the globe. Right from prevention and early detection to treatment of late-stage disease, there are several encouraging developments.

Diagnostic scans are getting more accurate and radiation treatments come with lesser side effects today. The development of immunohistochemistry (IHC), markers for various cancers, liquid biopsies and genetic tests have transformed the way we diagnose and tailor cancer treatments. Similarly, the development of newer drugs for targeted treatment and breakthroughs in stem cell research and gene therapy are paving the way for effective and personalised cancer care in the future.

At Cytecare, we are committed to building a more patient-centric cancer care system, with an organ-site approach. Our endeavour, since our inception in 2016, has been to get the finest multidisciplinary team of clinicians to work together with a holistic approach. Currently, we have a world-class team of 22 cancer specialists the largest such team in India that understands and evaluates each patients unique journey.

Read more here:
Important to balance benefits of cancer-related care with risks related to COVID-19: Dr Hari Menon - Express Healthcare

Be The Match Presents "Sickle Cell Connect" Virtual Event Series To Raise Awareness Of Treatment Options And Marrow Transplants As A Cure…

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sickle Cell warrior Tahir "StayFresh" Ali of Atlanta, Ga., visits the hospital twice monthly for blood transfusions to reduce complications from sickle cell disease, and manage his potential risk of organ damage or stroke. The 35-year-old music producer and manager estimates he has spent several years of his life in the hospital undergoing treatment for sickle cell disease. Finding a perfectly matched marrow or blood stem cell donor could give StayFresh a chance to live life free of sickle cell and the many complications that the disease presents.

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and Be The Match, the National Marrow Donor Program, is launching several campaigns to help people to learn more about the disease, and take action to help those searching for a matching blood stem cell or marrow donor.

StayFresh is like 100,000 African Americans who battle sickle cell disease, an often-misunderstood genetic disease that is "invisible" because unlike many illnesses, people with sickle cell disease can lead active lives. However, people with severe sickle cell can face debilitating episodes of pain crisis and life-threatening complications. StayFresh is working with Be The Match to rally more Black and African Americans to join the Be The Match Registry.

Be The Match is also hosting a three-part virtual event series to raise awareness about sickle cell disease, provide free resources for patients and families affected by sickle cell, discuss treatment options, and the need for more Black donors on the Be The Match Registry. The event series and more information can be found at: SickleCellConnect.com.

"We are grateful to have a dedicated Patient Services team that is able to produce these informative virtual events to help sickle cell patients and their caregivers learn how to access free resources and advocate for themselves as they navigate their disease," said Erica Jensen, Senior Vice President of Be The Match Member Engagement, Enrollment and Experience. "Nobody with sickle cell disease has to walk alone. Be The Match has a peer connect program, free professional counseling, nurse navigators and strong partnerships with organizations like The Sickle Cell Community Consortium and My Three Sicklers Foundation to ensure we can connect caregivers and sickle cell warriors with the resources they need to best manage this disease."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, sickle cell disease is the most common inherited disease, affecting 1 in 365 Black or African Americans and 1 in 16,300 Hispanic Americans. With sickle cell disease, oxygen-carrying red blood cells are misshapen, hard and sticky, which can result in them getting stuck in blood vessels and clog them. This can cause severe pain crisis, infections, organ damage, low blood counts, stroke and other serious health problems.

Be The Match has also launched an informative online video called "You Are My Match" to raise awareness of the need for more Black or African American donors on the Be The Match Registry to help Black patients battling sickle cell disease find a potentially life-saving match. The video features a 4-year-old girl named Ruby from Lubbock, TX, who has been hospitalized more than 24 times and had three surgeries due to her sickle cell. Ruby's doctors are recommending a blood stem cell or marrow transplant due to the severity of her condition, but she does not have a perfect match on the Be The Match Registry.

Part of the challenge Black patients like Ruby face when searching for a perfect match is low representation of Black or African Americans on the Be The Match Registry. Of the 22 million potential donors on the Be The Match Registry, just 4 percent are Black or African American. Because ethnicity plays a role in finding a match, Black patients will only find a perfect match 23% of the time, which is much lower than other ethnicities, such as White patients, who will find a match 77% of the time.

To learn how to access free resources, read stories about people cured of sickle cell disease following a marrow or stem cell transplant and to join the Be The Match Registry, visit: http://www.sicklecellconnect.com.

Virtual Event Series:Episodes will be streamed via http://www.sicklecellconnect.comwebpage and viewable on Be The Match Social Channels.

Episode 1: What is sickle cell disease?September 10thfrom 12:00 12:30 p.m. CDT We'll chat about sickle cell disease basics with pediatric hematologist Staci Arnold, MD, hear sickle cell warrior Genesis' storyandlearn about barriers and disparities that sickle cell patients face from the Health Equity Manager at Be The Match.

Episode 2: Living with sickle cell diseaseSeptember 17th from 12:00 12:30 p.m. CDT We'll chat with a Be The Match Patient Navigator and Social Worker about the free resources available to sickle cell disease patients and hear from the founder of My Three Sicklers Foundation.

Episode 3:The future of sickle cell diseaseSeptember24th from 12:00 1:00p.m. CDT We'll cover transplant and gene therapy with Staci Arnold, MD and a certified genetic counselor from BeTheMatch. Hear about our policy efforts for sickle cell disease, meet sickle cell warriorDakhiyon, seehow Nia Imani Franklin, former Miss America, is advocating for more diverse donors on the Be The Match Registry, plus watch a live swabbing event!

Continue reading here:
Be The Match Presents "Sickle Cell Connect" Virtual Event Series To Raise Awareness Of Treatment Options And Marrow Transplants As A Cure...

Betty Lin-Fisher: Men, take care of your health – Akron Beacon Journal

Tom Fister has been a doting husband to his wife of 41 years, Sue.

Sue has been in and out of the hospital in the last year with complications after her second bout of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Last year, she had an umbilical cord stem cell transplant. That was 15 years after she first had the same leukemia.

Tom Fister, 69, was so focused on his wife and her care that the self-described "hard-headed man" ignored his own health to the point where he could have died, his doctor said.

The Copley man was on medication for high-blood pressure, but otherwise did not know he had other health complications.

He was slowly having a harder time walking from the parking deck at University Hospitals to go visit his wife daily before the COVID-19 virus shut down access to the hospitals and the shelter-in-place orders went into effect.

On March 13, Fister got up, showered and went in and checked himself into the emergency room.

"I spent a month in the hospital and three and a half weeks in the ICU," he said. "I pretty much just ran myself down."

When he went to the hospital, doctors discovered he was in acute heart failure and kidney failure and had pulmonary hypertension and severe aortic stenosis, which is a severe narrowing of the aortic valve, said Dr. Joseph Lahorra, a cardiothoracic surgeon and chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Akron General heart, vascular and thoracic department.

Severe aortic stenosis is a chronic and progressive disease that is fatal if untreated, Lahorra said.

"He basically was not following up with anybody because he was taking care of his wife," Lahorra said. Fister also was concerned if he got evaluated for his medical conditions, it would take away from his focus on his wifes care.

Fister is "a very altruistic guy," said Lahorra, and a prime example of men represented in a Cleveland Clinic study released earlier this week.

The national survey by Cleveland Clinic revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting both the mental and physical health of men. Some men are negatively impacted, while others are making healthier choices.

In an online survey among about 1,000 U.S. males 18 and older, Cleveland Clinic found that 77% of men report their stress level has increased as a result of COVID-19, 59% of men say they have felt isolated during the pandemic and nearly half (45%) of men say their emotional/mental health has worsened during the pandemic.

The survey was issued as part of Cleveland Clinics fifth annual educational campaign, "MENtion It," which aims to address the fact that men often do not talk about health issues or take steps to prevent them.

This year, the Clinic wanted to see what sort of effect the pandemic has had on men over the past six months and what their outlook is.

Here are a few other findings:

Three-in-five men (59%) feel COVID-19 has had a greater negative impact on their mental health than the 2008 recession.

66% of men say they rarely talk about the impact COVID-19 has had on their mental health.

Half of men (48%) have put off seeing a doctor for non-COVID-19 related health issues. That is even higher among men ages 18 to 34 (56%).

While some are struggling, COVID-19 has also inspired healthier habits in some. Nearly half of men (45%) feel healthier now and 22% are exercising more.

While 64% dont see an end to the COVID-19 outbreak in sight, the majority (71%) still remain optimistic about the future as the world continues to battle COVID-19, suggesting the pandemic hasnt dampened spirits completely.

"We couldnt take the temperature on the state of mens health this year without focusing on the one thing that has affected every person in this country and beyond," said Dr. Eric Klein, chairman of Cleveland Clinics Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute. "Many men are finding themselves in new and different roles as a result of this pandemic; for example, they are out of work or are working around the clock at home looking after kids with their partners all while worrying about their familys health and their own health. Its no surprise that mental health rose to the top as a critical issue in this years survey.

"We want to remind men that their health shouldnt take a back seat, especially during a pandemic," Klein said. "If youre experiencing symptoms that indicate a real health issue, dont be afraid to come to the hospital or schedule an appointment with a health care provider, either virtually or in person. Your health is too important not to."

For Fister, once he got to the hospital, doctors had to stabilize his health, including getting him on dialysis three times a week.

Doctors wanted to do whats called a TAVR procedure, a relatively new procedure that has been a paradigm shift for patients and doctors, Lahorra said. The procedure eliminates the need for open-heart surgery in some patients, which would obviously require a much-longer recovery time. In a TAVR procedure, the aortic valve is opened up through the groin and patients can go home the next day.

But for Fister, even proceeding with the TAVR was considered risky, given his initial medical issues. So doctors temporarily opened the valve with a balloon to give him a few months to stabilize his other health issues. He had the TAVR procedure in July, performed by Lahorra and cardiologist Dr. Anmar Kanaan.

Doctors also wanted to keep Fister out of the hospital during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring because he was a severe risk.

"He is the exact patient who if he got COVID, he would not do well. He would do very poorly. We discussed that with him," Lahorra said.

Hospitals have seen patients who were avoiding getting care for fear of contracting COVID-19, to the detriment of their health, he said.

But now, however, data have shown hospitals are safe, even for people at high riks for COVID-19 complications, he said.

"This is a vital message to get out. Continue with your routine health care and certainly for more urgent acute problems, definitely get seen. The environment is very safe," Lahorra said.

Fister is grateful for what he calls his "medical miracle." He feels great now and just got trained to do peritoneal dialysis at home. His wife, Sue, was just moved to a rehab facility and he hopes she will be able to come home soon.

Fister said hes a fairly private person, but agreed to talk about his medical journey because "there are people who might be helped from this," he said. "If I can help some people, thats why were talking today."

Beacon Journal consumer columnist and medical reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or http://www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at http://www.beaconjournal.com/topics/linfisher

Continued here:
Betty Lin-Fisher: Men, take care of your health - Akron Beacon Journal

Seniors suffer the most from antiquated FDA approval process | TheHill – The Hill

Americans have been heartbroken as report after report shines a light on the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping through nursing homes and decimating some senior community populations. Not only have our seniors been struck in their final years with a hideous virus, but they are also the victims of an antiquated drug approval process that is nearly six decades old and in need of drastic improvement.

The fact is, we already have a model that works, which can be adapted for use in America with minor changes.

While some streamlining of the FDA approval process has taken place, especially in the midst of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is still denying our seniors, their families and physicians the opportunity to make informed choices about the level of risk they are willing to take (advised by their doctors) with promising but not officially approved treatments, pharmaceuticalsand therapies. Let seniors, and anyone dealing with a serious medical condition, have the opportunity to make informed decisions.

The biopharmaceutical industry has also seen major changes since 1962, when Congress passed foundational legislation to ensure that consumers would not be the victims of unsafe and ineffective medications. The advent of biotechnology, gene therapy, artificial intelligence, and the internet contributed to improved treatment results for patients and longer life spans. Meanwhile, the FDA has made only incremental improvements (with exceptions) to the rules which shorten the review time required for a drug to receive FDA approval, including Priority Review, Accelerated Approval, Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

These programs reflect the difficulty the FDA and Congress have in balancing the need to protect the American people against the need to make new vaccines and treatments available to those who need them, especially when dealing with life and death and serious illnesses such as the novel coronavirus.

We do not need to reinvent the wheel; We just need to expand an existing program.

In 2014 the Japanese Health Ministry established an accelerated conditional approval pathway for regenerative medicines that enables more patients to access products like tissue grafts and stem cell therapies that have demonstrated initial safety and efficacy, but have not completed the many years of standard clinical testing required under the countrys formal approval process. This program,which is especially beneficial to Japanese seniors,actually builds upon the Parallel Track approval process that was initiated by the FDA in 1992 to allow AIDS/HIV drugs to be accessible immediately following successful safety testing, but before completion of the more rigorous and time-consuming efficacy trials. On Oct. 5, 1992 the first drug to be approved under Parallel Track, stavudine, became available, extending the lives of thousands of sick people before eventually receiving standard FDA approval.

By expanding Parallel Track, all drugs that treat serious and life-threatening illnesses would be conditionally approved once early stage clinical trials suggest that a medicine has a safety profile consistent with the severity of the disease being treated and a likelihood of patient benefit. All physicians would then be able to prescribe such treatments to fully informed patients. As part of the program, the productdeveloper would be requiredto collect relevant data and results from patient use. In addition, a public database would be established where physicians prescribing Parallel Track approved therapies would be required to post anonymized treatment results.

The public database would enable doctors, patients, and the public health community to quickly learn about the successes, failures, benefits, and side effects that patients using Parallel Track approved treatments are experiencing. The FDA already collects real-world data on the side effects associated with approved medicines, which it uses to monitor safety and keep labels updated. Expanding this program would result in additional real time comprehensive patient data.

Now is the time for the United States to take this bold step forward and create an accelerated approval pathway for developmental treatments that give patients and doctors greater control over their health care. ExpandingParallel Track to include a publicly available database of real-world treatment results would accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, reduce development costs and lower drug prices while expediting new standards of care and cures.

Seniors cant wait 10-12 years to have a drug approved, nor can they pay for drugs that are priced to quickly recoup the $2.6 billion dollars it costs to gain approval. With the expansion of Parallel Track, more seniors will be able to walk out of hospitals and live longer healthier lives.

Diane Abbitt is a Los Angeles attorney who played a leading role in the 1990s campaign to secure early access to not-yet-FDA-approved drugs to treat AIDS. Bartley J. Madden is an independent researcher in Florida. Japans conditional approval pathway was based on a proposal in his book, Free to Choose Medicine: Better Drugs Sooner at Lower Cost.

More:
Seniors suffer the most from antiquated FDA approval process | TheHill - The Hill

Father of Three with Incurable Cancer is Helping Researchers Get One Step Closer to a Cure – The Suburban Newspaper

In 2016, Danny Wade, a successful marketing professional and an active and doting father to his three young children, aged 11, 8 and 6, checked himself into the emergency department when he began experiencing severe, inexplicable bone pain and unusual fatigue.

Two days later, after undergoing a battery of tests, Danny was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a little-known and incurable cancer of the plasma cells. He was just 42 years old.

"I was shocked when I got the news, Danny recalls. What upset me most was when the doctor told me that the average life expectancy for myeloma patients was only five to seven years. The thought that I would not see my children grow up was devastating. I knew I had to fight for my life.

Thats exactly what Danny has been doing. Within six months of being diagnosed, Danny went through a difficult high-dose chemotherapy regimen to prepare for an autologous stem cell transplant using his own stem cells. Then in 2017 after further tests, Dannys doctors recommended that his best option for survival was to undergo another transplant with stem cells from a healthy donor. He took his doctors advice and underwent the procedure. Fortunately, he was eligible to participate in a clinical trial at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital where he received a breakthrough therapy involving bi-weekly injections that he will continue to take for a year.

Dannys condition is relatively stable at this time, and he extremely thankful to still be alive. He is thrilled to watch his children grow and to resume being an active part of their lives. He credits his survival to the life-saving treatments that he has access to and the love and support he receives from his partner, Anik. With my beloved Anik by my side, Ive had the courage to get through this nightmare and to have faith that I can get through whatever else the future holds.

Danny is eager to do what he can to help others living with myeloma. I made a promise that once I was doing well, I would do everything in my power to help find a cure so that other patients dont have to live through the horrors I have," says Danny. Danny is a member of the organizing committee of the Montreal Support Group, and recently co-founded the South Shore Myeloma Support Group.

Over the past four years, Danny has seen, first-hand, the life-changing impact that advances in myeloma research are having on the lives of those living with this incurable cancer. Thats why he and his family are more intent than ever to raise as much awareness and funds for myeloma as they can, and will be participating in Myeloma Canadas 12th annual Montreal Multiple Myeloma March on Sunday, September 20, at 10 am.

This years Montreal March has been modified to help stop the spread of COVID-19. In compliance with physical distancing measures, participants are encouraged to hold their own walk in their neighbourhood at the same time as the regularly scheduled March on September 20. Danny and his fellow Montreal Marchers have set their fundraising goal at $60,000 to help further crucial research for this deadly blood cancer that affects nine new Canadians every day.

Myeloma research has produced extremely promising results over the past two decades. In fact, for the first time, theres a cure in sight, says Dr Richard LeBlanc, Medical Hematologist and Oncologist, and holder of the Myeloma Canada Chair in Multiple Myeloma Research at the Universit de Montral. We cant afford to let the current situation stop the progress weve made and put vulnerable people living with myeloma at risk, which is why its more crucial than ever to invest in research and find a cure.

The Multiple Myeloma March, Myeloma Canadas flagship fundraiser is now in its 12th year. The annual five-kilometer event brings Canadian communities together to raise essential funds for research and to help improve the lives of all Canadians impacted by myeloma. Montreal is one of a record 33 communities across the country to be included in this years Multiple Myeloma March. The national fundraising goal is set at $650,000. To learn more about how this event will be working, please click here.

While this years March will undoubtedly be different because of the pandemic, its crucial to stay positive, says Martine Elias, Executive Director of Myeloma Canada. Fundraising has taken a huge hit for many organizations. We need to do all we can to increase awareness and raise essential funds for research that will improve the lives of Canadians impacted by myeloma, and bring us closer to a cure, Martine added. As we mark Myeloma Canadas 15th anniversary, we celebrate the strength of our incredible community. More than ever, were counting on our supporters to help us achieve our goal of $650,000. Canadians impacted by this incurable cancer are depending on us.

This year, a minimum of 50% of funds raised by the Multiple Myeloma March will go directly to support Myeloma Canadas Myeloma Research Priority Setting Partnership (PSP), the first program of its kind in myeloma. The PSP will use input provided by the Canadian myeloma community to identify and define investments in myeloma research over the next 18 months. The balance raised will go toward supporting various myeloma research projects and initiatives that are pivotal for improving quality of life and moving the needle toward a cure.

Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is the second most common form of blood cancer. Myeloma affects a type of immune cell called the plasma cell, found in the bone marrow. Every day, nine Canadians are diagnosed, yet in spite of its growing prevalence, the disease remains relatively unknown. While there is no cure, people with myeloma are living longer and better lives, thanks to recent breakthroughs in treatment. To find the cure, more funding and research are required. To learn more, or to donate, please visit http://www.myeloma.ca

Myeloma Canada

http://www.myeloma.ca

AB

Continue reading here:
Father of Three with Incurable Cancer is Helping Researchers Get One Step Closer to a Cure - The Suburban Newspaper

Editorial: UT Healths new teaching hospital will boost region – San Antonio Express-News

A planned 144-bed teaching hospital on the UT Health San Antonio campus slated to open in the spring of 2024 will boost enrollment for many health programs so crucial for the region and state.

The medical school alone could see an increase of 22 students in each enrollment class. The number of medical residents could grow by 100 to 130 slots by 2027. Currently, 1,000 residency slots are offered through UT Health San Antonio.

This is great news for medical and other students training for health professions who want to complete their education in Texas. It will help address the shortage of providers in Bexar County and across the state. Historically, many doctors remain in the communities where they complete their medical training.

The San Antonio hospital would become the fourth operated by the University of Texas System. The others are in Dallas, Galveston and Tyler.

Most of the UT System health science centers have partnerships with independently managed hospitals in their communities.

Most new hospital projects arrive with much fanfare. This project has been quietly moving along over the past year with little public awareness or discussion.

The University of Texas System regents last month placed the nearly $400 million project on its capital improvement program and are expected to appropriate construction funds at their November meeting.

The hospital will be located on 12 acres in the South Texas Medical Center provided by the San Antonio Medical Foundation. The eight-story hospital will be adjacent to the Mays Cancer Center, formerly known as the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. The jointly run UT Health San Antonio-MD Anderson program is a National Cancer Institute-designated research center. The hospital and the cancer center will be connected by a skybridge.

A 530-space parking garage is also included in the project.

Background information provided to the regents describes a high-acuity hospital offering treatment programs in cancer, neurosciences, orthopedics, urology, thoracic surgery and bariatrics.

A distinct, competitive advantage of the hospital will be the unique leading-edge therapies and early-phase clinical trials in the many disciplines in which the university has expertise, including immunologic and stem cell therapies in oncology and diabetes, the backgrounder states.

The construction of a second teaching hospital in San Antonio raises concerns about the multibillion-dollar investment taxpayers have made in the Bexar County Hospital District, which includes University Hospital and some two dozen University Health System clinics.

University Hospital has long been the primary teaching hospital for UT Health San Antonio, and much of its recent expansion including the new 400-bed Womens and Childrens Hospital now under construction alongside University Hospital has been in large part to accommodate the patients seen by UT Health San Antonio doctors.

Will the two be duplicating services and competing for patients?

UT Health San Antonio President William L. Henrich and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the two hospitals will work in partnership. The hospital district and UT officials are negotiating a memorandum of understanding to that effect, Wolff said.

Henrich said the new hospital will not replicate any services and will complement what is currently offered. He said the new facility will allow for the expansion of the health science centers three primary missions clinical care, biomedical research and education.

Our clinical practices have been growing 8 to 10 percent a year, Henrich said. We have about $300 million in research on campus, and we need more access to clinical trials. Sophisticated clinical trials in cancer, rheumatology, gastroenterology and this hospital will afford us the opportunity to carry out those trials, and that will be a unique feature of this hospital.

In addition, the new hospital is expected to create 750 to 850 new jobs.

This is an important project for San Antonio and Texas. It will expand higher education opportunities, help address the doctor shortage in the state and provide a lift to the local economy by creating skilled jobs.

We look forward to a thriving partnership between UT Health and the University Health System.

Originally posted here:
Editorial: UT Healths new teaching hospital will boost region - San Antonio Express-News

There is a dire need for ‘donors of colour’ in the fight against blood disorders – Health24

Compiled by Gabi Zietsman | Health24

04 Sep 2020, 02:45

Two hikers are going to great heights to increase awareness of blood disorders, and the urgent need for bone marrow donors in South Africa.

In a symbolic hike up the country's highest peak in the Drakensberg range, adventurer and bone marrow donor Clayton Coetzee and expert mountaineer and author Gavin Raubenheimer will be tackling Mafadi from 7 to 9 September in honour of those who have helped save the lives of countless people suffering from blood disorders.

Bone marrow donation is close to my heart as one of my dearest friends got sick with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) several years ago," says Coetzee. "Its then when I heard about the SA Bone Marrow Registry and the life-saving work that they do, and I decided to sign up as a donor."

READ | Could smoking lead to this blood disorder?

Increase in cases

Blood cancer is one of the most common of these disorders and affects children the most, while other blood disorders include non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Unfortunately, according to the Search Coordinator for the SA Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) Alicia Venter, these diseases have increased in the last decade 45% in NHL cases and 26% in leukaemia cases.

"While recommended, prevention efforts, such as lifestyle changes, tend to be less effective for hematologic malignancies than for other cancers, which makes a blood stem cell transplant a patients only hope for survival," says Venter.

In order to be a suitable bone marrow donor, your human leukocyte antigen (HLA) needs to match someone in need. HLAs are genes in a human's DNA that help regulate immunity and affect whether or not a recipient's body will reject a transplant.

READ MORE | Bone marrow transplants less risky now

Need more non-white donors

Finding a match, however, isn't as easy as swiping on a dating app and SAMBR has a serious lack of diversity in the donor database. Currently, there are only about 74 000 local donors on the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

In South Africa, there is a dire need for donors of colour," explains Venter.

"When it comes to matching HLA types, a patients ethnicity plays an important role as HLA markers are inherited. Some ethnic groups have more complex tissue types than others, therefore finding a match is most likely to come from someone of the same ethnic group."

'As easy as giving blood'

The hike is supposed to be symbolic of the uphill battle that faces those suffering from blood disorders, including finding a suitable donor to increase their chances of survival. Besides the gruelling experience, SAMBR will also be doing a cheek swab drive at the same time in Agulhas, Western Cape, and Musina, Limpopo, to help boost donor registrations.

According to Coetzee, it's easy to be registered as a donor all it takes is a cheek swab. If you do match with someone, it's "almost as easy as giving blood".

If a match is found, a donor will undergo a full medical exam to look for any exclusionary factors like obesity, HIV status, other chronic conditions and viral infections. Once cleared, the donor goes on a five-day treatment of injections to increase the number of stem cells in the bloodstream.

On the fifth day, the donor will be admitted to a hospital and connect to a cell separator machine, where the bone marrow donation would be made. The collected samples then has 72 hours to be transplanted to the receiving patient.

In South Africa, doctors will seldom collect bone marrow straight from the source.Possible side effects to receiving the injections may include headache, bone pain and flu-like symptoms.

I want people to know that blood diseases can affect anyone, regardless of ethnicity or gender. Extending beyond our boundaries or comfort zones like climbing Mafadi can be hard, but imagine the indelible difference the act of becoming a donor can have on someone elses life and their loved ones, says Coetzee.

You can follow the hikers' journey onSAMBR's Facebook page.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 45 and want to become a donor, contact the SABMR on021 447 8638 oremail:donors@sabmr.co.za.For more info and how to donate, visit their website.

READ MORE | Leukaemia survivor stories

Image credit: Pixabay

Read more here:
There is a dire need for 'donors of colour' in the fight against blood disorders - Health24

Parents plea for stem cell help to save life of daughter with rare blood disorder – Mirror Online

The parents of a girl battling a deadly blood disorder are begging people to join the stem cell donor register to save her life after her only match in the world pulled out at the last minute.

Evie Hodgson, eight, who suffers from aplastic anaemia, was due to have a bone marrow transplant this month but her donor backed out at the last possible moment.

Her mum, Tina, says the chances of finding another donor are so slim that doctors are now planning a different course of treatment. But, in future, a stem call transplant is Evies best hope of being cured.

The schoolgirl, from Whitby, North Yorks, was first taken to hospital with a rash and was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in May.

After a global donor search was launched, a 10/10 match was found and the anonymous donor agreed to the procedure. In preparation, Evie had to have dental work and one of her ovaries was removed. But on August 14 the donor pulled out.

Tina, 37, who works at RAF Flyingdales, in Pickering, North Yorks, said: We were devastated, it was a huge blow. We have no idea why the donor changed their mind. Evie has already been through so much. She thought she had a donor and now she doesnt.

The donor pulling out is quite hard-hitting, but we want to raise awareness of the stem cell register. Its so easy to be a donor. Its just like giving blood, but you could save a childs life. Its so easy to join but only 1% of the UK population is registered.

Evie said: I need this transplant to save my life. Please sign the register to help.

Tina added: The condition Evie has is life-threatening. She wont survive without a transplant. We are desperately appealing for people to sign the stem cell register.

Evie was diagnosed with the condition after she developed a pin-prick rash on her back, which didnt fade. Tests revealed she had low blood platelet levels and she was told she needed a bone marrow transplant.

Aplastic anaemia is a rare life-threatening condition where the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells. Around 100-150 people are diagnosed in the UK each year.

Treatment can include immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, or blood and bone marrow transplants.

Neither Tina, dad Andy, 49, or brother William, five, were a match and so an international search was launched.

Tina said: Our world crumbled when Evie was diagnosed. Evie knew shed need chemotherapy. She donated her hair to The Little Princess Trust, after making friends with poorly children who have lost all their hair.

Evie will be treated with immunosuppressants while the search for a donor continues.

Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan is looking for stem cell donors between the ages of 16-30.

Research shows that younger donors result in better outcomes for patients.

To find out how to donate click here.

Read the original post:
Parents plea for stem cell help to save life of daughter with rare blood disorder - Mirror Online

Stem Cell Therapy Market Scope and Opportunities Analysis 2017 2025 – StartupNG

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Overview

Also called regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy encourages the reparative response of damaged, diseased, or dysfunctional tissue via the use of stem cells and their derivatives. Replacing the practice of organ transplantations, stem cell therapies have eliminated the dependence on availability of donors. Bone marrow transplant is perhaps the most commonly employed stem cell therapy.

Osteoarthritis, cerebral palsy, heart failure, multiple sclerosis and even hearing loss could be treated using stem cell therapies. Doctors have successfully performed stem cell transplants that significantly aid patients fight cancers such as leukemia and other blood-related diseases.

Know the Growth Opportunities in Emerging Markets

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Key Trends

The key factors influencing the growth of the global stem cell therapy market are increasing funds in the development of new stem lines, the advent of advanced genomic procedures used in stem cell analysis, and greater emphasis on human embryonic stem cells. As the traditional organ transplantations are associated with limitations such as infection, rejection, and immunosuppression along with high reliance on organ donors, the demand for stem cell therapy is likely to soar. The growing deployment of stem cells in the treatment of wounds and damaged skin, scarring, and grafts is another prominent catalyst of the market.

On the contrary, inadequate infrastructural facilities coupled with ethical issues related to embryonic stem cells might impede the growth of the market. However, the ongoing research for the manipulation of stem cells from cord blood cells, bone marrow, and skin for the treatment of ailments including cardiovascular and diabetes will open up new doors for the advancement of the market.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Market Potential

A number of new studies, research projects, and development of novel therapies have come forth in the global market for stem cell therapy. Several of these treatments are in the pipeline, while many others have received approvals by regulatory bodies.

In March 2017, Belgian biotech company TiGenix announced that its cardiac stem cell therapy, AlloCSC-01 has successfully reached its phase I/II with positive results. Subsequently, it has been approved by the U.S. FDA. If this therapy is well- received by the market, nearly 1.9 million AMI patients could be treated through this stem cell therapy.

Another significant development is the granting of a patent to Israel-based Kadimastem Ltd. for its novel stem-cell based technology to be used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other similar conditions of the nervous system. The companys technology used for producing supporting cells in the central nervous system, taken from human stem cells such as myelin-producing cells is also covered in the patent.

The regional analysis covers:

Order this Report TOC for Detailed Statistics

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Regional Outlook

The global market for stem cell therapy can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America emerged as the leading regional market, triggered by the rising incidence of chronic health conditions and government support. Europe also displays significant growth potential, as the benefits of this therapy are increasingly acknowledged.

Asia Pacific is slated for maximum growth, thanks to the massive patient pool, bulk of investments in stem cell therapy projects, and the increasing recognition of growth opportunities in countries such as China, Japan, and India by the leading market players.

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market: Competitive Analysis

Several firms are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships, apart from product development with a view to attain a strong foothold in the global market for stem cell therapy.

Some of the major companies operating in the global market for stem cell therapy are RTI Surgical, Inc., MEDIPOST Co., Ltd., Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., NuVasive, Inc., Pharmicell Co., Ltd., Anterogen Co., Ltd., JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., and Holostem Terapie Avanzate S.r.l.

About TMR Research:

TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.

Read more from the original source:
Stem Cell Therapy Market Scope and Opportunities Analysis 2017 2025 - StartupNG

5 Recent Tech Innovations Disrupting the Medical and Healthcare Industry – HealthTechZone

Technology is at our fingertips. Think of all the health monitors or wearable fitness trackers that people are using today. Virtual healthcare practices have changed our attitude towards the medical and healthcare industry. While there are loyalists as well as dissenters who rue the lack of personal connection with the doctor and quality care, tech innovations are breaking barriers meanwhile.

Technology in Healthcare

It could be as simple as information sharing between doctors and patients, or something as profound as robotic aid in a high-risk surgery. Better still, make it a remote surgery where the patient and doctor are separated by miles in between them! Clearly, recent tech advancements are disrupting the medical and healthcare industry with its dynamic applications.

It started with the online consultations and took off from there.

Telemedicine or virtual consultations are a thing of the past now. Even when they started, the dramatic impact it had on traditional healthcare roles has changed our collective attitude towards the industry. As these technologies develop further, more applications for professionals and patients stand to promote the overall wellness. Today, apps on the phone track our exercise and calorie intake, check obesity development, and monitor heart health.

Here are 5 recent tech innovations that have disrupted the industry for the long haul:

1. Virtual Reality or AR/MR/VR in Healthcare

Both medical professionals and patients stand to benefit from the multi-sensory, immersive experience that VR provides.

Think of realistic and low-risk simulated environment for training surgeons. On the other hand, in the arena of pain management or mental health, immersion in virtual worlds can produce better results. VRs therapeutic potential and rehabilitation chances in acute pain and anxiety disorder cases are far-reaching.

2. Nanomedicine

This is the stuff of sci-fi genres. Nanotechnology and nanodevices are arming the healthcare industry with control on the molecular level. Nanopharmaceuticals are aiming at smaller drugs and more precise delivery systems. For instance, delivering chemotherapy to targeted tumours rather than poisoning the whole body.

3. 3D Printing

Creating medical tools from buildable materials ranging from plastic to stem-cells, 3D printing has revolutionised the medical industry. Aided by the custom-friendly aspect of 3D printing, organ transplants and tissue repair, prosthetics and braces, even layered stem-cell organoids are possible today. Faster prototypes at a fraction of the traditional cost is a huge leg-up in the healthcare scene. The most dazzling innovation through this method is the poly-pill that holds several drugs for multiple illnesses with different release times!

4. Internet of Medical Things or IoT

Connected devices, cloud-computing, and the internet have allowed a larger the exchange of data, convenience, and automation. The IoT is significantly changing how healthcare professionals can manage patient records, control inventory, monitor and provide preventative care. In a way, this could be the most significant disruptive technology as a lot of other tech advancements have been possible only through this.

5. Precision Medicine

Diagnosis, treatment, and preventive care based on an individuals environment, lifestyle, and genetic makeup is a big shift from the all-purpose generic approach. Precision medicine is suggested based on diagnostic and molecular genetic testing processes such as genome sequencing and DNA mutation investigations. This will revolutionise preventive measures reducing treatment time and expenditure as well as healthcare requirement.

As healthcare and technological advancements grow together, the industry becomes more optimised providing quality care. It is evident in the cosmetic health industry where non-surgical procedures have advanced significantly. You can get Botox in Perth with breakthrough serums and great aftercare with minimal or no recovery time.

In fact, tech innovations have disrupted the healthcare industry so significantly, it is impossible to see it survive without them.

Follow this link:
5 Recent Tech Innovations Disrupting the Medical and Healthcare Industry - HealthTechZone