treatments | Common News Update

Jul22018 by adminNo Comments

Study could make pancreatic cancer treatments more personalized

Health

June 29 (UPI) -- A new study published this week in Immunity could change the way oncologists tailor treatments to a patient's specific type of tumor. A team of scientists at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center looked at why tumors with more T cells, or cells that play a vital role in the immune response, are more sensitive to immunotherapy than those with fewer T cells. Those with more of these cells are known as "hot" tumors and those with less are known as "cold." The researchers looked at the role of "tumor heterogeneity," a cancer cell's ability to move, replicate, metastasize and respond to treatment. They found that whether a tumor is hot or cold is determined by information embedded in the cancer cells themselves. Recent findings from Penn Medicine and other institutions have ...

Jun302018 by adminNo Comments

NHS England to stop 'ineffective' treatments

Health

Tonsils removal, breast reductions and snoring surgery will be offered to far fewer patients from next year, under plans being drawn up by NHS England.Officials are to discuss proposals to stop or reduce 17 routine procedures deemed to be "ineffective or risky".The treatment will be offered only if it is judged to be of "compelling" benefit and there are no alternatives. NHS England said the move would affect about 100,000 people every year and free up an estimated £200m. The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) said cutting back on certain procedures would cost the economy more as people would be unable to work without surgery.Patients at risk of serious harm from their condition will continue to be offered treatment.It follows reviews la...

Jan92018 by adminNo Comments

Research: New screenings, treatments dramatically reduce breast cancer deaths

Health

Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Breast cancer deaths have dramatically declined as a result of new drugs and better screenings since 2000, six independent groups of researchers have concluded.Researchers from universities and hospitals wanted to know if the recent advances in drugs -- including chemotherapies and targeted compounds -- and digitizing mammogram technology have made a difference in how many women die of breast cancer.The researchers' Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Network models showed that screening and treatment reduced breast cancer mortality by 49 percent in 2012, compared with 37 percent in 2000, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association."These numbers represent very positive news for breast cancer patients," Dr. Sylvia Plevritis, a prof...

Jul222017 by adminNo Comments

NHS plans to scrap homeopathy treatments

Health

NHS England has announced plans to stop doctors prescribing homeopathy, herbal and other "low value" treatments.It hopes to save almost £200m a year by ending what the head of the service called a "misuse of scarce" NHS funds. Prescriptions for conditions including diarrhoea, thrush, acne and acute pain are among those up for review.But the plans to scrap prescriptions for common health problems have been criticised by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for hitting poorer families.The RPS argues that low earners will be "disproportionately affected".NHS England said 18 treatments - such as homeopathy and some types of pain relief - cost the taxpayer £141m a year and generally should not be prescribed.Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, said he was determined to "root out" waste and i...