A blood test that looks at DNA shed by tumours can be used to track the real-time progress of cancer, a study has shown.

Scientists evaluated the test by comparing it with analysis of biopsy samples taken from a breast cancer patient over three years.

The results showed that the DNA in the blood samples matched that from the biopsies, revealing the same patterns of genetic changes.

“The findings could change the way we monitor patients, and may be especially important for people with cancers that are difficult to reach, as taking a biopsy can sometimes be quite an invasive procedure.

“We were able to use the blood tests to map out the disease as it progressed. We now need to see if this works in more patients and other cancer types, but this is an exciting first step.”

The patient in the study had breast cancer that had already spread to a number of other organs.

By studying her tumour DNA, the scientists were able to distinguish between different secondary cancers and track how well they were responding to treatment.

Source: Yahoo News

Newsreader George Alagiah has said he is clear of cancer and ready to “get back on air” after his chemotherapy treatment was a success.

The presenter of BBC One’s News at Six and GMT on BBC World News was diagnosed with bowel cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes, last April.

Alagiah, 58, told the Daily Mail, “I’m feeling really good. I have more energy every day, and feel stronger.”

He will return to the News at Six on Tuesday, the BBC confirmed.

The Sri Lanka-born journalist said it was “wonderful” to be getting back to work, but added that he would “take it easy at first”.

“All I can say is right now I don’t have cancer, but my life from now on will be punctuated by scans every three months,” he said.

“And if somebody tells me I’m finally cured, it’s likely to be years away.”

‘Hammer blow’

Alagiah said the support from viewers had been “incredible” and that he wanted to get back on air “for my audience”.

“I received hundreds of letters from viewers while I was ill, in which they talked as if we knew each other,” he said.

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men, behind prostate and lung and Alagiah had been diagnosed as ‘Stage Four’ – the most advanced.

His treatment involved two rounds of chemotherapy and several operations.

“When the oncologist was looking at my scan, he kept gently shaking his head, and every time he did it was like a hammer blow,” revealed Alagiah.

“They described my condition as ‘serious’, and I knew it was as bad as it gets.”

Alagiah first joined the BBC in 1989 after working as a print journalist and spent many years as one of the BBC’s leading foreign correspondents before moving to presenting.

He reported on events such as the genocide in Rwanda and the conflict in Kosovo and was made an OBE in 2008’s New Year Honours.

Source: BBC News

On the 27th May my life was changed massively with the arrival of my twin boys. They were born prematurely and due to the pressures on NICU in our local area they were separated for 4 days on different hospitals. On the 2nd June they were brought back together and I cannot tell you the joy I had. Later that night this joy turned to despair when, I still don’t know why I did it but I checked myself. And yes I detected something different. I quickly phoned my doctor the next day and the motions were set in place.

Luckily I caught it early and so after having the testicle removed and a CT scan I discovered it was all ok (we’ll ignore a bronchioscopy as all that confirmed is that I am a freak, that many of my friends will tell you they could have confirmed without a bronchioscopy). I was incredibly lucky and it hadn’t spread and so I have only had to go through 1 cycle of chemotherapy. Yes it’s a pain but I have been able to spend more time with my boys than I otherwise would have been.

It’s also been quite emotional as I am tired a lot and so am not able to be the Daddy I’d love to be but I still manage to look after them and tire myself out (don’t tell my consultant or nurses though!!). But I had a massively receding hairline and I will for some period at least have a thicker head of hair which is a massive positive for me! And I have had time with my boys, it’s not all negative!

I want to use the emotion of my story to make men check. It’s been amazing to discover some men still don’t know that you can detect it yourself early. I can’t describe how it felt, it just wasn’t normal!

Please help me do what I want to do. It’s not about me, it’s about others! I want to turn this negative into something incredibly positive.

Best Wishes,

David=

Celebrity Tee Shirt Campaign

We today launch our range of brilliant celebrity designed tee shirts. Our tee shirts have been designed by such stars as Boy George, Phillip Schofield, Christine Hamilton, Freddie Flintoff & Dave Berry

The reason we are running this campaign is hopefully with the help of the celebrities, press outlets and social media we will be able to reach more men who currently do not know we are here.

Cancer affects over 200,000 men every year almost half of which die from the disease. We need to reach the 30 million men in the UK so they know we are here for to inform them about cancers and support them through their fight.

All we ask of you is for you to run a story about the campaign and the charity. Anything you can do will help us help more men and hopefully save more lives.

You can purchase the tee shirts in our store here 

The latest research shows that abstaining from drinking alcohol in January can be good for your health….

Join us, get healthy, get sponsored and help us raise funds to help more men with cancer.

The research…..

Abstaining from alcohol for one month significantly reduces an individual’s blood pressure and cholesterol, a new study has found.

Researchers from University College London monitored more than 100 men and women in their 40s They found that refraining from a tipple also lowered the subjects’ risk of developing liver disease and diabetes.

The subjects also lost weight after four weeks using houseofphentermine.

Professor Kevin Moore, of the Royal Free Hospital, recommended that everyone who drank alcohol should give it up for four week

He told The Independent: “When you give up alcohol [for one month] … there is a significant reduction in blood pressure, a significant reduction in cholesterol, [and] an improvement of glucose and insulin resistance which has a major impact on both maturity onset diabetes as well as the development of fatty liver disease.” Diabetes can cause nerve pain, visit www.nervepaintreatment.org to learn more about it. “If [a clinical trial] had a drug that lowered blood pressure by the amount we’ve observed in those that stopped drinking alcohol, the company would be excited beyond belief. If they then also found it reduced cholesterol, they would be doubly excited… it’s such a good story, there’s no drugs that do that.”

He said researchers were currently analysing whether subjects went back to drinking alcohol to the same level as before they completed “dry January”, adding that he was unsure whether or not the health benefits would be sustained if they did.

The research follows a similar study where 10 journalists from the New Scientist magazine were also monitored after taking part in “dry January”. Professor Moore said subjects had “a substantial improvement” in the quality of their sleep as a result.

Dr Gautam Mehta, a liver specialist who oversaw the study, will present the data at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in two weeks time.

“I am excited. There are some findings that will be pretty novel. It’s an important study which shows the benefit from a month’s abstinence. What we can’t say is how long those benefits are, how durable those benefits are,” Dr Mehta told the Daily Mail.

The study has not yet been published in full and is still subject to review and revision.

Source: The Independent

Friday the 23rd of October saw Balls to cancer giving a little back to our local community with a brilliant afternoon Cream tea and dance at the Coseley Working mens Club, Ivyhouse lane, Coseley.

It was a great afternoon of dancing with tea, cream and jam scones and a touch of Christmas with some mince pies and cream. We also raised £67.17 in very kind donations.

Heres just a few pictures of the night.

Linda Matthews and the Banbury Club held a Charity night on Friday the 16th October for both us and Breast cancer awareness. The night was a huge success and looked a fantastic evening!!

Linda and the club raised a magnificent £800 for us.

We thank them all very much for their support (see pictures of the night below)

Richard Courtney is a 33-year-old man trying to kick the habit of smoking but when he turned to e-cigarettes and newest box mods on the market , he ended up getting a nasty surprise.

The £100 device is meant to turn the nicotine fluid into water vapour but instead it spat hot nicotine into his throat. As a result, he claims it burnt through his left lung.

 

The Dutch legend Johan Cruyff has lung cancer, his spokeswoman has confirmed.

“He has been in hospital this week for tests and lung cancer has been confirmed,” said Carole Thate.

The 68-year-old, who won three successive European Cups with Ajax before going on to play for and manage Barcelona, was diagnosed on Tuesday, it was reported on the Spanish radio station RAC1 and the Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Thursday morning.

Cruyff is said to be currently undergoing tests to try to discover the extent of the disease. Formerly a heavy smoker, he had double heart bypass surgery in 1991 while he was still in charge of Barcelona, a role he eventually left in 1996.

Barça’s vice-president Susana Monje, who was giving a financial presentation on Thursday, sent a message of support from the club.

“We have had contact with his manager Carole Thate and she confirmed to us that Johan indeed has lung cancer,” read a statement from Ajax director and former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

“On behalf of the club I wish Johan and his family a lot of strength and a speedy recovery. “

Source The Guardian