The CureTalk Weekly Round Up: Antipsychotic Drugs, Diabetes Survey, Lung Cancer Treatment Breakthrough, Interviews, and More

Linnea Duff - My cancer is not cured, but it is being managed.

CureTalk interviewed Linnea Duff, lung cancer survivor and healthcare advocate. Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Linnea shares her story with us. An inspiration to many, Linnea is an active participant of clinical trials that has given her a new lease of life. To read her complete story, click here.

Dan Hoeweler manages his schizoaffective disorder using medications, sleep disorder treatments, and lifestyle changes.

In our interview section, we also talked to Dan Hoeweler, a schizoaffective disorder survivor, writer and poet. Dan’s life inspires and teaches how management of the condition is possible through apt medications, support, and sheer will. Do not miss Dan reciting one of his poems for our readers. Click here.

Dr. Ablin cutting tissue sections of the human prostate on a cryostat for immunofluorescent studies of antibodies to human prostate.

The highlight of this week is the exclusive collection of pictures of Dr. Richard J. Ablin. Click here to watch him at work in his lab and with his colleagues.

Suleika Jaouad Pic courtesy: Seamus

CureTalking News

• H1N1 vaccinations have been found to be safe for mother and child, and reduce risk of premature births, stillbirths according to the team of Canadian researchers.
• The USPTF finalized the recommendations against the routine use of prostate cancer test. The task force is convinced that the harms of the PSA test outweigh the benefits.
• Three interesting studies outline the link between smoking and prostate cancer mortality. Smoking is related to aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
• Chagas disease is spreading in the US and the pattern of spread is being compared with the spread of the HIV virus, giving it the name of – The New AIDS of the US.
• On world no tobacco day, 31^St of May, the WHO estimates that tobacco use can kill over 8 million people by the year 2030.
• Suleika Jaouad, the New York Times columnist, is doing fine post her bone marrow transplant and would be beginning chemotherapy to keep her cancer at bay.

Fortification of grains with folic acid in 1998 has lead to decrease in two types of childhood cancers.

Research CureTalked

• A new breakthrough in lung cancer treatment has been reported from Israel. The research team found that blocking enzymes reduced volume of tumor when injected.
• Antipsychotic drug, thioridazine, has been found to selectively target only cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy cells. The human-ready drug transforms tumor propagating cells in a way that they stop dividing.
• Fortification of grains with folic acid has been found to reduce two types of childhood cancers. The study has opened up new avenues for investigations into childhood cancers.
• Study conducted by NIH and CDC find that death rates of people with diabetes have decreased, i.e. diabetics is now living longer. Though this is good news, the rising health care costs due to complications that accompany diabetes can be a cause for concern.
• Pranayama or yoga breathing techniques have been found to relieve symptoms associated with chemotherapy. Pranayama, is set of yogic breathing techniques that may hold the potential to provide relief from chemotherapy associated issues and thereby bring about a change in the quality of life of the patient.
• A simple blood test may be able to monitor and diagnose cancer. The new study has found that mutations in the tiny DNA fragments present in the blood of cancer patients can be used for detection and monitoring of cancer treatment and progression

Until then, stay healthy and keep smiling.