Anger at hospital patients being denied the latest treatments

A new report commissioned by the Department of Health (DoH) paints a damning picture of the NHS’ priorities and procedures, showing that they are inexplicably not prescribing the latest and most effective medications for bowel, brain, lung and ovarian cancer that have been previously given the green-light by NHS watchdog National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The report details how often treatments approved by NICE are being prescribed by hospitals and GPs.

Some of the new treatments have incredibly prolonged the lives of terminally ill patients by over a year in some cases whilst others managed to improve the survival rates of patients by roughly a quarter, so the news that the drugs are not being utilised will no doubt infuriate families across the UK.

The same DoH report also documents how numerous hospitals are seemingly refusing to prescribe the most up-to-date treatments for other health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s Disease, heart attacks and multiple sclerosis.

It would also seem certain patients would benefit over others luckily by circumstance as some hospitals have been routinely prescribing the latest drugs for several years compared to others who have not bothered at all and sticking to oldest ‘tried and tested’ treatments, regardless of if there is anything potentially more effective for the patient.

Ministers and charities have blasted the findings of the DoH, saying it is ‘completely unacceptable’ that the new drugs have been held back for so long – some being approved by NICE seven years ago – and that hospital patients are being denied access to treatment that could significantly improve symptoms and even extend their life.

Specific reasons for the refusal of many hospitals to offer the new treatments to patients can be only speculation until answers are demanded from the government, but some believe it may be because doctors are cautious to prescribe drugs they are not fully familiar with and will instead remain with treatments they have trusted over the years.

Health Minister Lord Howe reacted angrily to the news and said: “Patients have a right to medicines and treatments that have been approved by NICE and are clinically appropriate for them, and it is completely unacceptable if this is not happening. We are determined to drive out unjustified variation.”

Adding to Lord Howe’s comments was Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive of the Rarer Cancers Foundation, who said: “NICE was meant to end the postcode lottery but these figures show that it is alive and well. Access to drugs should not depend on where you live or in which hospital you are treated.”

Although health officials protest that the information contained in the report is ‘experimental’ and too early to draw conclusions, some facts are plain to see and include the staggering news that a drug for advanced bowel cancer has not been utilised at any time by at least 25 hospital trusts – despite receiving NICE approval way back in 2006.

Other findings show that 15 trusts are spurning the opportunity to provide the drug Erlonitib to lung cancer patients. It works at preventing the development of tumours for approximately a year and was approved by NICE in 2008.

However, it gets worse – it has been discovered that there are 24 trusts around to country who are not offering the drug Paclitaxel to women with advanced ovarian cancer. If they had the medication, it could extend their lifespan by an additional year.

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, also gave her opinion on the subject, saying: “Patients have the right to drugs and treatments that have been recommended by NICE for use in the NHS, if their doctor says they are clinically appropriate. Any perception that there is a rationing of NICE approved medication taking place at a local level is a real concern.”

Stroke victims are getting younger compared to previous years

Health experts have warned that the age of people suffering from a stroke is worryingly low, and that the number of young adults being struck down with them is increasing. In fact, one in five victims is under the age of 55 according to research in the American Academy of Neurology Journal. In the same report, it was stated that the average age of someone suffering a stroke has dropped from 71 years in 1993 to 69 years in 2005.

The study centred on 5,900 Ohio and Kentucky adults who had suffered a first-time stroke between the years 1993 and 2005. It was found that over this time period, 20 to 54-year-olds accounted for an increasing proportion of strokes. In what had started at 13% in 1993 had risen to almost 19% in 2005.
To delve a little deeper – during the twelve years, whites aged 20 to 54 saw a rate increase from 26 strokes for every 100,000 people, to 48 per 100,000. A similar trend was noted among African Americans. In the same time period, the rate had gone up from 83 to 128 per 100,000 people.

Study author Dr Brett Kissela, of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio, offered his thoughts on what could be causing the increases. He said, “The reasons for this trend could be a rise in risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol. Other factors, such as improved diagnosis through the increased use of MRI imaging may also be contributing. Regardless, the rising trend found in our study is of great concern for public health because strokes in younger people translate to greater lifetime disability.”

Dr Kissela did suggest things that could be done to reverse the findings from the study though. He continued, “The good news is that some of the possible contributing factors to these strokes can be modified with lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. However, given the increase in stroke among those younger than 55, younger adults should see a doctor regularly to monitor their overall health and risk for stroke and heart disease.”

A spokesman for the Stroke Association, linked the results from the U.S study to stroke patterns in the UK, saying, “Although this research was carried out in the US, western cultures lead very similar lifestyles and in other research parallels have often been drawn between the US and the UK. For these reasons it’s likely that the UK could face similar outcomes. However, a UK specific study hasn’t been carried out yet.”

Strokes are the single biggest reason for adult disability within the UK due to the brain damage that is inflicted, with over 150,000 occurring every year in England alone. In addition, strokes are the third largest cause of death after heart disease and cancer. However, what are they and who is at risk?
A stroke happens when the blood supply to a certain area of the brain is suddenly stopped. Brain cells always require a constant source of oxygen inside the blood so therefore after the supply is cut off, the cells in the affected area either die or become damaged.

There are two main types of stroke – ischaemic and haemorrhagic. The former kind of stroke accounts for a staggering 80% of all cases of stroke. It happens when the flow of blood to your brain is stopped by a blood clot or clump of fat. You are at risk of developing a blood clot if your arteries have narrowed and clogged with fatty deposits; known as atherosclerosis. Major risk factors for atherosclerosis include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and a family history of heart disease or stroke.

A haemorrhagic type of stroke is brought on due a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain rupturing and resulting in bleeding into the surrounding brain and brain damage. Two types of weakened blood vessels will typically cause a haemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

So what can you do to limit your chances of suffering from a stroke? As Mentioned earlier, smoking is a major cause so therefore quitting smoking immediately would be advisable through the help of smoking cessation medication such as Champix. Following an online consultation and the approval from one of our GMC registered in-house Doctors; you can obtain the effective smoking cessation medication Champix from Medical Specialists Pharmacy, costing just £75.00 per pack.

Medical Specialists also provides online consultations for patients with high cholesterol, a major contributor for strokes. For suitable patients our house doctors can prescribe statin medication (Lipitor and Crestor), and our in house pharmacists can dispense to patients within 24 hours. We also dispense statins for patients who can provide a private prescription, and have recently introduced the legally available generic Atorvastatin at much lower prices for suitable patients. The World Health Organisation has estimated that nearly 20% of all strokes and over 50% of all heart attacks can be attributed to high cholesterol so clearly the dangers of this are quite apparent.

New blood test could provide early diagnosis of cancer

Scientists claimed to have developed a simple blood test, which can accurately detect the early stages of breast and lung cancer in just an hour. Researchers from the Kansas State University developed the test that can detect cancer, even before symptoms like coughing and weight loss start.

The test works by detecting increased enzyme activity in the body. Iron nanoparticles coated with amino acids and a dye, are introduced to small amounts of blood or urine from a patient. The amino acids and dye interact with enzymes in the patient’s urine or blood sample. Each type of cancer produces a specific enzyme pattern, or signature, that can be identified by doctors.

The test was developed by chemistry professor Stefan Bossmann and anatomy professor Deryl Troyer. Professor Troyer said, “Right now the people who could benefit the most are those classified as at risk for cancer, such as heavy smokers and people who have a family history of cancer. The idea is these at risk groups could go to their physician’s office quarterly or once a year, take an easy to do, non invasive test, and be told early on whether cancer has possibly developed.”

The fact that this test specifically tests for lung cancer and breast cancer, is of significant importance. The American Cancer Society estimates about 40,000 breast cancer deaths and 160,000 lung cancer deaths are expected in the United States for 2012. Also as these statistics from Cancer Research UK show below, lung and breast cancer are the two most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide.

The 10 Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancers Worldwide:

• Lung – (13%)
• Breast – (11%)
• Colorectum – (10%)
• Stomach – (8%)
• Prostrate – (7%)
• Liver – (6%)
• Cervix – (4%)
• Oesophagus – (4%)
• Bladder – (3%)
• Non Hodgkin Lymphoma – (3%)

Unfortunately breast and lung cancer also feature in the top 5, for most common causes of death from cancer worldwide. With the exception of breast cancer, most types of cancer can be categorized in 4 stages based on tumour growth and the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. The diagnosis is made in most situations in stage 2 or 3, when the survival rate is lower than stage 1 or 2.  In addition, Bossmann said, “that very few people manage to discover they have cancer in early stages.”

Breast and lung cancer are typically found and diagnosed in stage 2, the stage when people often begin exhibiting symptoms such as pain, fatigue and coughing. Numerous studies show that the earlier cancer is detected, the greater chance a person has against the disease. “The problem, though, is that nobody knows they’re in stage 1. There is often not a red flag to warn that something is wrong. Meanwhile, the person is losing critical time,” said Professor Bossmann.

Researchers evaluated the test’s accuracy on 32 separate participants in various stages of breast or lung cancer. Data was collected from 20 people with breast cancer, ranging in age from 36 to 81 years old and 12 people with lung cancer, ranging in age from 27 to 63 years old.

Twelve people without cancer were also tested as a control group. This group ranged in age from 26 to 62 years old. A blood sample from each participant was tested three times. Analysis of the data showed a 95 percent success rate in detecting cancer in participants.

Bossmann said, “These enzyme patterns can also help distinguish between cancer and an infection or other diseases, which commonly occur in the human body. For example, a person who smokes a lot of cigars may develop an inflammation in their lungs. That will drive up some of the markers in the test but not all of them. Doctors will be able to see whether there was too much smoke inhalation or if there is something more serious going on. False positives are something that we really want to avoid.”

In addition to early detection, the test can be used to monitor cancer and observe the effectiveness of drugs, as a patient is being treated. Similarly, doctors can use the dye in the test to determine if the entirety of a tumour has been successfully removed from a patient after surgery. The researchers have designed a second testing method that is anticipated to produce the same results in about five minutes. Also, researchers want to develop a similar test to detect pancreatic cancer earlier.

Britain’s raising cancer risk by not reporting symptoms to GP

Let’s face it, none of us like paying a visit to the doctors, especially if it involves discussing something of an embarrassing nature. However, it has now been found in a survey commissioned by Cancer ResearchUKand carried out by YouGov, that a worrying proportion of Brits put their health at risk by putting off visiting their GP.

The online survey of more than 2,000 adults was part of the ‘Spot Cancer Early’ campaign and it was designed to encourage people to see their GP, sooner rather than later if they notice any unusual or any persistent changes to their body. The campaign also aims to increase awareness of the huge improvements in cancer survival rates, since the 1970s. For instance, today in the UK, you are twice as likely to survive cancer than 40 years ago.

Dr Claire Knight, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said, “We want people to know that you are more likely to survive cancer if it’s found at an early stage. It’s important to get to know your body so you’re familiar with what’s normal for you. If you notice any unusual or persistent changes, it’s really important to take the time to visit your doctor to talk about it.”

“People of all ages who notice a change, that’s persisted for a few weeks, should get it checked out by a doctor. More than likely it won’t be anything to worry about and it’ll be a load off your mind. But if it is something serious, spotting it early can make a real difference, because treatment is often simpler and more likely to be effective. A quick visit to your doctor could save your life.”

These statistics from the YouGov survey show the reasons why we wouldn’t report any unusual or persistent change to our bodies:

• Not wanting to waste the doctor’s time 19%
• Thinking that it will go away in its own time 32%
• Being worried about what the doctor might find 20%
• Not having time to visit the GP 14%
• The hassle of getting an appointment with the GP 24%
• Being embarrassed about the change to my body 14%
• None of these 29%
• Don’t know 2%

And these further statistics from the survey demonstrate our attitude towards any changes in our body and where on our list of priorities they would come, by asking the people surveyed, which one of these they would act on soonest:

• A broken washing machine 3%
• A lost/ stolen bank card 61%
• An unusual or persistent change to my body 12%
• Weeds in the garden 1%
• An unwell pet 17%
• A broken mobile phone 2%
• A leaky tap 1%
• None of these 1%
• Don’t know 2%

Cancer is most common in the over 50s, however people of all ages are also at risk, a fact that reinforces the importance of heading to the doctors in the event of spotting anything suspicious. By diagnosing cancer when it is in its infancy, it can, for the most part, be easier to treat, which in turn increases the chances of recovering.

Ann, 77 from Merseyside, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003. She said, “I was diagnosed after my GP referred me for an X-ray following an appointment. I had an operation and now, more than eight years on, I am living a very full and active life doing all the things I enjoy. Catching cancer early is so important. I think if anyone has any signs or symptoms they should see their doctor right away.”

Dr Knight was keen for people to note that any changes in a person’s body, aren’t necessarily synonymous with cancer. In most cases, it probably won’t be all that serious. What is important is for people to get it checked. So in conclusion it is much better to make a wasted trip to the doctor and have peace of mind, rather than allow a treatable cancer develop into full blown cancer, where treatment can no longer help.

The dangers of second hand and third hand smoking

By now everybody should be fully aware of the dangers of first hand smoking. Medical Specialists Pharmacy have covered them in great depths during 2012 such as here and here. What we have not reported on yet in detail, is how second hand and even third hand smoking can negatively impact a person’s health.

Secondhand smoking (SHS) may be also described as ‘passive’ or ‘involuntary’ smoking, as it occurs when somebody breathes in another person’s cigarette smoke. SHS causes many of the same conditions and diseases that direct smoking can result in, including cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, a brain tumour, asthma, dementia and numerous other problems. It is actually estimated that in the UK alone a staggering 11,000 people die each year from heart disease, cancers and strokes that are directly connected to the damage brought on by SHS.

The major health risks involved with SHS were the main driving force behind the government’s 2007 nationwide smoking ban, prohibiting anybody from smoking in all public spaces including pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, shops and many other popular places. When the ban first came into effect five years ago, opponents to the law raised fears that it would lead to an increase of smoking inside the home and thus it would cause children to be more exposed to SHS.

However it seems that these fears were unnecessary. In the five years since the ban came into effect in the UK, there has been plenty of evidence to show that people are taking the subject of smoking seriously in comparison to previous years. Some argue than the ban of smoking in public spaces has opened people’s eyes to the massive dangers of breathing in cigarette smoke and many parents are actually putting in extra effort, to protect their children from inhaling in the smoke.

Scotland was the first country in the UK to be hit with a smoking ban, which came into effect in March 2006. A study carried out by Glasgow University found that there was a 15% drop in the number of children with asthma being admitted to hospital, one of the main health conditions that is both caused and then triggered by cigarette smoke. The benefits that have been seen by the various smoking bans across UK countries is something Medical Specialists looked at earlier in the year.

So who is mainly at risk from the after-effects of breathing in SHS? Basically the answer is everybody and there are absolutely no ‘safe’ levels of secondhand smoke. But there are certain groups who are more vulnerable and may develop serious health problems from it. For example, babies and newborns are a particularly major high-risk group. If a woman smokes during her pregnancy this means the unborn baby will receive less oxygen and will have more carbon monoxide in their bloodstream.

Other problems that could therefore arise include the baby having a low birth weight,  miscarriage, premature birth or sudden infant death syndrome; whereby babies of mothers who smoke are twice as likely to die from this compared to babies carried by a non-smoker. Children who are exposed to SHS also face suffering with persistent colds, ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, and severe asthma. SHS can severely impact lung growth in children and can then cause them to cough, wheeze, and suffer with breathlessness.

It is not just babies and newborns though who are impacted by the smoking of others. Only last week, researchers at Northumbria University claimed that the results of a study they had conducted, showed that non-smokers  who breathe in second hand smoke on a regular basis, could suffer from memory problems. The researchers who conducted the study compared a group of current smokers with two different groups of non-smokers; those often exposed to SHS and those who weren’t. The exposed group either lived with somebody who smoked or spent time with smokers, for example at designated smoking areas at work, etc.  And this was for around 25 hours each week for an average of four and a half years. The groups were then tested on time-based memory and event-based memory. Worryingly it was found that the non-smokers who were exposed to SHS actually forgot nearly 20% more in memory tests compared with those who were not regularly exposed. It was even worse for the current smokers, with this group forgetting 30% more than people who were not exposed to SHS.

If all the above was not a big enough cause for concern, there is also the issue of ‘third hand’ smoke, sometimes also known as residual tobacco smoke. Third hand smoke might be a term that some people have never even heard of or are not familiar with, but it is a subject that does need considering. This is a term that used for tobacco residue that lingers, sticking to things such as walls, carpets, furniture, clothing and other surfaces. Although smokers going outside a building to designated smoking areas will reduce secondhand smoking, the residue clings to their clothing and skin and follow them back inside.

Young children and babies are most susceptible at ingesting these cancer-causing toxins as they are more likely to be in a closer proximity, crawling/playing on the floor and tend to put things into their mouths. Although no specific cancer-risks have been properly measured to get an idea of the magnitude of the issue and the risks of third hand smoke are likely small compared to SHS, many people are now appreciating the possible dangers. In fact in October 2011, Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, Louisiana, made the news after it was revealed that they would ban third hand smoke from July 2012. Therefore employees whose clothing smell of smoke will be forbidden from being at work. The ban came about primarily because of the threat of third hand smoking, on the developing brains of infants and small children.

Now you know about just some of the dangers that both second and third hand smoke can cause to people, it could be time to consider about making positive changes today, to vastly improve the health of you and your loved ones. It might be sometimes impossible to eliminate your exposure, but there are steps you can take to drastically reduce the threat to an absolutely minimal level. Alternatively, if you are a smoker and worried about those around you, now might be the point to get on board with next months ‘Stoptober’ campaign,  to try and quit for good or at least consider the improvements you could make to protect the health of others.

Don’t allow smoke into your house. If you, a friend or family member wants to smoke, go outside to do it. Explain this policy to your guests when they enter your home and do not put out any ashtrays around the house.

. Don’t allow smoke into your car. If you or a passenger wishes to smoke, stop at a place where you can they smoke outside of the vehicle.

. If a family member smokes, offer your full support and encourage them to quit. Be gentle yet firm.

. Only choose childcare facilities that operate with a no smoking policy. Also let babysitters know in advance that you house is a smoke-free zone.

. If you are at a nightclub or pub with a friend who smokes, do not accompany them outside when they decide to have a cigarette.

. Open windows and use fans to keep your home ventilated.

. If you are going away on holiday, request strictly a non-smoking room and other such facilities.

. If you smoke and are thinking of quitting, try effective smoking cessation medication such as Champix.

New cannabis based drug in pipeline to treat epilepsy

A Cambridge based UK pharmaceutical company, is planning to exploit the discovery of a new component of cannabis that could lead to better treatments for epilepsy. The research carried out at Reading University, and part funded by GW pharmaceuticals, has demonstrated for the first time that a previously unstudied chemical present in cannabis, called cannabidivarin (or CBDV) could lead to more effective treatment for people with epilepsy.

GW Pharmaceuticals has noted the University of Reading’s publication in the peer-reviewed journal, The British Journal of Pharmacology in studies on cannabidivarin (CBDV), a largely ignored natural compound found in cannabis.

The new breakthrough stems from collaboration between GW and Otsuka signed in July 2007 and which runs until next summer. They agreed to jointly research a range of cannabinoids as potential new drug candidates, in the field of Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders and oncology.

Dr Stephen Wright, R & D director at GW Pharmaceuticals said, “These results further underscore the potential of naturally derived cannabinoids, as medicines to treat a broad range of diseases. GW has established a track record of discovering and commercialising such compounds, with Sativex now on the market for treating spasticity, associated with multiple sclerosis and in late stage development for the treatment of cancer pain.”

In the Reading study, cannabidivarin strongly suppressed seizures in six different experimental models, commonly used in epilepsy drug discovery. Cannabidivarin was also found to work when combined with drugs, currently used to control epilepsy and unlike other cannabinoids such as THC, is not psychoactive and therefore does not cause users to feel high.”

Dr Ben Whalley, who is leading the study at the University of Reading, said: “This is an enormously exciting milestone in our investigations into non psychoactive elements of cannabis, as treatments for epilepsy.”

“There is a pressing need for better treatments for epilepsy. It’s a chronic condition with no cure and currently in around one third of cases, the currently available treatments do not work, cause serious side effects and increase fatalities. Currently prescribed drugs to prevent fits can cause significant side effects to individuals’ motion and cognitive abilities, that can adversely affect the quality of life for people who have to take them every day”

The pre-clinical tests carried out by Ben Whalley and colleagues atReading, found that rats and mice with induced seizures, who were given the compound, had less severe attacks than those on a placebo. CBDV was also found to work when combined with drugs currently used to control epilepsy.

“This is a very positive result”, says Ley Sander, an epilepsy specialist at University College London UK, who was not involved in the study. “We need new drugs, for 20 to 30 per cent of people with epilepsy, nothing seems to work.” But he urges caution, “The animals in the study are made epileptic, which is not how epilepsy is acquired in humans. He adds that what you see in animal models doesn’t always translate directly into humans.”

CSI technology fiction becomes reality

Many of us have seen the popular television series CSI, CSI Miami and CSI New York. During the programmes we will have seen the forensic scientists using portable instruments to obtain instant fingerprint analysis, obtain DNA matches from blood samples and detect chemical traces from clothes.

Now whilst all of this can sometimes seem far fetched, as usually to do this sort of analysis you would need a room sized laboratory instrument, this may be set to change. As was reported in the March 25^th 2008 edition of Science Daily, there was a large gap between the fiction of CSI programmes and the reality of modern day technology.

Now however a scientific instrument featured on CSI for instant fingerprint analysis is forging another life in real world medicine, helping during brain surgery and ensuring that cancer patients get effective doses of chemotherapy, a scientist said in Philadelphia today.

The report on instruments that miniaturize room-size laboratory devices the size of a shoe box was part of the 244^th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

During the exposition Dr Graham Cooks, the lead researcher said: “With both of the instruments we developed, no sample preparation is needed, which reduces analysis time from as much as several hours per sample to just a few seconds. Rapid results are critical when a surgeon is operating on a brain tumour, or when chemotherapy patients are being treated with powerful drugs that must be administered at precise levels.”

The instrument called a desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, or DESI, was featured on both CSI and CSI: Miami as a tool to analyse fingerprints. However, this portable instrument can do so much more. It’s about the size of a shoe box and does not change or destroy the sample that is analysed.

The team used DESI to identify biomarkers for prostate cancer and to detect melamine, a potentially toxic substance that showed up in infant formulas inChinain 2008. In addition, DESI can detect explosives on luggage. Now, the team at Purdue University is teaming up with collaborators led by Nathalie Y. R. Agar, Ph.D., at Harvard University to test the instrument in the operating room during brain cancer surgery, comparing it with the gold standard, traditional analysis of tissue samples by pathologists.

“These pathology procedures are among the longest of all surgical operations, and this new technology offers the promise of reducing the time patients are under anaesthesia. DESI can analyse tissue samples and help determine the type of brain cancer, the stage and the concentration of tumour cells. It also can help surgeons identify the margins of the tumour to assure that they remove as much of the tumour as possible. These are early days, but the analysis looks promising.”

The other instrument under development is a Paper Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometer. The researchers are using this new device to monitor the levels of chemotherapy drugs in patient’s blood in real time. Many cancer drugs have relatively narrow therapeutic ranges, so they need to be in the blood at certain levels to work properly. However at present that information is not obtained in real time, so a patient could end up with too little or too much of the drug in his or her body.

Currently Cooks team is testing to see whether DESI can provide different information, compared to what pathologists can provide by looking at human tissues under a microscope. In addition, the researchers are testing Paper Spray on patient’s blood samples, though Cooks points out that the device also could measure the levels of drugs of abuse or pharmaceuticals, in urine or other body fluids.

So it maybe that next you watch an episode of CSI what you may be seeing is not some fancy, far fetched gadgetry of the future, but rather a modern piece of equipment that is being currently used to help both diagnose and treat serious medical conditions.

Swedish study unearths possible link between dental plaque and cancer deaths

More evidence to support the need for people to have good dental hygiene has emerged as Swedish scientists claim there may be a possible link between persistent dental plaque, and the risk of dying from cancer. Dental plaque is a pale yellow coloured soft deposit that forms naturally on the surface of teeth. It contains many types of bacteria (germs). Poor dental hygiene has been linked to many numerous health problems in the past, such as erectile dysfunction, which Medical Specialists Pharmacy managing director David Bailey first commented on last year within the ‘In The Press’ section of the website and we reported about again only last month.

The findings of this study have been published in the ‘BMJ Open’ online journal. The authors analysed the lives of nearly 1,400 Swedish adults between the years 1985 to 2009. All subjects were selected at random and all were in their 30s and 40s at the beginning of the study. Participants were asked questions in relation to anything that could increase their chance of getting cancer, such as smoking habits and their level of affluence. In addition, their mouth hygiene was also evaluated over this time period.

After the 24 years had passed, it was noted that 58 of the patients had died and 35 of these deaths were due to cancer. The researchers found that within those who had died, there was a substantially elevated level of dental plaque in comparison to the patients who were still alive. The results were determined via a ‘dental plaque index’ and those who had died were registered between 0.84 to 0.91 on the index and the survivors saw their scores significantly lower, between 0.66 to 0.67.

From the patients who had died during the study period, it was discovered that the average age of death for both sexes was much lower than the normal life expectancy figures. The women’s average age of death was 61 and for men it was 60. Respectively, this is 13 and 8.5 years lower than what would usually be expected and authors say their deaths can be considered premature.

The researchers concluded that dental plaque could be linked to a 79% increased chance of an early death and said, “Our study hypothesis was confirmed by the finding that poor hygiene, as reflected in the amount of dental plaque, was associated with increased cancer mortality.” However, they have argued that is not yet definitely known that dental plaque contributes to cancer and further studies into the connections between dental plaque and cancer will need to be carried out in the near future.

Future problems for childhood cancer survivors

If you develop cancer during your childhood and survive it, you are more likely to suffer from hair loss and/or disfigurement during your adult years, resulting in possible long-term emotional problems. This is the claims of a new American study published last week in the ‘Journal of Clinical Oncology’.

Karen Kinahan, coordinator of the ‘STAR Survivorship Program at the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago’ and her team studied data from 14,358 childhood cancer survivors and compared this information against 4,023 of their siblings who were already involved in a separate scientific study.  All 14,358 were survivors who had received their treatment between the years 1970 and 1986 and were given two questionnaires, one in 1992 and another one in 2003.

When compared, it was noted than those who had survived cancer during childhood actually had notably more scarring and disfigurement on their legs, arms and head areas during later years in their life and that adults with these attributes, usually will suffer from more depression and lead a worse quality of life.

Kinahan commented on the results, “I think it showed us these aren’t necessarily life-threatening late effects of cancer, but certainly we need to be more aware of the outcomes these patients are dealing with”.  The study explained that survivors with persistent hair loss had more of a chance of having anxiety, female survivors with persistent hair loss were more likely to display signs of a depressive nature, and survivors who had been left with disfigurements on their body had an increased chance of depression.

Indeed if we further look at the statistics, 14% of survivors had reported that they were going bald, compared to 6% of their siblings. Hair loss was especially associated with depression in the female survivors. In addition, those who reported scars or disfigurements had a 20% higher chance of having depression in comparison to those without such issues. It was shown that overall, ¼ of survivors had a scar or disfigurement later in life, whilst it was just one in twelve for their siblings. Quality of life was shown to be effected in negative ways for those who had survived cancer in such circumstances as mental health, general pain, physical ability and their social interaction skills.

Many UK women face cancer risk 'due to Obesity'

Nearly fifty percent of women in England are at increased risk of some cancers because of their large waistlines, says a cancer charity.

The World Cancer Research Fund warning is based on data from the Health Survey for England suggesting 44% have a waist size exceeding 31.5 inches (80cm). Research has found that these women are particularly at risk from bowel and breast cancer. A third of men had a larger than recommended waistline.

The Health Survey for England, which monitors trends in the country's health and is commissioned by the Department of Health, was published earlier this month. It contained information and statistics on obesity and raised waist circumference in men and women in England. Previous scientific studies have shown that excess body fat increases cancer risk.

Strong evidence

There is strong evidence that a large waistline is particularly harmful and raises the risk of cancers of the bowel, pancreas, breast (post-menopausal) and womb lining, the World Cancer Research Fund says.

Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for WCRF, said it was often thought that men were more likely to put on weight on their stomach. "But these statistics show that, actually, women in England are more likely to have a raised waist circumference than men.”This is why it is important that we let women know that this is just as relevant for them, particularly as breast and endometrial cancers account for about a third of newly diagnosed cancers in women," she said. Dr Thompson added: "Over the last few years the evidence has become increasingly strong that excess body fat and particularly fat carried around the middle, is a cancer risk factor."

What treatment is available for Obesity?

So far there are only two treatments that are available in the UK which are Xenical and Alli, both are the same drug Orlistat. Orlistat works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient's diet.

Xenical is the stronger of the two medications which is double the strength of Alli which is why it is only available on prescription for people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 28. To Buy Xenical Online please click the highlighted link

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Alli is available without the need for a prescription and has shown to be able to aid weight loss buy cutting out the fat in a person’s diet. To Buy Alli Online please click the highlighted link