Cancer Treatments, Responses, Survival & Placebo: Defining an Effective Cancer Therapy

 

Cancer Treatments – Responses, Survival & Placebo: Defining an Effective Cancer Therapy

(PRWEB) October 19, 2005 -- There are over 2,000 cancer therapies in clinical trials. Some are better than others, but how is that determined? How are the results of these trials weighed and scored? How is one treatment deemed to be superior to another? In this edition of CancerWire we examine how oncologists judge their therapies so that patients can make more informed treatment decisions with their doctor. You will learn:

•    What is an active drug? A treatment or drug that is described as “active” means that in animal models, cell cultures or patients the treatment kills cancer cells, shrinks tumors, or decreases biochemical tumor markers such as CEA or PSA scores. But, temporarily shrinking a tumor may not be the same as extending survival. To read more go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

•    What is a response and how it relates to survival? Similar to the term “active,” a response means that patients had their cancers shrink or disappear. The overwhelming majority of clinical cancer trials use response as an endpoint, but response and survival are not equivalent. Typically, there are four measures of response. To read more go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

•    Who are evaluable patients? How the math is performed is critical to how results are measured. Some studies exclude from their results the patients that died before the treatment protocol was completed. To read more go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

•    What happens when placebo studies are performed? Most studies compare one treatment with another, not a treatment versus no treatment. Placebo controlled studies are infrequently performed because many clinicians consider it unethical to administer a cancer patient a “sugar pill.” This is a valid point, but occasionally a few placebo controlled studies are performed (usually not in the U.S.). Interestingly, a significant percentage of these studies find that the placebo is as effective as or more effective than the treatment. To read more go to http://www.cancermonthly.com


MORE INFORMATION:

•    Read the whole story http://www.cancermonthly.com
•    Cancer Treatment Results http://www.cancermonthly.com
•    To subscribe to CancerWire http://www.cancermonthly.com/cancerwire.asp
•    For more information about important tests before you start chemotherapy http://www.cancermonthly.com/chemotherapy.asp
•    For more information about immune boosting products in cancer http://www.cancermonthly.com/immune.asp
•    For more information about clinics that treat cancer http://www.cancermonthly.com/clinics.asp
•    For more information about financial support for cancer patients http://www.cancermonthly.com/financial.asp
•    For more information about legal options for mesothelioma patients http://www.gpwlaw.com/cm/

Of course, none of this information in CancerWire is a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment and you should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to an existing treatment. No information contained in Cancer Monthly or CancerWire including the information above, should be used to diagnose, treat cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.

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Press Contact: Michael Horwin
Company Name: CANCER MONTHLY
Email: info@cancermonthly.com
Phone: 919-570-8595
Website: http://www.cancermonthly.com

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Multi-Tasking Benefits of Automated Pharmacy Robot and Patient Safety

 

Multi-Tasking Benefits of Automated Pharmacy Robot and Patient Safety 

Denver, CO (PRWEB) September 29, 2005 -- In the pursuit of patient safety in dispensing medications in hospitals, Swisslog has released a new version of its pharmacy robot. A central piece in the complete PillPick® automated drug management system, the DrugNest robot provides high-density, automated storage of bar-coded unit doses.

The DrugNest robot automatically receives bar coded, unit-dose medications from the PillPick packaging unit. It then loads the unit doses onto storage pins within the DrugNest providing capacity up to 44,400 unit doses and 4,400 line items. The storage system is modular allowing added capacity as needs change.

The system has two independent robots, one at each end, so it can perform simultaneous tasks such as storing and dispensing, or dispensing of first doses and stats without interrupting cart fill dispensing. Further, medications returned from the nursing units can be automatically restocked into the robot and credited to the patient account during the packaging or dispensing cycles.

A major benefit of the system is patient safety, as expired medications are purged automatically or on demand and therefore eliminates dispensing of expired medication. In addition, all processes are fully automatic with no human intervention required.

To learn more about Swisslog’s pharmacy automation solutions, visit our website at: http://www.swisslog.com/hcs-index/hcs-systems/hcs-pharmacy.htm.

Swisslog offers a new brochure that describes the new DrugNest storage system with the automated medication return capability. The brochure can be downloaded in PDF format by visiting our healthcare solutions Literature Downloads page on our website, www.swisslog.com. The DrugNest automated storage system brochure details features, benefits and technical specifications. Printed copies can be obtained by calling Swisslog toll-free at 800-764-0300.

About Swisslog
Swisslog is a global provider of integrated logistics solutions for warehouses, distribution centers and hospitals. The comprehensive portfolio ranges from building complex warehouses and distribution centers including Swisslog’s software, in-house logistics solutions for hospitals as well as software and consulting services in the field of supply chain management. Swisslog’s solutions optimize the customer’s production, logistics and distribution processes in order to increase their flexibility, responsiveness and quality of service, while minimizing logistics costs. Headquartered in Buchs/Aarau, Switzerland, Swisslog currently employs 1,850 staff in 23 countries.

Swisslog is a world leader for healthcare logistics automation having installed material transport and pharmacy automation systems in more than 2,000 hospitals and pharmacies around the world. To learn more about Swisslog’s healthcare solutions, visit our website at www.swisslog.com and click on Healthcare Solutions.

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Press Contact: Charles Warren
Company Name: SWISSLOG
Email: charles.warren@swisslog.com
Phone: 303-373-7923
Website: http://www.swisslog.com/hcs-index.htm

Warning: Beware of installing "Secure Service Pack" on your computer

Warning: Beware of installing "Secure Service Pack" on your computer

 

Unless you know and understand what the "Secure Service Pack" actually consists of, we strongly recommend against installing it or anything that may popup and ask for permission from you to install it. Just because you have some trust in the site you are visiting does not mean you need or want what is being offered. If you are concerned about the security of your computer, only install things from the manufacturer's site, or the creator of your computer's operating system.

 

By the time you read this, "Secure Service Pack" may be called something else, so don't be fooled. Our understanding of this item is that it installs software that changes how your browser functions and you may or may not like what it does. You may be able to un-install it once you realize it's there, but do you want to trust something that will not even tell you what it is?

 

"Secure Service Pack" sounds like it's a Microsoft Service Pack that will upgrade your software, but in fact the software is designed to deliver advertisements in the form of web sites that you may be interested in. Part of the "benefit" of this software is to let you just type in keywords and not URLs to find sites. What they don't tell you is that they only sites they show you are paid advertisements and may or may not be what you are looking for, and might not even be a good site if they do have what you are looking for. It's the same old "Keyword browsing" scam that has been around for years. It's pure crap and should be avoided at all costs. Seriously!

 

I have seen at least one page that has a number of browser plug-ins and says " This page contains links to the Windows Authenticode family of plugins for Internet Explorer". If you want to upgrade your Internet Explorer, go to the Microsoft site and make sure you are getting the real deal.

 

Again, if you don't know for sure what you are installing, don't just trust the name of the application that you see, since it could be a trick and your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs WILL NOT PROTECT YOU OR WARN YOU!!

 

(hris

Beacon Legal Finance Announces First-of-Its-Kind Free Legal Funding Dictionary

Beacon Legal Finance Announces First-of-Its-Kind Free Legal Funding Dictionary

CHICAGO, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Legal Finance has published a first-of-its-kind legal funding dictionary to help consumers better understand the technical aspects of pre-settlement funding. In pre-settlement funding, a plaintiff receives a cash advance in exchange for paying a portion of the future cash proceeds of the plaintiff's legal settlement. To understand this new type of consumer finance, plaintiffs need to be familiar with the terminology in both the legal and financial fields, but until now have been unable to find a single dictionary on the Internet that explained concepts and terms for both the law and finance.

To make the growing litigation finance market more transparent, Beacon Legal Finance has developed a free legal funding dictionary as a service to the consumer. A plaintiff may access the legal funding dictionary at the following link:

             http://www.beaconlegal.com/dictionary_search.asp        Here are some sample terms from the legal funding dictionary:        lawsuit, noun: (1) action brought in a court for the purpose of seeking relief from or remedy for an alleged wrong.  Also known as a "suit." Lawsuit funding example: a plaintiff can receive cash upfront from a pre-settlement funding company in exchange for selling a portion of the future cash proceeds of a lawsuit.  See pre-settlement funding, lawsuit funding, suit, lawsuit loan and lawsuit cash advance.        lawsuit loan, noun: (1) loan transaction between a plaintiff and a pre-settlement funding company where the plaintiff receives cash today in exchange for granting a lien on the cash proceeds of a lawsuit and paying interest and principal on the loan when the lawsuit resolves.  Lawsuit loan example: to receive a lawsuit loan from a lawsuit loan company, a plaintiff will need cooperation from the plaintiff's attorney.  See pre-settlement funding, loan, lawsuit funding, lawsuit loan and lawsuit cash advance.        loan, noun: (1) arrangement in which a lender gives money or property to a borrower and the borrower agrees to return the property or repay the money, usually along with interest, at some future point(s) in time. Usually, there is a predetermined time for repaying a loan, and generally the lender has to bear the risk that the borrower may not repay a loan. Lawsuit loan example: a plaintiff with a lawsuit may take out a loan where the plaintiff will receive cash upfront in exchange for granting a lien on the future cash proceeds of a lawsuit which will be used to pay principal and interest on the loan.  See pre-settlement funding, lawsuit funding, lawsuit loan, lend and lawsuit cash advance.      

Beacon Legal Finance is a leader in the litigation finance industry. Beacon Legal Finance is found at http://www.beaconlegal.com/. For questions about pre-settlement funding (also known as a lawsuit loan, lawsuit funding or lawsuit cash advance), call 888-723-2266.

   Contact:     James R. Pomposelli    Beacon Legal Finance    312-787-2390    james.pomposelli@beaconlegal.com    

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: Beacon Legal Finance

CONTACT: James R. Pomposelli, Beacon Legal Finance, +1-312-787-2390,
james.pomposelli@beaconlegal.com

Web site: http://www.beaconlegal.com/dictionary_search.asp
http://www.beaconlegal.com/

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Google's Matt Cutts Interviewed by Aaron Wall

 

Google's Matt Cutts Interviewed by Aaron Wall
Search Engine Journal - USA
Aaron Wall of SEOBook.com got the chance to conduct an interview with Google's Matt Cutts, Google Search Engineer, about topics ranging from SEO, Spam, SEM ...

WordPress Selling Links -- But Using AdBrite Solves Search Engine ...
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Average CPC & Selling Ad Space from Aaron Wall over at SEO Book looks at how WordPress is now selling text links on its home page for $10,000 per day via ...  

Free Blog Counter  
Free counters for web sites and blogs. Fast, easy sign-up does not even require an email address. Several styles to choose from and they are easy to install with very little impact on your page's load time. Find out how your site or blog is really doing!

Blogs vs. the law
Rocklin and Roseville Today - Rocklin,CA,USA
State College, Pa.-based blogger Aaron Wall was sued in August for defamation and revealing the trade secrets of Traffic-Power.com, a company that helps Web ...  

Cutts Up Against The Wall
WebProNews - Lexington,KY,USA
Over the weekend, Aaron Wall got a chance to talk to Google's "Mick Jagger of Search", Matt Cutts, in an in depth interview. The ...

Search Engine Journal » Google's Matt Cutts Interviewed by Aaron Wall
Aaron Wall of SEOBook.com got the chance to conduct an interview with Google's
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Google Auctions to Rival eBay and Yahoo?
Search Engine Journal - USA
... Aaron Wall of the SEOBook wonders how such an auction service from Google would effect its advertising model, Google AdWords, which includes mega advertising ...   

In the fine tradition of Cyclamate, Saccharin, and Nutrasweet (Aspartame), Stevia, and now Splenda

Generation Green Asks California AG to Investigate Splenda Ads

EVANSTON, Ill., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Generation Green today sent a letter to California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer, urging an investigation of misleading advertising practices by Johnson & Johnson for its artificial sweetener Splenda.

Specifically, Generation Green says the advertising misleads consumers into believing that Splenda is a natural product, made from sugar. In fact, Johnson & Johnson does not even list sugar as an ingredient in Splenda. In the letter, Generation Green called on the state of California to take such steps that are necessary to halt Johnson & Johnson's misleading Splenda marketing campaign within the state and to require Johnson & Johnson to provide complete and accurate product information to California consumers.

Rochelle Davis, Executive Director, and Robert M. Brandon, Project Director, both of Generation Green, sent the following letter, dated Oct. 10, to California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer:

On behalf of Generation Green and thousands of member families concerned about the health and welfare of our children, I would vigorously echo the recent calls upon your office to begin an investigation into misleading advertising by Johnson & Johnson' s McNeil Nutritionals LLC for the artificial sweetener sucralose, which is sold under the brand-name Splenda.

Generation Green is a non-profit advocacy group comprised of parents and other concerned citizens who favor corporate and governmental policies that will allow children to grow up protected from exposure to toxins. We place great importance on protecting the consumer's right to know about chemical exposure, particularly related to food so that people are able to make informed decisions, especially with respect to their children's health.

The issue of Splenda advertising is of significant importance for California consumers, and indeed, for consumers across the country. Today, Splenda holds over a third of the sweetener market only six years after its approval as a food additive by the FDA in 1998. This remarkable growth is attributed to the perception that Splenda is natural and sugar-based. This perception is the direct result of Johnson & Johnson's intentional efforts to mislead consumers regarding the product. The slogan "made from SUGAR so it tastes like SUGAR," which is pervasive in Splenda print and broadcast advertising, seeks to mislead and confuse consumers into believing that Splenda is a natural product of sugar. It is a misleading claim.

  The facts are these:    * Splenda is a chemically created product in which sugar molecules are     manipulated through chlorination and other processes so as to be     completely unrecognizable as sugar.    * Following chlorination, a further chemical process is applied using     phosgene, a poisonous gas described by the Centers for Disease Control     as a major industrial chemical used to make plastics and pesticides.    * The Splenda label does not and cannot list sugar as an ingredient, as     sugar is not recognizable in the final product.  

The legal requirement of advertising substantiation -- that advertisers and ad agencies have a reasonable basis for advertising claims before they are disseminated -- is especially important when consumer health and safety is at issue, such as in a food additive like Splenda.

Nonetheless, Johnson & Johnson encourages consumer confusion by continually highlighting the word "sugar" in its advertising campaign, seeking to bolster the false association between Splenda and sugar in consumers' minds.

This is a dangerous development, as the product is quite clearly anything but natural.

Even more troubling, many of the Splenda ads focus on images of children; these ads convey the message that Splenda is a better, more natural product for children than other artificial sweeteners. These ads aim to encourage parents to provide or prepare food items for their children with Splenda. In one television commercial aired earlier this year, a child's voice says "Splenda and spice and everything nice. That's what little girls are made of." over video of children playing. This advertisement clearly equates Splenda with sugar (replacing "sugar" with "Splenda" in a common expression) and is intended to encourage the use of the product for children.

Moreover, Splenda's product expansion has focused on creating "low sugar" products like snack foods, breakfast cereals and soda -- indeed, Splenda is now an ingredient in many of the "convenience foods" that parents might give to their children, or that children might select for themselves.

Generation Green has been concerned for some time that this product expansion signals a clear intention by the Johnson & Johnson to target, not only parents, but also children, with its misleading Splenda advertising. That's why earlier this year Generation Green wrote to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission seeking a full investigation into Johnson & Johnson's Splenda advertising campaign.

In the absence of aggressive FTC action on this issue, it is vital that state offices like yours take up this issue on behalf of consumers. If, as there appears, the company has no basis for suggesting that Splenda and sugar are closely linked and equally natural products, we call upon the state of California to take such steps that are necessary to halt Johnson & Johnson's extensive Splenda marketing campaign within the state and to require Johnson & Johnson to provide complete and accurate product information to California consumers.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Source: Generation Green

CONTACT: Bob Brandon, Project Director of Generation Green,
+1-202-331-1550
http://www.generationgreen.org/

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For more information:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2004-51%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=artificial+sweetners

 

 

 

AstraZeneca to limit access to cancer drug Iressa

 

AstraZeneca to limit access to cancer drug Iressa
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US Label Change For Cancer Drug Iressa (gefitinib)
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UM's Science Complex deemed safe
The Missoulian - Missoula,MT,USA
... cause illness," she continued. Asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. But because the levels ...

IN OUR VIEW Helpful reforms on asbestos
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Naturally occurring asbestos stretches fibers' deadly reach
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Federal officials last summer quickly filled in the abandoned mine, which now lies near a new ranchette development, when they discovered asbestos in the ...

Norman: Asbestos bill critics' ads put heat on Grassley vote
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Charles Grassley for voting "the Washington way" rather than the "Iowa way" when it comes to something called the asbestos bailout bill. ...

Asbestos cash goes for decor
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CROWN POINT -- Few would argue that removing asbestos from county buildings isn't necessary for the health of employees and visitors. ...

Asbestos removal continues at former Edinburg High School
Monitor - McAllen,TX,USA
EDINBURG -- Asbestos removal at the former Edinburg High School should resume Monday after a subcontractor last week made the mistake of sawing through a ...  

CURE Childhood Cancer Cautions Parents on Increased Cancer Risk for Children From Gene-Damaging Chemicals

CURE Childhood Cancer Cautions Parents on Increased Cancer Risk for Children From Gene-Damaging Chemicals

Recent EPA Announcement Says Children May Be More Vulnerable

ATLANTA, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- CURE Childhood Cancer wants to alert parents about the substantially greater risk of cancer to children versus adults from a variety of pollutants, based on a recent EPA environmental guidelines update.

Cancer kills more children than any other disease. Babies and toddlers have a 10 times greater cancer risk than adults when exposed to certain gene- damaging chemicals, according to the EPA. Children ages 2 to 16 might be three times more vulnerable to these chemicals. EPA has updated the way it decides which pollutants pose cancer risks, which is intended to lead to better and more accurate reviews of carcinogens that might be regulated.

"But we don't need to wait for that regulation -- parents should be aware of these types of chemicals now and protect their homes accordingly," says CURE Childhood Cancer board member Jane H. Bick, PhD. For example, Dr. Bick points out that parents should be aware of certain household cleaning products and air fresheners, as well as arsenic-laden wooden decks and wood playsets that aren't sealed regularly.

While scientists have long known that very young children are more vulnerable than adults to gene-harming chemicals, this is the first time the EPA has formally proposed calculating the differences in assessing the danger to young children from some pesticides and chemicals. The so-called "mutagenic chemicals" that cause irrecoverable damage to genes, alter the DNA and make the individual more susceptible to cancer later in life as well as during early childhood.

  Dr. Bick cites two important steps parents can take:     1. Seal the wood at least once a year on outside decks, playsets and       other outdoor wooden structures.  Fence off the area under the deck to       keep children and pets away from arsenic infested soil.  Nearly all       outdoor wooden structures are infused with a pesticide called CCA that       is 22 percent arsenic.  Arsenic causes lung, bladder and skin cancer.       It also may cause leukemia, kidney, nasal passage and prostate cancer,       as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.  Childhood       cancer risks may be substantially higher if your child is exposed more       than three hours per week, eats the dirt, mouths the wood or gets       splinters from it, or eats without washing his or her hands after       playing on the wood.     2. Use fragrance-free fabric softeners and dryer static sheets when doing       laundry, and avoid plug-in or other room fresheners.  Chemicals that       make dryer sheets smell good are known poisons.  For example, benzyl       acetate, limonene and chloroform - common ingredients in fabric       softeners and dryer sheets - are linked to cancer.  

"While many childhood cancers can't be prevented, research suggests that some risks can be minimized by avoiding carcinogenic chemicals," Dr. Bick said. "Childhood cancer doesn't discriminate - it strikes rich, poor, whites, African-Americans, Latinos," she added, "so all parents need to take these precautions."

About CURE Childhood Cancer

Georgia's oldest and most comprehensive children's cancer charity, CURE Childhood Cancer is a non-profit organization dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research, education, and support of pediatric childhood cancer patients and their families. Since 1975, CURE has funded millions of dollars for cancer research, ongoing education on pediatric cancer issues, and countless hours of support for patients and families.

Source: CURE Childhood Cancer

CONTACT: Media, Tina Stevens, tstevens@linksg.com, or Juliann Kaiser,
jkaiser@linksg.com of Link Solutions Group, +1-770-420-8280