What’s up in July: summer health events
July 1, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under HEALTHCARE
Would you believe it that it’s now July and school vaction is about to start?
Well, here are some health events for you to check out and join!
Month long observances
Hemochromatosis Awareness Month
Iron Disorders Institute
info@irondisorders.org
www.irondisorders.org
International Group B Strep Awareness Month
Group B Strep International
info@gbs-intl.org
www.groupbstrepinternational.org
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
Arthritis Foundation
help@arthritis.org
www.arthritis.org
UV Safety Month
American Academy of Ophthalmology
eyemd@aao.org
www.aao.org/eyemd
Sickle Cell Disorders Awareness Month UK
Sickle Cell Society
www.sicklecellsociety.org/
Bioterrorism/Disaster Education and Awareness Month
Social Wellness Month
http://www.wordsofwellness.com/Social_Wellness.htm
Week-long observances
6 to 12 July
Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Week (UK)
Alzheimer’s Society
www.alzheimers.org.uk
18 to 25 July
Restless Leg Syndrome Education and Awareness Week
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation (RLS)
dvaira@nrpa.org
www.nrpa.org
27 July to August 2
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Week
Greenwood Genetic Center
gail@ggc.org
www.22q13.org
One-day observance
July 1 is Special Recreation for the Disabled Day
Photo credit: stock.xchng
News from the cancer side, June 5
June 5, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under CANCER
News from the survivors
This coming Sunday, June 7 is National Cancer Survivors Day. In commemoration of this event, the author-doctor-cancer survivor Laura Liberman will give a talk on Women Conquering Cancer: A Celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day. Place: Akbar Hall, 1174 Bedford Avenue between Putnam Avenue & Madison Street, Brooklyn; Time: 1:30-4:30 pm. Dr. Liberam is the author of the book I Signed as the Doctor: Memoir of a Cancer Doctor Surviving Cancer.
News from the drug regulators
FDA: First Drug to Treat Cancer in Dogs Approved
The US FDA has approved earlier this week the drug Palladia (toceranib phosphate), the first anti-cancer drug for canine patients. Palladia is approved to treat canine cutaneous (skin-based) mast cell tumors, a type of cancer responsible for about 1 out of 5 cases of canine skin tumors. The drug is approved to treat the tumors with or without regional lymph node involvement.
News from the cancer experts
ASCO’s Annual Meeting
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) had their 45th Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL last May 29 to June 2. This year’s theme was “Personalizing Cancer Care.” Research highlights to be presented are
- Experimental Vaccine for Treating Advanced Melanoma
- New Class of Drugs for Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Vaccine Appears to Slow Type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Combo Chemo for Colon Cancer Appears to Work Differently Depending on Age
- Childhood Cancer Survivors Not Getting Checked for Later Cancers
About 4000 research studies are expected to be presented.
News from the statisticians
Cancer Death Rate Steadily Declining
Good news from the American Cancer Society’s annual cancer statistics report: death rates due to cancer is steadily declining. Cancer death rates dropped 19.2% among men during 1990-2005 and 11.4% among women during 1991-2005. Cancer incidence rates are also on the decline - they decreased 1.8% per year among men from 2001-2005 and 0.6% per year from 1998-2005 among women. The decrease is attributed to better preventive measures, early screening and detection techniques, and improved cancer treatment.
News from the economists
One in ten advanced colon cancer patients worry about prescription drug costs
As the financial crisis drags on, we are wondering how cancer patients are feeling the financial burden of cancer treatments. In a study by researchers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the number of patients with advanced colon cancer enrolled in a clinical trial are worried about financing their treatment. The researchers surveyed 409 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who were enrolled in a Cancer Leukemia Group B (CALGB) Phase III clinical trial…”
- 10% of the patients were very worried about paying for their supportive medications
- <15% adopted a money-saving strategy (e.g. not filling a prescription, taking less than the recommended dose)
- 12% of the patients reported speaking with their physicians about drug costs.
Health observances in May
May 1, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under HEALTHCARE
Once again, I bring you a list of health observances for the month of May.
May is…
American Stroke Month
American Heart Association
www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3026377
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Better Hearing and Speech Month
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
http://www.asha.org/bhsm/
Better Sleep Month
Better Sleep Council
http://www.bettersleep.org/
Clean Air Month
American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org/
Healthy Vision Month
National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health
http://www.healthyvision2010.nei.nih.gov/hvm/
Theme: Uncorrected Refractive Errors
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Hepatitis Foundation International
http://www.hepatitisfoundation.org/
Lupus Awareness Month
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
http://www.lupus.org
Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Lyme Disease Foundation
www.lyme.org
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
American Academy of Dermatology
www.aad.org
Mental Health Month
Mental Health America
www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may
National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month
Les Turner Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation
www.lesturnerals.org
National Arthritis Awareness Month
Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org
National Bike Month
League of American Bicyclists
www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth
National Cancer Research Month
American Association for Cancer Research
www.aacr.org/home/public–media/public-policy–legislative-affairs/national-cancer-research-month.aspx
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
American Celiac Disease Alliance
americanceliac.org
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
National Neurofibromatosis Month
Children’s Tumor Foundation
www.ctf.org
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Osteoporosis Foundation
www.nof.org/awareness2/annual.htm
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
President´s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
www.fitness.gov
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Advocates for Youth
www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/ntppm.htm
National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation
www.NTEF-USA.Org
Older Americans Month
U.S. Administration on Aging
www.aoa.gov
Sturge-Weber Awareness Month
The Sturge-Weber Foundation
www.sturge-weber.org
Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
www.tsalliance.org
Ultraviolet Awareness Month
Prevent Blindness America
www.preventblindness.org
Week-long observances
3 to 9 May
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
American Society of Safety Engineers
www.asse.org/newsroom/naosh09
6 to 12 May
National Mental Health Counseling Week
American Mental Health Counselors Association
www.amhca.org
10 to 16 May
Food Allergy Awareness Week
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
www.foodallergy.org/FAAW/index.html
10 to 16 May
National Alcohol- and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
www.ncadd.org
10 to 16 May
National Women’s Health Week
Office on Women’s Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
11 to 17 May
National Stuttering Awareness Week
Stuttering Foundation of America
11 to 15 May
National Neuropathy Week
The Neuropathy Association
www.neuropathy.org
18 to 24 May
Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week
Water and Environment Activity
Parasitic Diseases Branch
Division of Parasitic Diseases
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/rwi_prevention_week.htm
24 to 30 May
Older American’s Mental Health Week
Older Women’s League
www.owl-national.org/Welcome.html
One-day observances
4 May
Melanoma Monday
American Academy of Dermatology
www.aad.org
4 May
Asthma Educator’s Day
www.asthmaeducators.org
5 May
World Asthma Day
http://www.ginasthma.com/WADIndex.asp
9 May
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day
CdLS-USA Foundation
www.cdlsusa.org
11 May
National Women’s Check-up Day
Office on Women’s Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
www.womenshealth.gov/whw/about/checkupday.cfm
12 May
Sex Differences in Health Awareness Day
Society for Women’s Health Research
www.womenshealthresearch.org
18 May
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign
Vaccine and Prevention Research Program, Division of AIDS
www.niaid.nih.gov/news/events/HVAD
19 May
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Day
Greenwood Genetic Center
www.22q13.org
20 May
National Employee Health and Fitness Day
National Association for Health and Fitness
physicalfitness.org/nehf.html
31 May
World No Tobacco Day
Pan American Health Organization
WHO Regional Office for the Americas
www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/en/
Photo credit: stock.xchng
News from the cancer side, April 10
April 10, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under CANCER
Here’s your cancer news round up for the Easter weekend. Happy Easter, every one!
News from the academia
University centre, students tackling cancer in high-risk state
The Centre for Health and Human Services (CHHS) at Middle Tennessee State University is planning to set up a Tennessee Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Program that will give colorectal cancer screening access to low-income residents of Tennessee. The state ranks 3rd in the US in cancer mortality rates. Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the state. The CHHS will be working together with the Tennessee Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition to find the reason why Tennessee ranks so high in cancer.
News from the stem cell researchers
Breakthrough makes lab-produced stem cells safer for humans
British and Canadian researchers may have found a way to overcome the barriers that prevent stem cells made from skin cells from being transplanted to humans safely. The development of stem cells from skin cells made headlines in 2006 as a major breakthough in stem cell research. However, its clinical application was hindered by health risks associated with the transplantation.
News from the regulators
FDA Greenlights New Drug for Advanced Kidney Cancer
The US FDA has approved everolimus (Afinitor) for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. (advanced kidney cancer). Afinitor does not cure the cancer but delays the spread and reduces the growth of the tumors by about 5 months. Afinitor is manufactured by Novartis.
News from the statisticians
Lead Story: Hospital Admissions on the Rise for People Without Health Insurance
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that hospital admissions of people without health insurance coverage are up by a third between 1997 and 2006. AHRQ presented the numbers and the story in a podcast last Wednesday, April 9.
News from the genetic experts
New ACOG Guidelines Recommend Routine Genetic Risk Assessment
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) have just released new guidelines which recommend that women should be routine assessed for genetic predisposition foe break can ovarian cancer. Women who eventually undergo genetic testing and are found to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have options available to manage their increased risk of cancer. These guidelines were published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
News from the advocacy groups
Cancer activities for April
The season has started for walking or running events at your local Susan Komen chapters. Whether you are a leisurely walker or a marathon runner, there is an event for you to participate in. Register now!
Health-related April events - check them out!
March 31, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under HEALTHCARE
On this last day of March, I give you a list of health-related events for the coming month. April is going to be a busy month with several health observances ahead of us. Check them out. Support and join!
- Alcohol Awareness Month
The US Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information - Cesarean Awareness Month
International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc - Counseling Awareness Month
American Counseling Association - Foot Health Awareness Month
American Podiatric Medical Association - Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders - National Autism Awareness Month
Autism Society of America - National Cancer Control Month
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 19 to 25)
American Cancer Society - National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families - National Donate Life Month
Division of Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau
Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - National Minority Health Awareness Month
Office of Minority Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - National Youth Sports Safety Month
National Youth Sports Safety Foundation - Occupational Therapy Month
American Occupational Therapy Association - Sports Eye Safety Month
American Academy of Ophthalmology - STD Awareness Month
American Social Health Association - Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Prevent Blindness America - National Public Health Week (April 6 to 12, 2009)
American Public Health Association - World Health Day (April 7)
Pan American Health Organization
WHO Regional Office for the Americas - Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action
National Sexual Violence Resource Center - National Start! Walking Day (April
American Heart Association
American Stroke Association - National Alcohol Screening Day (April 9)
Screening for Mental Health, Inc. - National Healthy Kids Day (April 18)
YMCA of Greater Hartford
Put play in your day - National Infant Immunization Week (April 25 - May 2)
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - World Meningitis Day (April 25)
Confederation of Meningitis Organization
CoMO, Meningitis Centre
Telethon Institite for Child Health Research - SAFE KIDS Week (April 26 - May 3)
Safe Kids Worldwide
Cleveland Clinic’s Health Chats for April
- April 2
Achalasia and Surgical treatments, by Dr David Mason - April 3
Take Control: Managing Urinary Incontinence, by Dr. Courtenay Moore - April 6
Treating Multiple Sclerosis: Answers to Questions You Really Want to Ask, by Dr. Alex Rae-Grant - April 7
Treatment of Heart Failure, by Dr. Randall Starling - April 21
Understanding Eating Disorders, by Sandy Straffen Jay, RN, LPCC - April 24
Women’s Health: Take the Crisis Out of Midlife, by Dr. Holly L. Thacker
Photo credit: stock.xchng
Healthcare News Round Up
March 6, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under HEALTHCARE
In our new battling for health site, I will be bringing you news round up from the healthcare industry every two weeks. Have a nice weekend!
Healthcare news
Lack of Insurance Harms Health, Requires Urgent National Action
A report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) urges the US government to urgently tackle the issue of health insurance coverage because evidence shows that lack of coverage has serious health consequences on the uninsured which can spill over to the whole community.
Legislation news
Tobacco Regulation: Is This the Year?
Advocates for tobacco regulation hope this is the year when the US FDA gets empowered to regulate sales and marketing of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The proposal have been opposed by the previous US administration but it seems that such a bill have a bigger chance under the new Democrat leadership.
Pharma industry news
Drug patent plan gets mixed reviews
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies made a generous offer to boost research and development into neglected diseases as well as collaborate with other companies on the issue. Neglected diseases are mainly tropical diseases such as sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, and dengue fever that are seldom on the priority list of pharma companies. The offer was made by GSK CEO Andrew Witty in a speech at Harvard Medical School last month.
“The aim would be to foster a global public-private network to supplant the present fragmented research efforts on the most neglected diseases…” Witty’s announcement triggered mixed reactions from scientists and public-health experts - “from wildly enthusiastic to deeply sceptical.” (Source: Nature News).
Falsified data gets India’s largest generic drug-maker into trouble
The US FDA penalized one of the world’s largest manufacturer of generic drugs. Ranbaxy Laboratories is India’s biggest drugmaker and was caught falsifying data in one of its manufacturing facilities. The consequences of the penalty “revokes 25 existing approvals of drugs made at its factory at Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh, and stops an unnamed number of pending applications for drugs that rely on data from the same plant.”
Events
Online Health Chats with Cleveland Clinic Experts
- A Q&A with Dr. Nissen
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12 noon (EST)
Dr. Steven Nissen is the Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic and will answer your questions on the current state of cardiovascular care. - Hypertension & Your Kidneys
Monday, March 16, 2009 - 12 noon (EST)
One in four Americans are hypertensive and poorly controlled hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Dr. Mohammed Rafey, a Cleveland Clinic specialist on Nephrology and Hypertension will answer your question on this topic. - Epilepsy in Children and Adolescents: Treatment & Care
Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 12 noon (EST)
More than 2.7 million Americans have epilepsy, many of them children. Dr. Ingrid Tuxhorn of the Epilepsy Center will answer your questions on this disorder especially about epilepsy surgery.
News from the cancer side, January 30
January 30, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under CANCER
Good morning, everyone. Here is our latest news roundup for this weekend. Happy reading.
News from the experts
February Is National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month
Oncologists and researchers at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center are encouraging people to participate in cancer prevention studies to help researchers learn more about the causes of cancer and how to prevent the disease. “Prevention studies offer participants the best options for individual care, improving one’s overall health and well-being,” says Ernest T. Hawk, M.D., M.P.H, vice president of M. D. Anderson’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences. “These studies also offer the best chance for reducing the number of future cancer cases.”
News from health care
Medicare Widens Drugs It Accepts for Cancer
Some good news from Medicare. It has expanded its coverage of cancer drugs and treatments, even beyond those approved by the US FDA. It is especially good to know that off-label uses may now be covered. Off-label drugs are those “prescribed for uses other than those for which they have been specifically approved.” While many doctors and patients are happy about this decision, there are others who express concerns about abuse of this ruling resulting in overspending, and worse, using patients as guinea pigs for treatments not approved for their conditions.
News from the pharma industry
In Wyeth, Pfizer Sees a Drug Pipeline
The biggest merger/acquisition news of the month. Pfizer buys Wyeth, and in doing so, it might become a major player in biologics and other biotech products.
News from the innovators
OncoVue offers improved estimation of risk for breast cancer
This new predictive model - OncoVue® - seems to give a more accurate estimation of breast cancer than the one currently used - the Gail Model. OncoVue is a new genetic-based breast cancer risk test that uses a combination of a questionnaire and a saliva test in order to assess risk.
News from the critics
America’s Best Hospitals
This 2008 survey by the US News and World Report gives us the list America’s top medical facilities, in general as well as for specific specialty areas. The top five on overall rankings are:
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles
- Cleveland Clinic
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
For the specialty field of cancer/oncology, the following institutions were ranked top 5:
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Photo credit: stock.xchng
Preview into heart(y) events in February
January 30, 2009 by Raquel Billiones
Filed under HEART AND STROKE
Instead of our usual Friday heart(y) news roundup, let’s have a peek into our schedule for February.
Upcoming heart(y) awarenesss events for February
February is a special month because it has been designated as THE MONTH of many things, especially on heart(y) and healthy issues. Most important for us here at Battling Heart and Stroke, February is the American Heart Month and the National Women’s Healthy Heart Campaign. As part of the American Heart Month, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 has been designated as National Wear Red Day. Stay tuned for more details next week.
From February 7 to 14, we will be observing the Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. In the same week from February 8 to 14 is Heart Failure Awareness Week.
Don’t forget to be good to your heart on Valentine’s Day, February 14, which by the way, is also designated as National Organ Donor Day to honor those with hearts so big they even share their blood and organs.
Now, February also honors healthy lifestyle and nutritious food by being the
- National Grapefruit Month
- National Cherry Month
- National Wise Health Consumers Month
- National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (22 to 28 February)
- National Pistachio Day (February 26)
- National Sweet Potato Month
Of course, we shouldn’t forget that our dental health is closely related to our heart health. That’s why we shouldn’t forget that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Finally, let us all be friends and be nice to each other next month because February is the International Friendship Month.
Heart(y) Online Webchats with Cleveland Clinic Experts for February
Once again, the country’s number one heart clinic is organizing live webchats wherein the public can ask the top heart experts questions close to their hearts. Below is February’s schedule:
- Carotid Artery Disease Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 12 noon (EST), to be presented by Dr. Daniel Clair, Chairman, Department of Vascular Surgery.
- Cardiac Conditions & Concerns in the Student Athlete Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 12 noon (EST), will be presented by pediatric cardiologist Dr.Richard Sterba of Pediatric Institute & Children’s Hospital and Heart and Vascular Institute.
- Ask the Heart Doctor, Friday, February 20, 2009 - 12 noon (EST), to be presented by Dr. Michael Faulx, staff cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute.
- Treating and Preventing Adolescent Obesity, Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - 12 noon (EST), to be presented by Dr. Ellen Rome of the Department of Adolescent Medicine Pediatric Institute and Children’s Hospital.
Photo credit: stock.xchng
Cancer in the News
October 6, 2008 by Tina Radcliffe
Filed under CANCER
Here’s the what is going on in cancer news and events around the globe!
Strike Out Breast Cancer located in San Francisco, CA, is celebrating TEN years. Join them on October 20th as they do it again while grooving to the beat of The Motown Sound.
DJ Lamont Young will be spinning oldies, with dancing, cocktails and fabulous food from Taste Catering, a Silent Auction, and of course, bowling!
FMI check out the website or contact them here: mailto:strikeout@cbcsanfrancisco.com
Think Pink For October
October 1, 2008 by Tina Radcliffe
Filed under CANCER
October is
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
From the American Cancer Society:
- Breast cancer life time risk is about to 1 in 8 (about 12%).
- In 2008, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 67,770 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. About 40,480 women are expected to die in 2008 from breast cancer, though this is a decrease.
- In the United States, breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
- Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer doubles if she has a mother, sister, or daughter that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. 20% – 30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
- About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations.
- Riskfactors for breast cancer include being female and growing older.
Can Breast Cancer Be Prevented?
“At this time, there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, which is why regular mammograms are so important. A woman’s best overall preventive health strategy is to reduce her known risk factors as much as possible by avoiding weight gain and obesity, engaging in regular physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake. Women should consider the increased risk of breast cancer associated with HRT use when evaluating treatment options for menopausal symptoms. Treatment with tamoxifen or raloxifene can also reduce the risk of breast cancer among women at high risk.”
For more information check out the Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2007-2008 From the American Cancer Society
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