Cancer in the headlines, October 30

Some cancer news for you this weekend…

Andrew Lloyd Webber vows to beat prostate cancer
British star composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his spokesman revealed. But he is not taking a passive stance but vows to beat the disease. He cleared the next couple of months of work but aims to be back by the end of the year. He began treatment in a private clinic last weekend. Webber is well-known for his musical hits Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats and Starlight Express. Webber is 61 years old.

Hispanics Who Move to U.S. Face Higher Cancer Rates
Moving to the US increases the risk for Hispanics to develop cancer by 40%, according to a study from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Florida has one of the biggest and the most diverse Hispanic population in the US. Researchers  believe that the lifestyle change that comes with immigration may be responsible. More about this report in a later post.

Family of teen who fled chemo wants court out
13-year old Daniel Hauser made headlines earlier this year when he and his Mom fled to avoid chemotherapy. Daniel was diagnosed childhood Hodgkin’s lymphoma but his family decided to opt for alternative medicine. The case was brought to court which decided that Daniel show follow standard oncology treatments. He and his mother disappeared for a couple of weeks but eventually came back to Minnesota. He has finished his chemotherapy sessions in September but is still undergoing radiation therapy. The family has now filed a petition that court supervision of his treatments should end.

FDA Approves New Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
The US FDA has just approved a new treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The drug is called Arzerra (ofatumumab), a monoclonal antibody developed by the UK pharma  GlaxoSmithKline. LCL is a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow

Unused cancer meds can be donated, law says
There are those who can’t afford cancer drugs but there are lots of excess unused cancer drugs lying around. The unused drugs come from people who could afford it but the drug has to be stopped for one reason or another. What happens to the unused, unopened but paid for drugs? Since cancer drugs are resulted prescription drugs, it is illegal to give them away. A new law in several American states may change this and allow that the unused drugs be donated under strictly controlled and monitored conditions.

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