Cancer Drugs

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Dismal Success of Anti-Cancer Treatments

A placebo is a term that describes the administration of a sugar pill or dummy procedure in order to test whether a drug or procedure is more effective than the power of belief. In an article in the Guardian (Thursday, June 20, 2002), Jerome Burne reported that "new research suggests that placebos work surprisingly well, in fact, rather better than some conventional drugs."

A placebo (which literally means, "I shall please") is included as an indispensable element of every scientific study conducted today. The placebo effect is purely based on the subjective feelings of a person. Each person who is tested for the efficacy of a medical drug believes in the drug in a unique and unpredictable way. A certain number of people may have a hopeful, trusting disposition and, therefore, a stronger placebo response than others. Others may be suffering from depression, which is known to affect a person's ability to respond positively to any kind of treatment. As a result, one study may "prove" a particular drug to be effective for, let us say, a certain kind of cancer. However, if a repeat experiment is conducted with different subjects, this drug may turn out to be ineffective when compared to the placebo response.

For this reason, pharmaceutical companies instruct their paid researchers to publish only the most favorable findings from these various experiments. Those parts of the study where the drug has had no or only an insignificant advantage over the placebo effect are simply omitted from the study's final report.

The drug companies reporting their findings to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only need to prove that the tested drug has shown some benefit in some people. If the researchers manage to recruit enough candidates with a positive disposition that are likely to produce a good placebo response to the drug treatment, they may hit the jackpot and produce a "convincing" study, and a marketable drug.

This is a no-brainer for drug makers since FDA approval is granted to anti-cancer drugs based on response rates that are at best in the 10-20 percent. In addition, the "success" of most clinical cancer studies is measured by tumor shrinkage instead of mortality rate. In other words, even if most of the subjects died but had their tumors shrunk through aggressive treatments, the study would be hailed as a great success and a medical breakthrough.

Any such attempt to treat the human body as if it were a machine that just responds to mechanical or chemical manipulation is bound to have serious setbacks. Such an approach is not only unscientific, but also unethical and potentially harmful. For many cancer patients whose immune systems are already compromised, just one dose of chemotherapy or radiation can turn out to be fatal.

Senior cancer physician, Dr. Charles Moertel of the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, once aptly summarized the modern cancer treatment dilemma in the following words: "Our most effective regimens are fraught with risks and side effects and practical problems, and after this price is paid by all the patients we have treated, only a small fraction are rewarded with a transient period of usually incomplete tumor regression."

The success record of modern cancer therapy is dismal, significantly less than even the weakest placebo response. On the average, remission occurs in only about 7 percent of cancer patients. Moreover, there is no evidence that this discouragingly low 7 percent "success rate" results from the treatments offered; it could just as well be in spite of the treatments. This is more likely, since not treating cancer at all has a much higher success rate than treating it. A drug treatment that promises temporary tumor shrinkage in 10 percent of patients is not a promising therapy; rather, it is a dangerous gamble with their life.

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[This is an excerpt from the book CANCER IS NOT A DISEASE, IT'S A SURVIVAL MECHANISM by Andreas Moritz, available on http://www.ener-chi.com/book.htm ]

Moritz is a writer-practitioner in the field of Integrative Medicine and author of 13 books on various subjects pertaining to holistic health such as 'Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation', 'Feel Great, Lose Weight', 'The Amazing Liver & Gallbladder Flush' and his newest book 'Vaccine-Nation: Poisoning the Population, One Shot at a Time'.

Andreas Moritz can be contacted on http://www.facebook.com/enerchi.wellness

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Different Types of Mesothelioma Cancer Treatments

If someone is in the unfortunate position to be suffering from mesothelioma cancer they are likely to be offered a choice of treatments, which will be dependent on several factors relating to the patients age and general health, the stage of the disease, and the particular area of the cancer.

Basically, there are three main types of mesothelioma cancer treatments offered to the patient:

Chemotherapy:

If the chosen course of action is chemotherapy then this relies on using high-strength drugs in an attempt to kill off the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is administrated via a needle direct into a muscle or vein or taken in pill form. On entering the body, the chemotherapy drug is designed to enter the bloodstream and pass throughout the entire body and kill any of the cancerous cells that it makes contact with.

Surgery:

When it has been decided that surgery might be the most effective course of treatment, a patient will have this procedure performed in order to remove the cancerous cells from the body. The part of the body suffering with the cancerous cells is likely to be removed along with any necessary tissue in the surrounding areas. In situations where the cancer has started to spread, for instance it is starting to impact the lungs; it might be necessary for a pneumonectomy to be performed, which is the surgical procedure of removing one of the lungs. In the process of the surgery, the surgeons will attempt to remove all signs of the cancerous growths if at all possible.

Radiation Therapy:

The last option in relation to mesothelioma cancer treatment is radiation therapy and this is a process of using a range of high energy rays to help in shrinking and killing off the cancerous cells. A patient has a choice of either internal or external radiation therapy, with each choice being highly effective in what it needs to do in shrinking the tumors. Internal radiation therapy is a process of placing thin plastic tubes inside the body in order to direct the high-energy x-rays on to the tumors, whereas with the external radiation therapy, a machine will direct the x-rays on the outside of the body.

Beyond receiving just one type of treatment, many patients are offered a combination of the above mentioned therapies in order to help kill or slow the growth of the cancerous sounds. This combined treatment is referred to as multimodal therapy. Even though there isn't a cure for this form of cancer, if a patient is able to receive the right treatment at an early stage it can go a long way to improving on a person's lung function and reducing pain.

Visit our site for a wealth of information on Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment.

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Participating in Experimental Cancer Treatments Can Be Helpful For Some Late Stage Cancer Patients

A cancer patient who has exhausted all the other forms of traditional treatment may often see an experimental cancer treatment as a last resort. Many times, these patients will be offered a chance to participate in some type of clinical trial for a new treatment protocol that relates specifically to their specific kind of cancer. Oncologists will often suggest clinical trials for stage four patients not necessarily as a way to affect a cure but to advance scientific knowledge as it advances in the field of cancer treatment.

Experimental cancer treatments are done for any new cancer drugs that are being considered as potential treatments. Anyone who is considering taking part in any type of drug trial should remember that any cancer drug that currently available first started out as an experimental drug. Every drug that ever enters the market must undergo a clinical trial as part of its approval by the Federal Drug Administration to determine its effectiveness and whether or not it causes significant side effects.

New drugs are discovered each day in research labs all over the United States. Because of the rigorous requirements of research and development, however, they take years before they are finally able to reach the market. Most of this time is taken up by the process of the trials they are subjected to during which they are given to humans so that physicians can evaluate their safety and effectiveness. In most cases, patients who are participating in a clinical trial are those who have no hope of a cure through a more traditional treatment. Every drug trial has three phases which must be passed before the drug can be approved by the FDA.

Currently trials are being conducted on cancer drugs that were developed using Clostridium novyi, an anaerobic bacteria which is capable of eating out the interior of an oxygen-poor tumor. Another clinical trial is also underway on a drug that was derived by using human breast milk and is being tested on people with certain types of skin cancer and some types of bladder cancer.

Anyone who has cancer and who is interested in taking part in a clinical trial should discuss it with their oncologist who will be able to advise them on the pros and cons of such a treatment protocol. He or she may even know about a trial that is being offered locally.

Taking part in a clinical trial is not for everyone. Patients may be exposed to drugs that have serious side effects that may cause problems for them. These drugs will seldom cause their cancer to worsen but may not do anything to help them get any better. It is really a matter of choice that needs to be discussed closely with their oncologist and family members.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Information/clinical-trials

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Chemotherapy Drugs For Liver Cancer

Liver cancer can called as a metastatic cancer because in almost all cases, the cancer actually development from original cancer which has been spread to other area. But it can be specified as stage four colon cancers that cannot be recognized due to the lack of symptoms.

Your doctor may recommend to chemotherapy which is the best treatment for all cancer including liver cancer. You need to consider the best chemotherapy drugs in order to get recover from this disease faster.

Avastin is known as the best chemotherapy drugs for liver cancer. Even it is expensive, avastin can possibly extend your chances of survival by shrinking tumors for later removal.

Avastin is generally used in chemotherapy for colon cancer which shows up in the liver. The doctor may give a combination for liver cancer chemotherapy along with avastin such as Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), Cisplatin, Methotrexate, 5FU (fluorouracil), and Gemcitabine in variant doses.

Chemotherapy may give before or after surgery depending on patient's condition. But your doctor may prefer chemotherapy then surgery to remove the shrunken tumors. This happen because liver cancer usually occur when patients already have cancer in other part of body like colon cancer.

If the size of tumor is small, patient have options to do surgery first. But this condition happens in small number of cancer cases since many people have tumors in the liver that are too large for liver resection.

All chemotherapy treatment gives various side effects. But the most common chemotherapy side effects for liver cancer are lost of appetite which can be serious problem that could decrease chances of survival. But this condition can eliminate by used some drugs like marinol to increase appetite and decrease nausea.

However, the chances of survival and better quality of living are much higher than just five years ago with the great advances in cancer treatment.

Get more information about chemotherapy for cancer in chemotherapy side effects [http://www.bestchemotherapycenter.com].

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Alternative Cancer Treatments

Being told you have cancer can be one of the scariest pieces of news you could ever receive. No matter what stage it may be in, either in the starting stages or one of the higher stages where it may be spreading brings fear to the patient as well as their loved ones. Most doctors will recommend various medical treatments including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, and plenty of pills. Rarely will they suggest alternative cancer treatments, but they are available. If you are considering alternative cancer treatments for you or a loved one, there are some things to take into account.

Pros:

1. Alternative drugs or treatments are usually made of natural ingredients, not chemicals created in a lab.

2. Alternative drugs have been found to kill tumor cells based on clinical trials.

3. Alternative therapy is usually non-toxic and is designed to boost one's immune system.

4. Other forms of alternative medicine also bring a peace of mind with them, like reiki or acupuncture.

5. The cost of medical treatment is expensive, especially if you're not covered by health insurance.

Cons:

1. Surgery is the quickest way to remove a cancerous tumor. Alternative medicines will take longer, giving cancer the time to spread.

2. Most alternative forms of therapy for cancer patients are usually unproven. There is no guarantee that the natural drugs or other forms of therapy you choose will work.

3. Most health insurance companies will not help to pay for alternative therapies for cancer patients.

If it ever comes time for you to decide which method of therapy is going to work for you, consider all of these options and speak with your doctor about them. Doing research on each alternative therapy method may help you made the most sound decision for your body to eliminate the cancer.

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Prostate Cancer Drugs: Miracles Or Just Hype?

If you study various prostate cancer drugs long enough, you'll eventually come across one that will get you a excited, but that will be demonized by others.

Here's what I mean:

On the one hand, you have various experts singing the many prostate cancer drugs' praises.

But on the other hand, you have others saying many are actually dangerous -- that they not only can give you many of the same symptoms as certain serious prostate problems (like the chills, fever, back pain, headache, etc) but there's too much room for error and, in some cases, they could attack your healthy cells, too.

Personally, I don't have much of an opinion either way.

Thank God I have not had prostate cancer and hope never to get it.

Which is the point I want to bring in this article:

Whether or not prostate drugs, or saw palmetto or any other drug or medication or herb really works... the best cure is always prevention.

What are you doing to prevent prostate cancer?

Are you getting adequate amounts of zinc, lycopene, vitamin D and other nutrients that are known to be good for preventing the disease?

Or are you eating and living a lifestyle that makes you prone to getting sick?

A lot of this comes down to personal responsibility.

Too many people are hoping for a magic vaccine or surgery to save them.

But the reality is, whether it's prostate cancer drugs, surgery or something natural... nothing is ever guaranteed when it comes to your health.

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Different Types of Breast Cancer Drugs

As breast cancer survivors would attest, the journey to purging the body of the cancer cells is not easy. The good thing about the struggles that one has to overcome during treatment however is the fact that one feels like a real winner when health is finally regained. The easiest way to handle treatment is to gain knowledge about the breast cancer drugs and their side effects. Once this is done, the patient is in a better position to prepare him or herself psychologically for the treatment regimens and the effects that may come with them.

Some of the most common breast cancer drugs are used in chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy. Drugs in the chemotherapy regimen are intended to stop further multiplication of the cancer cells. They include drugs such as Flurouracil, Epurubicin, Clyclophosphamide, Adrriamycin Methotrexate, and Mitozantrone among others. Some of these cancer treatments are used in combination in order to give the patient maximum benefits. The most common side effects experienced when the chemotherapy drugs are used include hair loss, nausea, premature menopause, fatigue, hot flashes, and temporary low blood count. Once complete healing is attained however, most of these side effects disappear. Some like menopause are however permanent.

Hormone therapy includes the use of cancer drugs such as Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin. Tamoxifen is specifically used in pre-menopausal women, while Arimidex, Femara, and Aromasin are administered on postmenopausal women. Drugs administered under the hormone therapy regimen inhibit cancer cells from growing by preventing the release of the estrogen hormone by the body. The hormone therapy drugs are often used after breast cancer surgery to prevent further growth of cancer cells in the breasts. Taxol is also another cancer drug that falls in the hormonal inhibiting category. The drug is specifically administered to patients who had received Adriamycin during chemotherapy. Some of the noted side effects for the drugs as used in the hormone therapy regimen are manifested through vaginal dryness and hot flashes. When Taxol is used, patients may experience tingling or numbness of their feet and hands, and muscular pains. Painful joints are also a common complaint among patients receiving Taxol treatment. Other drugs such as Herceptin fall in the biological therapy regimen. Drugs in this category work by boosting the patient's immune system. The immune system in turn acts by destroying existing cancer cells.

The specific type of breast cancer drugs to be used on an individual patient is determined by the oncologist based on the patient's condition. Depending on the patients age, health condition, resistance to specific cancer treatments and the stage of cancer, the oncologist may recommend different or a combination of breast cancer treatments. Notably however, the list of cancer drugs will continue growing in coming days, especially because researchers continue investigating newer and more effective treatment methods. Patients may also benefit from newer drug discoveries through taking part in clinical trials.