What Are The Most Common Treatments For Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that affects the nerves and causes disruption to the way that messages are carried to the brain. This can result in a range of symptoms that may be invisible, mild, moderate, or severe. There is currently no cure for MS, but it can be treated and managed.

The treatment may depend on the type of MS that is diagnosed, and the individual symptoms that are present. The NHS reports that there have been considerable advances in treatments over the past 20 years, and research into new therapies is continually ongoing.  

There are two main types of MS: relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and primary progressive MS. The former type is the most common, making up between 80% and 90% of all MS diagnosis. Symptoms may flare up and then relapse or even disappear at intervals. In some cases, periods of remittance can last for several years.

According to the NHS, about two thirds of people with relapsing remitting MS will go on to develop secondary progressive MS, which involves a gradual worsening of symptoms rather than peaks and troughs of severity. 

Primary progressive MS (PPMS) is diagnosed in 10-15% of people with the condition. In this case, symptoms develop gradually and become worse over time, with no marked relapses. In some cases, early relapses may occur in PPMS, and this is referred to as active primary progressive MS. 

Symptoms for all types of the condition can be similar, but they can also vary in severity and some people will not experience all of the symptoms. The most common include fatigue, problems with walking, balance and muscle coordination, blurred vision, and muscle stiffness and spasms. 

Identifying the right treatment for MS requires expert medical advice, because it depends on the type of disease, the symptoms present, and how far the condition has progressed. While there is no cure, in some cases the progression of the disease can be slowed down, and the severity of the symptoms can be eased. 

According to the MS Society, everyone who has been diagnosed with the condition should be offered a review of their treatment with a specialist at least once a year. 

RRMS can be treated with disease modifying therapies (DMTs). There are already various products that have been approved for use in the UK, and an MS specialist will be able to advise about which ones are the most suitable for individual patients.

DMTs are not usually used to treat people with secondary or primary progressive MS, although there are some exceptions. The MS society reports that a new drug called ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) can be used to treat PPMS if caught in the early stages, and the person meets certain eligibility criteria. 

Alongside treatments, symptoms can be managed by rehabilitation therapies including physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. 

Mr Jonathan Hyam of Amethyst Radiotherapy is a specialist in treating multiple sclerosis and nerves damage. 

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TV Presenter Sarah Beeny Discusses Her Cancer Treatment

The TV presenter Sarah Beeny has spoken about her journey through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in a new documentary. She also revealed that her mother died from cancer aged just 39, after cancerous cells spread to her brain. Sarah was just 10 years old at the time.

Tragedy struck twice when Sarah’s stepmother died of brain tumour in 2012. Sarah herself was then diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, but fortunately she has now been given the all-clear after undergoing a double mastectomy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. 

Sarah has spoken to The Guardian newspaper about her experience. She said: “If I told this story, there might be loads of people who wouldn’t be so scared. Because living with the fear of cancer is really hard. It’s disproportionate to the risk. I’m not going to say that all cancer is the same, breast cancer is completely different. 

She also reflected on how different her own experience has been compared with her mother’s. She said: “But I do know that with all cancer treatment, we can base our fears largely on something that happened 10 or 20 or 30 years ago, to someone we loved.” 

Devastatingly, Sarah learned from oncologists when making the documentary that her mother would have survived with modern cancer treatments. Her family history has motivated Sarah to support the cause of brain tumour research, which has traditionally been an underfunded area of cancer research in the UK. 

Hugh Adams of the charity Brain Tumour Research said: “Sarah became involved with us more than a decade ago.”

He added: “Her support was influenced by her mother’s breast cancer which metastasised to her brain, and we know that the steps and improvements that have been made to prevent this cancer progression in Sarah’s case was something she was keen to explore in the film.” 

“We have been really grateful that, even during the height of her treatment, Sarah found time to support our campaigns and her photographs during her treatment have been an inspiration to many experiencing hair loss following chemotherapy.”

 

What is a metastatic brain tumour?

A metastatic brain tumour occurs when cancer spreads from elsewhere in the body, and they are also known as secondary brain tumours. The condition most occurs after a diagnosis of breast, lung, skin, colon, kidney, or thyroid gland cancer. 

Metastatic brain tumours are up to five times more prevalent than primary brain tumours which originate in the brain. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of brain tumour, although they will vary depending on where the tumour is growing in the brain.

Common symptoms include headaches, feeling dizzy, fits or seizures, confusion, problems with memory and language, and numbness on one side of the body. There is currently no cure for secondary brain tumours, but they can be treated and managed with surgery, steroids, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. 

Brain tumours can be treated by Mr Andrew McAvoy, a consultant neurosurgeon at Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre, Amethyst Radiotherapy UK.

Could AI Find The Best Treatment For Prostate Cancer?

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has been much debated in recent years, with some seeing it as having great potential to benefit us and others featuring fears that it could either destroy millions of jobs or even turn against humanity with deadly effects.

It is not just in this country that a famous Austrian may loom large in the mind when the last of these ideas is discussed, but the reality of AI may be less about Skynet and Judgement Day and more about ‘terminating’ tumours and other forms of cancer.

AI offers some very exciting possibilities for spotting and treating cancer, as a new technology being developed now has shown a lot of potential in trials to help spot what even the leading oncologists and radiotherapists cannot do on their own.

Prostate cancer treatment could be the next field in which patients gain from the use of AI. This will include helping the specialists to assess whether those who have undergone treatment in a radiotherapy centre will need to undergo long-term hormone therapy, a treatment that can bring many unpleasant side effects.

The innovation has been developed by Duke University in the United States and would use AI to establish which patients will need hormone therapy and which ones have already had the necessary treatment to ensure their survival and recovery.

Researchers at the university’s Cancer Institute presented findings this month at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting of the work they undertook to develop the AI-based biomarker and how it worked.

They used data from six studies covering 2,600 men who had undergone treatment using radiotherapy and long-term hormone treatment to develop it and then carried out a randomised trial on nearly 1,200 more men to validate the results.

Developed in conjunction with ArteraAI, the biomarker read the biopsies and clinical data to decide which of the men needed the extra hormonal therapy and who could manage without.

Overall, it revealed 34 per cent of men would benefit from short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) without needing to take it over the long term, plus 43 per cent who would benefit from long-term ADT.

Lead author of the study Professor Andrew Armstrong said: “Along with radiotherapy, ADT improves survival and reduces risk of metastasis in men with high-risk localized prostate cancer, but not all men need to be on therapy over the long term.”

Of course, the use of AI is not necessary to understand everything about prostate cancer as much is well known, such as the fact that there is a racial disparity in vulnerability to the disease.

Hollywood actor Colin McFarlane, who has just been diagnosed with the disease, revealed he has been tested regularly after discovering that black men are twice as likely as their white counterparts to suffer prostate cancer.

Nonetheless, while vulnerability can be easily established, much more is there to be discovered about the effectiveness of treatments for the disease, including radiotherapy. It may be that far from threatening humanity, AI will help oncologists and radiotherapists to put an end to prostate cancer tumours.

What Are The Early Warning Signs Of Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological condition that affects the nerves and brain. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the substance that protects the nerve fibres. Over 130,000 people are currently living with MS in the UK. Here’s a look at the early warning signs to be aware of.

According to the MS Society, most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 30 and 60, but the first symptoms often appear years before an official diagnosis is made. As the nerve fibres become damaged, messages are not able to travel as efficiently to the brain or may become blocked altogether.

The central nervous system is responsible for coordinating the actions of the entire body, so over time a wide range of symptoms can develop. These will vary in type and severity between individuals and can come and go over time, but there are some more common signs to watch out for. As the condition progresses, it can result in severe disability.

 

Problems with eyes and vision

About half of all people with MS will experience problems with their eyes. These include optic neuritis, double vision, and involuntary eye movements. Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, which results in blurred vision, pain when moving the eyes, and muted colour vision. 

 

Balance problems and dizziness

The feeling of being off balance or dizzy is a common symptom of MS. This can make walking more difficult and increase the risk of falls. 

 

Bladder and bowel problems

In some people with MS, the messages that signal when the bladder needs emptying are disrupted, resulting in the need to urinate frequently. The bladder may not fully empty in some cases, which can exacerbate the problem.

MS can also affect the control of the bowels, leading to constipation or leakage. These are uncomfortable and distressing issues, but they can be managed with diet, medication, or surgery. 

 

Cognitive difficulties

Most people with MS will experience problems with memory and thinking to some degree. This can make it difficult to plan ahead, learn new topics, concentrate, recall information, multitask, and select the right words when speaking or writing. 

Some people are only affected mildly and are able to go about their daily lives with much trouble. Therefore it is often missed as an early warning sign of MS. In some cases, people describe the above symptoms as ‘brain fog’. It may be accompanied by mood changes and other mental health problems. 

 

Tremors

Tremors are involuntary shaking or trembling movements that can vary from mild to severe in MS patients. 

 

Numbness or tingling

Unusual levels of numbness or tingling in the limbs is a common early symptom of MS. 

 

Stiffness or spasms

Muscle spasms or stiffness affects between 40% and 80% of MS patients, but are usually occasional symptoms according to the MS Society.

There is currently no cure for MS, but it can be treated and managed by dedicated medical teams. Mr Jonathan Hyam is a consultant who specialises in neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis and nerves damage, practising privately at Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre, part of Amethyst Radiotherapy UK. 

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New Study Could Lead To Breakthrough Glioblastoma Treatment

A study by French and Swedish researchers has found that cancer cells could be modified to cause them to self-destruct. Yahoo News reports that the study was specifically carried out on glioblastomas, which is one of the most common and aggressive forms of brain tumour. 

The established treatment for glioblastoma is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, most adults diagnosed with the condition die within two years. Glioblastoma cells contain a protein known as IRE1 that is particularly resistant to chemotherapy. 

Researchers from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden carried out a joint research project that involved screening 15 million molecules to see how they reacted with proteins in the body. 

When tested against cancer cells, the scientists found that a certain molecule known as Z4P was instrumental in reducing the potency of cancer cells and also made it more difficult for them to spread around the body. 

The method was tested on mice in combination with a drug called temozolomide that is used to treat glioblastomas. It was found that the tumour shrank and did not return even after 200 days.

Eric Chevet, head of a cancer research laboratory of INSERM said: “Cancer cells are stressed cells, they’re not normal, they’re fundamentally stressed, and they end up using stress response mechanisms to gain advantages.” 

He added: “The advantage is that they are more resistant, stronger and able to migrate, so they are better able to withstand additional stresses such as chemotherapy.”

Leif Eriksson, professor of physical chemistry at the University of Gothenburg and co-author of the study added: “We have now succeeded in stopping this hijacking by inserting a specially developed molecule in the cells that inhibits one of these hijacked adaptive mechanisms in the cancer cells. This causes the cancer to self-destruct.” 

He continued: “Today, cancer treatment consists of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, all cancer cells are not killed and the tumour returns. Once the cancer relapses, the tumour cells have often spread and developed resistance.” 

“These are the first clear results with brain tumours that can lead to a treatment which completely avoids surgery and radiation. We have also begun studying the use of our substance on other aggressive tumour forms like pancreatic cancer, triple-negative breast cancer and certain liver cancers.” 

“It largely depends on whether funding comes in that allows taking the different steps as smoothly as possible. If I’m optimistic, perhaps it might take five years. That’s a short timeframe, but at the same time glioblastomas are nearly 100 per cent fatal, so any improvement in medical care is major progress.” 

While this is promising news for people who have received a distressing diagnosis of a glioblastoma, it seems that it will be several years before it can be approved as a safe and effective brain tumour treatment. Glioblastomas can currently be treated by Mr George Samandouras at Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre, the part of Amethyst Radiotherapy UK.

EastEnders Star Danielle Harold Meets Brain Tumour Patient

The long running BBC soap EastEnders has recently been tackling a difficult and sensitive subject, as the character Lola Pearce undergoes brain tumour treatment. The storyline has met with a huge response from fans and current and former brain tumour patients.

The show’s scriptwriters carried out some careful research to prepare for the storyline, including working with the charity Brain Tumour Research to ensure that the portrayal was accurate and realistic.

The actress who plays Lola, Danielle Harold, talked to brain tumour patients in preparation for the role, and discovered how the condition affected their family and friends.

Now the storyline is coming to a conclusion, Danielle has taken time out of her schedule to meet Kylie Weatherby, 24, who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour when she was pregnant with twins in 2021. Kylie was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is fast growing and required immediate treatment.

Kylie underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a further brain tumour last year, this time a rare stage two pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) tumour. She is currently undergoing further treatment and described watching EastEnders as an emotional experience.

She said: “When the doctor told Lola and Jay they’d found a brain tumour and that it could be cancerous, I was biting my lip. Then they started crying and I just let it out. When you’ve been through it yourself, watching someone else go through it is really emotional.”

The charity Brain Tumour Research arranged for Kylie to meet Danielle Harold and tour the EastEnders studios in Borehamwood.

Kylie said: “I’m so grateful to the charity for organising my visit to EastEnders and for introducing me to Danielle, who I hit it off with straight away. It was without a doubt one of the happiest days of my life, and such an amazing treat.”

Miss Harold said: “It was great meeting Kylie and honestly felt like we’d known each other for years.”

“I showed her around the set, introduced her to my fellow cast members, chatted to her about her journey post-diagnosis and asked if there was anything I should do with Lola because it’s so important that I reflect what’s happening to real people in the brain tumour community.”

Danielle went on to explain how many people have been in contact with her since the story began.

She said: “’It’s become quite hard for me to switch off. I’ve not really wanted to switch off, to be honest, because I’ve got to meet so many people that live with brain tumours, people that have lost loved ones to brain tumours, children that have died as well, it’s become such a huge part of my life with these people, I can’t thank them enough for sharing their stories.”

Charities and other organisations are currently campaigning to raise awareness of brain tumours, which currently receives far less research funding than most other types of cancer.

Glioblastomas are the most common type of brain tumour. They can be treated with radiation therapy by specialist consultants including Mr George Samandouras of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Tips For Talking To Someone About A Brain Tumour Diagnosis

Talking to someone about their brain tumour diagnosis can be challenging, no matter how well you know them. It is naturally a distressing time, but well-meaning words can sometimes strike the wrong note. Here are some tips on how to speak to someone about a brain tumour.

 

Listen to them first

It might be tempting to offer some glib reassurances that everything will be alright, but this can sound dismissive and unrealistic: no one can predict exactly what lies ahead. It is better to simply listen to a person’s fears so that they feel acknowledged and offer your support and empathy.

However, don’t avoid the subject if someone wants to talk about their diagnosis. They are likely to feel a range of deep and difficult emotions, such as fear, confusion, anger, or sadness. They may simply be in shock and just need a supportive companion. If you don’t know what to say, just admit this rather than avoid the subject.

 

Don’t dismiss invisible symptoms

If a person’s appearance seems to be unaltered by an illness, it can be tempting to tell them that they look well. This might be kindly meant as reassurance or a morale booster, but it can be dismissive of hidden symptoms.

Common brain tumour symptoms that may not be immediately obvious include fatigue, nausea, headaches, memory problems, and loss of taste and smell. Ask someone how they feel and be ready to help if you can. For example, if someone is struggling with tiredness, you may be able to help them out with chores such as shopping or meal preparation.

 

Don’t tell them about someone else’s experience

A common reaction to difficult news is to tell the person about someone else you knew in a similar situation, to try and show that you understand. This can be an attempt at empathy, but everyone’s case is unique, and they will probably have a different journey through their diagnosis and treatment and how they respond to it.

It is best to just let the person know that you are ready to listen if they want to talk about it and leave the specifics about their treatment plan and how they might react to it up to their medical team.

Work on active listening skills to make sure that you are giving the person time to speak, and that you are pausing to reflect on your responses rather than replying with glib phrases such as ‘you are so brave.’

If the person complains about a symptom such as vision disturbances, don’t launch into an anecdote about your own eyesight issues or those of someone you know. Just acknowledge how the person is feeling and offer any practical suggestions and support that you can.

Keep in mind that the impact of a brain tumour can last beyond the treatment.

Just because someone has finished their treatment for a brain tumour, it doesn’t mean that the normality has returned. They might be experiencing side effects, so it is important to keep up with your support.

 

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Welsh Actor Craig Russell Speaks About Brain Tumour Surgery

The Welsh actor Craig Russell has recently spoken about his experience of being diagnosed with a brain tumour and his recovery process. Craig, aged 45, is the star of the hit Netflix drama Queen Cleopatra, and has acted in, written, and produced countless other films and TV shows.

He was at the peak of physical fitness when he received the devastating news in February 2023, after weeks of experiencing unexplained headaches, confusion, vision disturbances, and memory loss. He eventually went to see his GP, who sent him for an immediate MRI scan after noticing that he was going blind in his left eye.

The scan revealed a large and slow growing brain tumour that was putting pressure on his skull and was in danger of causing him to have seizures and strokes. Craig was booked in for urgent surgery, where most of the tumour was removed during a complex six-hour operation.

Craig told Wales Online: “With the tumour, it was my wife who first started noticing I think. Kate has just been the best, she’s the best anyway, but she’s been the most incredible support. That’s why all of this has been so easy compared to what it could have been because she’s just been wonderful, and she knew there was something not quite right.”

He added: “I was different, and I started to notice it. I think it was November, I went into the spare room to put something away, and I couldn’t remember how to get out of the spare room.”

“And then, a couple of weeks after that, I was driving one of the kids back from a children’s party and on one of the last roundabouts before our house, that I’ve been going around now for eight years, and I took the wrong turn. My son had to direct us home.”

And then I started getting these headaches at the back of my head every morning waking up with a very specific headache.”

After his surgery, doctors advised Craig to move around as much as possible to aid the recovery process. They were slightly concerned about the swelling on his brain that hadn’t gone down. However, fitness fan Craig took up a gentle exercise regime, and fortunately for the time being his condition will just need monitoring rather than further surgery.

In some cases, parts of a brain tumour that cannot be removed by traditional open surgery may be treated with stereotactic radiotherapy, sometimes also referred to as Gamma Knife surgery. This is a process that uses highly focused radiation beams to deliberately damage the tumour cells, while causing minimal harm to the surrounding healthy tissue.

This type of therapy is less invasive than other surgeries and has fewer harmful side effects than chemotherapy. It is available at several treatment centres throughout the UK.

 

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Brain Tumour Researchers Welcome Faster Diagnostic Tests

The Brain Tumour Charity (BTC) has welcomed the NHS initiative to work to a 10 day turnaround to deliver the results of urgent cancer diagnostic tests to patients. This will ensure that those who need treatment will be able to access it sooner, and those who don’t will have their anxious waiting time reduced.

However, the BTC points out that a recent survey has shown that 15% of respondents said that their diagnosis took over six months from their first contact with a medical professional about symptoms. More concerningly, for 10% of respondents, their diagnosis took over a year.

To improve this unacceptable situation, the BTC calls for a Best Practice Timed Pathway for patients presenting with possible symptoms of brain tumours. Currently, there is no consistent approach as symptoms can be varied.

The outcome of initial medical appointments also varies between regions and if the patient presented at A&E, a GP surgery, or elsewhere. The BTC calls for the Non-Specific Symptoms pathway to be expanded to include the vaguer symptoms associated with brain tumours.

Furthermore, the BTC points out that many suspected brain tumour patients are sent to secondary care by GPs rather than for CT scans, ultrasounds, or brain MRIs. They call for universal direct access via GPs, and for extra investment in the workforce so that the resources are in place to offer more direct diagnostic services.

According to a recent NHS press release, record numbers of patients are now being checked for cancer, with 9 in 10 people with a positive diagnosis commencing treatment within one month.

Dame Cally Palmer, NHS National Director for Cancer, said: “It is a testament to the hard work of NHS staff that we are seeing and treating record numbers of patients for cancer, and have made significant progress bringing down the backlog and achieving the target for diagnosing three quarters of people within 28 days – all despite huge demand and pressures on the system.”

“Lives are saved when cancers are caught early and while we’re already diagnosing a higher proportion of cancers at an earlier stage than ever before – we want to ensure we’re making the absolute most of the diagnostic capacity in our community centres and hospitals.”

Minister Helen Whately said: “Catching cancer early saves lives which is why we’re prioritising early diagnosis and supporting the latest NHS drive to speed up the return of test results.”

“We have also opened 100 community diagnostic centres and these one-stop-shops have delivered over 3.6 million additional tests, checks and scans. We remain focused on fighting cancer through prevention, diagnosis and treatment backed up by vital funding and research.”

“We know there is more to do, and our ambition is to diagnose 75% of cancers at an early stage by 2028 which will help save tens of thousands of lives for longer.”

In adults, some of the main symptoms of a brain tumour include headaches, changes in vision, seizures, fatigue, nausea and dizziness, and loss of taste and smell.

 

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London Marathon Runners Raise Awareness Of Brain Rumours

Running the London Marathon is a huge personal achievement, but for some it was also an opportunity to raise money for brain tumour research. The Brain Tumour Charity recently reported on the stories of brave competitors who completed the race for very special and compelling reasons.

Among these runners is Stefan Gilford, 31, from Weymouth, who is a part time firefighter and gym instructor. Stefan was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma brain tumour in December 2021. He initially struggled to get a diagnosis after reporting hearing loss in his right ear, as he was told it was caused by a perforated eardrum.

Acoustic neuromas are also known as vestibular schwannomas, and are benign (non-cancerous) brain tumours. They grow on the nerve connected to hearing and balance. Hearing loss, usually in one ear, is one of the main symptoms. Patients may also experience tinnitus and a spinning sensation known as vertigo.

Acoustic neuroma treatment depends on the size and position of the tumour. They usually grow slowly but can be problematic if they grow to a large size, and should be treated before this stage where possible. If the tumour is small it may just be monitored with MRI scans. Larger tumours may be removed with surgery.

Another option for treating smaller tumours is stereotactic radiosurgery, also known as Gamma Knife surgery. This is not the same as traditional surgery that involves an incision directly into the skull. It is a method of targeting the tumour with precise beams of radiation that reduce the tumour cells and leave the surrounding healthy cells intact.

Fortunately, although Stefan’s tumour was quite large, doctors were able to remove 95% of it through surgery. The remaining tumour is being monitored by doctors, who will treat it with radiosurgery if it begins to grow.

Stefan said: “The diagnosis was the toughest challenge I have ever had to go through, and put incredible amounts of stress on me and those around me. I would never have imagined that I would receive such news, especially at 30-years old.”

He added: “Until I was directly impacted, I had no idea how common brain tumours were and the high percentage of lives they take every year, especially those who are aged under 40.”

Stefan was not a regular runner before his surgery in March 2022. However he was determined to take on the marathon challenge, both to prove his own fitness and to raise funds and awareness for brain tumour research.

He said: “I’ve been very fortunate to have bounced back quite quickly after my surgery. I was warned that recovery could take a long time, but luckily that hasn’t been the case with me. After taking things easy at first, I built up my fitness again gradually and was able to return to work after two months.”

Despite the fact that brain tumours are the biggest killer of children and adults under 40 of all types of cancer, comparatively little funding is allocated to research and clinical trials in this area.