Award For Teen Cricketer Who Battled Brain Tumour

The courage of a teenage cricketer who has battled a brain tumour was recognised with an award at the AO Arena in Manchester. Thomas Jackson, 16, was a special guest at the Hits Radio Live event in November, where big name stars such as Olly Murs, Craig David, and Sam Smith were performing as part of the Hits Radio Live Event.

The Manchester Evening News (MEN) reports that the award was presented to Thomas by his club, Lancashire Cricket, where he plays as wicket keeper and batter at County Age Group level. Thomas was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma in 2020, which is a serious high-grade tumour that normally occurs in the cerebellum at the back and base of the brain. 

After undergoing an intensive form of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Thomas has shown courage and determination on his road to recovery. He told the MEN: “I really enjoyed our night at Hits Live and it was amazing to see all the different acts. I’m grateful to everyone who helped organise it.”

Paul Gerrard, Programme Director for Hits Radio said: “After hearing Thomas’ story, we were really keen to do all we could to help make his visit to Hits Live even more special. We hope he enjoyed his visit backstage and a very special meet and greet with one of our artists on the night, Olly Murs. We certainly enjoyed meeting Tom and his family.”

Radiotherapy can be used to treat brain tumours where conventional surgery is considered too risky to carry out. It works by directing intense beams of radiation from an external source, which is targeted to damage the tumour cells, but leave the surrounding healthy brain tissue unharmed. This process is sometimes known as Gamma Knife Surgery in the UK.

 

TV Presenter Jonnie Irwin Has Metastatic Brain Cancer

The TV presenter Jonnie Irwin has revealed that he has terminal lung cancer which has spread to his brain. The 48-year-old, who presents Escape to the Country for the BBC, and A Place in the Sun for Channel 4, revealed his diagnosis in a recent interview with Hello Magazine. 

Irwin said he noticed the first symptoms in August 2020, when his vision became blurry. Changes in vision are one of the symptoms of a brain tumour, according to the NHS. The other symptoms include headaches, seizures, persistent nausea, and mental confusion or personality changes. 

Brain tumours can affect anyone, although they are more common in older people. They can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumours are classed as grade 1-2, and are less serious than grade 3 or 4 cancerous tumours. 

Brain metastases occur when cancer cells spread from another site in the body, most commonly lung, breast, colon, and kidney cancer. They may be treated with surgery, radiotherapy, radiosurgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, and sometimes a combination of two or more of these. 

Irwin is married with a three-year-old son, and two-year-old twins.  He said: “I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was on her own pretty much. That was devastating. All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible.”

He added: “It’s got to the point now where it feels like I’m carrying a dirty secret, it’s become a monkey on my back. I hope that by shaking that monkey off I might inspire people who are living with life-limiting prospects to make the most of every day, to help them see that you can live a positive life, even though you are dying.”

“One day, this is going to catch up with me, but I’m doing everything I can to hold that day off for as long as possible.”

Irwin said that he hoped that his positive attitude would inspire others who were going through a similar experience. Despite the devastating diagnosis which means that he may have just six months to live, he is determined to make the most of the remaining time available. 

He said: “I owe that to Jess and our boys. Some people in my position have bucket lists, but I just want us to do as much as we can as a family. I don’t know how long I have left, but I try to stay positive and my attitude is that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it.”

“I set little markers, things I want to be around for. I got into the habit of saying ‘Don’t plan ahead because I might not be well enough. But now I want to make plans. I want to make memories and capture these moments with my family because the reality is, my boys are going to grow up not knowing their dad and that breaks my heart.”

Irwin’s colleagues and fans of his TV shows took to Twitter to express their sadness at the news, commenting on Jonnie’s sunny personality and sense of humour. 

 

 

How Are Biomarkers Use During A Brain Cancer Diagnosis?

Cancer patients usually find themselves on a learning curve after their diagnosis, as they have to familiarise themselves with a lot of new medical terminology. One term that they may encounter during the diagnostic process is ‘biomarker.’ Here’s a look at what they are, and how they are used in the case of a brain tumour.

Biomarkers are molecules that are present in the blood and other tissues or bodily fluids. They can be used by scientists to test for abnormal processes that are occurring in the body, including the presence and nature of cancer cells and tumours. Biomarkers are not relevant for all types of tumours, and are used in addition to other diagnostic methods.

In the case of a brain tumour diagnosis, The Brain Tumour Charity explains that biomarkers may be used to determine the type of brain tumour, and the potential rate of growth it has. They can also help determine which course of treatment would be most suitable and effective for the type of brain tumour, such as chemotherapy or radiosurgery. 

Biomarker testing may be carried out as a matter of routine at some hospitals, while at others it may be not be available. Some patients may prefer not to know the outcome of the tests, especially if the prognosis for successful treatment is poor. Biomarkers do not always provide accurate results, and can only be used as indicators. 

There are various different types of biomarker tests, and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has some more information about which tests are most suitable for brain tumour patients. 

Biomarker results should be discussed with you by your medical team. They may also be used to assess your suitability for clinical trials, which can give you access to personalised and cutting edge new treatment options.

 

How Prostate Cancer Can Be Identified And Also Effectively Treated

Prostate cancer is a disease that kills thousands of men in Austria every year, but the rate at which it does so is less than in most European nations.

That is because the disease is not necessarily a death sentence, and the countries in which it is detected and treated earlier will have higher survival rates.

Eurostat provided the most recent statistics on mortality rates for prostate cancer in 2018. The chart of EEA countries (including the UK, which was still in the EU then, plus non-EU nations like Norway and Switzerland) saw Austria having the 11th lowest rate out of the 31 listed.

The Austrian mortality rate was 29.4 per 100,000 men, which compared favourably with neighbours like Germany and Switzerland, but was worse than Italy.

Overall, the lowest death rate was 18.9 in Luxembourg, with the highest being Estonia at 50.9, followed by Sweden at 50.4.

Needless to say, a key factor in survival can be having treatment at a top radiotherapy centre, but first it is important to spot symptoms and get a swift diagnosis. As with any cancer, the sooner it is identified and treated, the better the chances of survival.

Writing for Targeted Oncology, US-based radiotherapy oncologist John Sylvester noted that many of the common symptoms that can indicate a problem needing investigation, such as urinary problems or blood in urine, are not always present.

For this reason, he said early screening, especially for those at high risk such as men from certain ethnic groups or those with a family history of prostate cancer, can save lives.

Dr Sylvester went on to note that while surgery can work for some patients, it is not the only option and that treatment options “become more limited” once the prostate itself has been removed. Moreover, he noted, research has shown that “combining radiotherapy with brachytherapy provides a better chance of preventing local cancer from metastasizing”.

So by getting checked out early, patients may find that they can tackle prostate cancer swiftly and effectively without having to resort to life-changing surgery.

 

How Can Radiotherapy Manage Cancer Pain?

The vast majority of people who have booked appointments at a radiotherapy centre have done so in order to take advantage of a highly targeted, specialist treatment that helps to remove lesions and tumours before they can cause harm through growing and spreading.

The Gamma Knife radiosurgery, for example, is a highly effective targeted radiotherapy treatment that uses a range of focused beams of radiation to destroy tumours with little damage to surrounding tissue.

However, besides treatment, radiotherapy has a number of other purposes, one of which is less about a curative treatment and more focused on palliative care and relieving the pain that can come from more advanced stages of cancer.

Whilst primarily used for helping relieve the pain associated with bone cancer, it can be used to help with the management of other types of pain.

 

How Cancer Causes Pain

To understand how radiotherapy helps with pain relief, it is important to know the reasons why cancer can (but does not always) cause people pain.

When lesions, growths and tumours become malignant and grow, they can start to press against other parts of the body, such as nerves, organ tissue and bones, which can cause pain that is made worse by the cells being weakened and destroyed by the tumours themselves.

With bone cancer, this weakening can lead to fractures and breaks, which can cause agonising pain that compounds the pain caused by cancer in the first place, which can reach the point of being unbearable at more advanced stages.

Radiotherapy works to reduce this pain in similar ways to how it can help reduce or remove cancer at less advanced stages.

It reduces the size of certain cancer tumours, which stops them from pressing against nerves and other parts of the body, and can in some cases make these tumours more viably treated.

For tumours that press on the spinal cord or have started to obstruct the airway, these can provide significant relief or even become a vital part of treatment.

It can also be used if a cancer is ulcerating and thus causing bleeding.

However, it cannot always be used and any use of targeted radiotherapy in the process of pain relief must be mindful that most types of radiotherapy and radiosurgery do inevitably have side effects and this will mean that palliative radiotherapy treatments will only be approved if they cause less pain than they relieve.

This is also managed by using lower doses in palliative radiotherapy than would be used in radiosurgery since the purpose is to reduce the side of the tumour rather than completely excise it.

It can also be used in combination with other medications and treatments to help relieve pain as well, depending on the type of cancer and how it reacts to different treatments.

Palliative treatment is not intended to cure the cancer, but it is commonly effective at reducing symptoms and allowing not only for a better quality of life but also a longer life for people in the advanced stages of cancer.

 

How Can Brain Tumour Related Fatigue Be Managed?

Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of a brain tumour diagnosis, with 3 in 5 people affected by it, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. The causes of the fatigue might be directly related to the neurological condition, and it might be the result of the emotional and psychological stress of the diagnosis. 

A brain tumour, such as an acoustic neuroma, may grow in an area of the brain where there are vital links which control the nerve functions to the rest of the body. The tumour can press on these nerves, interfering with essential functions such as sight, balance, speech, concentration, and hearing.

The extra effort to complete activities which once were undertaken without a second thought can become extremely tiring. The patient will at the same time be coming to terms with the practical and emotional implications of a brain tumour diagnosis. Of course, brain tumours affect everyone differently, and not everyone will experience fatigue.

Some people may have mild or no symptoms, while others find that it is the debilitating consequence of their diagnosis. The levels of fatigue can vary according to the time of day, and they may fluctuate on a day-to-day basis. 

Fatigue is characterised by a lack of energy, sleep problems (either too much or too little), an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion, aching muscles, and becoming tired even after carrying out short activities or tasks. 

Some of the symptoms may mirror those of depression, such as irritability, loss of interest in hobbies, poor concentration, low self-esteem, and an inability to make decisions. It may cause anxiety, social withdrawal, and problems with relationships. The shock of diagnosis and the extra stress placed on the body during treatment can exacerbate the problem. 

A natural instinct in this situation might be to take more rest than usual, but this won’t have any impact on chronic fatigue. Friends and family can find this a difficult thing to understand, especially because there are no outward physical symptoms of the problem. So, how is the situation best addressed?

It is important to talk to your healthcare team if you are struggling. While there is no cure, there may be some ways to help you manage the fatigue. The British Acoustic Neuroma Association (BANA) recommends pacing activities, so that you carry out only the most essential tasks, and take regular breaks.

Over time, you may find that certain tasks are more tiring than others. If this is the case, identify those which make your fatigue worse and if possible, ask for extra help from family or friends. 

Ensuring that you drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated is important, especially if your normal eating patterns have been disrupted. Eating a well-balanced diet with slow release carbs can help to boost energy levels. If possible, try and maintain a regular bed time and getting up time, and take light exercise if your condition allows.

If you would like to find out more information about Gamma Knife surgery in the UK, please get in touch today.

 

Covid Vaccine May Lead To Cancer Treatment Breakthrough

The race to develop new vaccine technology during the Covid crisis has led to hopes of making a critical breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. The BBC reports that the German pharmaceutical company BioNTech, who worked with Pfizer to use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to create a Covid vaccine, are currently trialling an innovative cancer treatment.

Professors Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci are a husband and wife team who have been exploring the possibilities of mRNA technology since 2008, and trials for cancer treatments have been in place for several years. However, it wasn’t used in an approved vaccine until the pandemic made it a priority. 

The speed and success rate of the mRNA Covid vaccine took everyone by surprise, and this has boosted hopes for the same rapid progress for a new cancer therapy. The vaccine works by deliberately triggering the immune system to produce antigens which would attack tumour cells.

Prof Ozlem Tureci, BioNTech’s chief medical officer, told the BBC: “mRNA acts as a blueprint and allows you to tell the body to produce the drug or the vaccine… and when you use mRNA as a vaccine, the mRNA is a blueprint for the ‘wanted poster’ of the enemy – in this case cancer antigens which distinguish cancer cells from normal cells.”

She added: “Every step, every patient we treat in our cancer trials helps us to find out more about what we are against and how to address that. As scientists, we are always hesitant to say we will have a cure for cancer. We have a number of breakthroughs and we will continue to work on them.”

There are some legal issues which may unfortunately hamper the immediate progress of a cancer vaccine. The US drug firm Moderna claims that they hold the patent for mRNA technology, and are taking legal action against BioNTech and Pfizer. However, the genie is already out of the bottle, and further advances in vaccine technology are now inevitable. 

 

If you would like some information about Gamma Knife radiosurgery, please get in touch today.

 

East Enders To Introduce Brain Tumour Storyline

The BBC TV soap East Enders is to tackle the emotive subject of brain tumours in a new storyline. The Media Centre reports that the young character Lola Pearce, who is played by actress Danielle Harold, will be diagnosed with a brain tumour in a plotline to be aired during the autumn.

To ensure that the portrayal of the situation was accurate, relatable, and sensitive to viewers who may have found themselves in a similar sad situation, the BBC worked with leading charities, including Brain Tumour Research and Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Actress Danielle Harold said: “It means so much to be trusted with a storyline like this – one that’s close to many people’s hearts. Sadly many of our viewers will be able to relate to Lola’s story, and it’s been heart-breaking to speak to the families affected by brain tumours and hear their stories. 

She added: “They’ve been so amazing in sharing their experiences with me, and I’m so lucky to have them. I wouldn’t be able to do this storyline without their support.”

A brain tumour diagnosis is a life-changing event, both for the patients and their loved ones. It can be a difficult and distressing time, as there are so many practical issues to consider, such as work and careers, finances, and care, as well as the profound emotional impact that such news can carry.

Sue Castle-Smith, Head of PR and Communications at the charity Brain Tumour Research said: “We are extremely grateful to EastEnders for helping to raise awareness of brain tumours.”

She added: “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and, sadly, Lola’s story will be all too familiar to one in three people who know someone affected by this devastating disease.”

Viewers who might be alerted to the signs and symptoms of a potential brain tumour through watching the TV show are encouraged to visit their GP as soon as possible. They may be referred to a specialist for a scan or further tests. The earlier a brain tumour is diagnosed, the better the prognosis for the patient. 

The treatment will depend on the size, type, location, and severity of the tumour. Benign low-grade tumours (grade 1 and 2) are non-cancerous, and they are usually slow growing. Depending on the location, they may not need operating on. High grade tumours (grade 3 or 4) are more aggressive and may spread faster, and present a threat to life.

High grade tumours will usually be operated on if it is safe to do so. There are now modern methods of operating on brain tumours, such as Gamma Knife radiosurgery, which are considered more accurate and safer than traditional methods of surgery. 

Gamma Knife is a type of radiotherapy which, despite its name, doesn’t involve any cutting with a scalpel or traditional open surgery. It makes use of precisely targeted radiation beams from an external machine, to deliberately damage the tumour cells in the brain, while causing minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. 

 

New Breakthrough In Understanding Cancer Spread

Scientists at the University of Cambridge (UoC) have made a breakthrough discovery in understanding how cancer cells spread through the body. This could change the approach to treating metastasis (the spread of cancer cells from a primary site to a secondary site in the body.)

The UoC website explains that the research team have discovered how cancer cells join healthy cells to spread around the body. This was previously thought to be an abnormal process, but now scientists have found that healthy cells also migrate around the body in the same way, which changes the way cancer treatment could be approached. 

The researchers found that when they blocked the activity of the NALCN (which is an acronym for sodium (Na+) leak channel, non-selective) protein cells in mice with cancer, it triggered metastasis. However, when NALCN was removed from mice without cancer, the healthy cells continued to spread around the body, contrary to expectations. 

From this observation, the scientists concluded that cell migration is a normal process, which is exploited by cancerous cells in order to spread around the body. This could allow for new innovations in how cancer is treated in the future. Presently, metastasis is very difficult to prevent, and is one of the main causes of cancer deaths.

Group Leader for the study and Director of the CRUK Cambridge Centre, Professor Richard Gilbertson, said: “These findings are among the most important to have come out of my lab for three decades.”

He added: “Not only have we identified one of the elusive drivers of metastasis, but we have also turned a commonly held understanding of this on its head, showing how cancer hijacks processes in healthy cells for its own gains.”

“If validated through further research, this could have far-reaching implications for how we prevent cancer from spreading and allow us to manipulate this process to repair damaged organs.”

The scientists hope that through further experimentation and research into how to restore metastasis function in the body, possibly by using existing drugs, they can develop more precisely targeted cancer treatments.

Lead researcher on the study Dr Eric Rahrmann, said: “We are incredibly excited to have identified a single protein that regulates not only how cancer spreads through the body, independent of tumour growth, but also normal tissue cell shedding and repair.”

He added: “We are developing a clearer picture on the processes that govern how cancer cells spread. We can now consider whether there are likely existing drugs which could be repurposed to prevent this mechanism from triggering cancer spreading in patients.”

The researchers are hopeful that they will eventually be able to target the key drivers of metastasis in the body of cancer patients, leading to more effective treatments and higher survival rates in the future. The research paper has been published in the journal Nature Genetics, according to a press release from the UoC. 

If you would like some information about Gamma Knife surgery UK, please get in touch with us today.

 

22-Year-Old Woman Has Life-Saving Gamma Knife Surgery

22 year old Molly Lloyd has undergone Gamma Knife radiosurgery after being diagnosed with a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Birmingham Live reports that Molly has undergone a total of three emergency surgeries since May, and is now making some signs of progress at hospital in Birmingham.

AVM occurs when an abnormal tangle of blood vessels develops in the brain. It’s a rare but potentially serious condition, because the weakened blood vessels disrupt the flow of oxygen between the heart, lungs, and brain. This leads to an increased risk of stroke, brain damage, and haemorrhage.

Molly was unfortunately unaware she had an AVM until she experienced her first seizure in 2019, aged just 19. She was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was diagnosed with a 4cm x 4cm AVM in the frontal lobe of her brain. The location of the AVM in critical in determining the level of risk to the patient, and the treatment they have.

Molly, from Cardiff, was able to return to her studies after treatment, and started university last year. However, in May last year, Molly was rushed to hospital with a massive brain haemorrhage. She suffered a seizure while driving, but luckily her boyfriend was able to take control of the car and guide it safely off the road. 

She underwent treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. In Molly’s case, the AVM is in the region which controls major cognitive functions, such as memory, coordination, planning, and concentration. Despite some of the damage being mitigated by previous Gamma Knife surgery, her condition remains serious.

Since May, Molly has been unable to walk, talk, or feed herself. Her mum, Jenny Lloyd, said: “Her brain will need to rewire itself – she’ll have to learn everything again like a baby. Someone could come [into hospital] the same as Molly and be walking and talking within six months. I have to hold out hope that she will get better.” 

Because of the critical location of the AVM, open neurosurgery was considered too risky. Fortunately, Molly was able to benefit from Gamma Knife Surgery, which is considered a safe and effective alternative, because it mitigates against the risks of general anaesthetic, bleeding, and infection, and of damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Gamma Knife is also known as stereotactic radiosurgery. It does not involve any incision with a surgical knife. Precisely targeted beams of radiation are directed at the affected area from an external machine, from several directions at once. This procedure disconnects the damaged blood vessels, while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed.

Jenny explained: “Where it was located would affect her movement and speech, so they didn’t want to go in and cause any trouble. So instead she went to Sheffield for something called gamma knife radiosurgery where they put a frame around her head and gave her tiny beams of radiation. She was incredibly brave.”

Molly is now showing signs of progress, and is able to open her eyes, and respond to questions using communication cards.