Algorithm Could Help Detect The Men At Highest Prostate Cancer Risk

Prostate cancer can be treated in several different ways, including hormonal treatments, surgery and radiotherapy. Our radiotherapy centre in Vienna offers the latter and can make a critical difference in ensuring patients can survive what can often be a fatal diagnosis.

For that reason, a new algorithm devised by Cambridge University in the UK to calculate each individual man’s risk of prostate cancer could show the way forward, ensuring those who are likely to suffer it will be screened more and be likely to benefit from early discovery of the disease. 

The algorithm is based on genetic screening for faulty versions of the BRCA2, HOXB13 and possibly BRCA1 genes, which all indicate a high level of vulnerability to prostate cancer. The researchers behind the algorithm devised it to offer a more accurate test than the detection of prostate-specific antigen in blood tests that often produces false positives.

For example, while 16 per cent of all men in the UK get prostate cancer by the age of 85, this rises to 27 per cent for those whose fathers suffered the disease at an old age such as 80, but as high as 42 per cent if the occurrence was earlier, such as before the age of 50. Combining this with the genetic study will help assess individual risks.

The algorithm may prove to be particularly useful and while devised in the UK, it can be used just as relevantly by clinicians in Austria, as well as any other country.

According to EUROCARE-5, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer in Europe is 83 per cent overall, with this rising to 90 per cent for men aged between 55 and 64. However, there are geographical variations across the continent, with the highest survival rates in northern Europe and the lowest in eastern Europe.

Although the racial composition of national populations will account for some variations in the occurrence of the disease, it is healthcare that is likely to make the biggest difference in survival rates.

 

Vaccine-Style Taskforce To Tackle Cancer

The UK government has announced a Vaccine Taskforce approach to tackling major health problems, including cancer. In a recent press release, a joint statement from the Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Business, and Energy & Industrial Strategy, said that over £113m in funding for new treatments would be available. 

The funding will target the development of new cancer immune therapies, as well as ways to tackle increasing levels of obesity, mental health problems, and addiction. The British Medical Association has welcomed the funding, but also emphasised the need for extra investment in the NHS and social security system.

Sky News reports that the extra £3.3bn of funding announced for the NHS has been criticised by leaders in the healthcare professions. They argue that rising costs and the scale of the backlog caused by the pandemic mean that it effectively amounts to a pay cut, at a time when more substantial funding is required.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “The NHS faces real pressures, which is why we are investing over £100 million in the technologies and medicines of the future to address some of the biggest public health challenges facing our country.”

“This funding will improve outcomes for patients, ease existing pressures on the system and ensure that we are among the first to benefit from medical breakthroughs. Importantly it will also help save the NHS millions of pounds that could otherwise be spent on patient care – for example by tackling obesity which costs the health service over £6 billion annually.”

He added: “It is hugely welcome too that the highly successful Vaccine Taskforce, which procured millions of life-saving vaccines in record time during the pandemic, will now become a blueprint for how we harness the best talent and expertise from around the world and drive investment in research and development.”

The BBC reports that waiting times for cancer treatments have risen sharply over the past few years, and the number of new referrals is at a record level. It is thought that may be up to 30,000 missing cases, which have not been diagnosed due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. 

The new funding will see an extra £22.5m allocated to cancer research and treatment. Currently, cancer is treated with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Certain types of brain tumour can be treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery in the UK.

NHS England Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard said: “We have already seen the incredible ways that new technology and innovation can transform NHS care and the lives of patients across the country – from glucose monitors for people living with diabetes, laser therapy for those with epilepsy to genetic life-saving testing for severely ill children and babies.”

She added: “Just today, we fast tracked a new drug deal for men with prostate cancer that can boost their survival –  showing that the NHS is already at the forefront of delivering the latest treatments for patients.”

Dame Kate Bingham, who was responsible for heading up the vaccine taskforce, will help to select the panel of independent experts who will oversee the new mission to tackle serious health conditions.

 

Cancer Survival Rates ‘Will Double’ In Next Decade

Advances in cancer treatments mean that survival rates have the potential to double in the next 10 years, according to the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). The Telegraph reports that the ICR believes that its goals are realistic, based on recent advances in cancer research. 

New discoveries about the ways cancer spreads through the body, and breakthrough treatments such as combining radiotherapy with viruses, mean that the ICR is confident of a significant improvement in outcomes for patients with advanced cancer within a decade.

Cancer survival rates vary greatly, according to how early the cancer is diagnosed, and what type of cancer it is. In the UK, 58.9% of patients survive for five years after a diagnosis of bowel cancer, but just 19.3% survive for five years after a diagnosis of lung cancer. 

Brain and other intracranial cancers are the 9th most common types of cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK, and rates of diagnosis have increased by almost two-fifths since the early 1990s. There are an average of 5,456 deaths per year, and an average of 12% of patients survive a brain tumour for five years of more. 

Dr Naureen Starling, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Reader in Gastrointestinal Cancer Clinical Trials at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Many cancers are difficult to detect, often because they are deep in the body or do not become symptomatic until they’re at a late stage.”

She added: “Yet, the earlier cancer is detected, the more possible and effective treatment is likely to be with a greater the chance of survival. This means finding better and faster ways to detect and diagnose the disease is critical.

“To tackle this challenge, we are pioneering research into improved screening approaches, biomarker testing to identify individual risk as well as innovative diagnostic tools. For example, we are currently using liquid biopsies – blood tests which can identify genetic information shed by the tumour – to personalise treatment and identify recurrence earlier.”

Currently, about 40% of cancers are diagnosed at an early stage in the UK, which significantly boosts survival chances. However, the BBC reports that there has been a steep rise in long waiting times for cancer therapy in the UK over the past four years.

Disruption caused by the pandemic, staff shortages, and more people coming forward with symptoms, have all made the situation worse over the past 12 months. This has led to fears that thousands of potential cases could be missed, leading to a spike in cancer-related deaths. 

The NHS are attempting to tackle the issue, with extra community diagnostic centres being established around the UK. However, according to The Royal College of Radiologists, there is a 17% shortfall in suitably qualified doctors to treat cancer in the UK, and there needs to be a renewed focus on training and recruitment for specialist medical staff. 

The most common forms of cancer treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, radiosurgery, and radiotherapy. 

 

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.