Head and Neck Cancer News (97)
Improved cancer care for Kiwis
SunLive
This week they have released their updated New Zealand Cancer Action Plan, David saying it better reflects the voices of people whose lives are ...
Surveillance of ctDNA in HPV-Positive Head and Neck Cancers May Predict Recurrence
Targeted Oncology
The detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in human papillomavirus (HPV) with an experimental blood test has been associated with high positive ...
Potential for new political party as lobby group pushes to increase Pharmac funding
Patient Voice Aotearoa chairman Malcolm Mulholland said the concept of new political entity campaigning for better drug buying policies is gathering support.
Mr Mulholland, whose wife Wiki has terminal cancer, is calling for the doubling of funding to Pharmac.
He said patients with a raft of health issues, ranging from cancer to mental health, are being forced to "beg for their lives" when it comes to acc
Five Steps to a New Normal: Life After Cancer
This article was written by Jenny Leyh, a mother, freelance writer, cancer survivor and integrative health advocate living in Haddon Heights, New Jersey.
Hearing the words “you have cancer” was devastating. It was a life-altering diagnosis that caused time to stand still. But once a plan was established and the treatment began, the fear and unknowns morphed into empowerment. My medical team kept a close eye over everything I did and it was comforting
EU approval for Keytruda in head and neck cancer
The European Commission has approved MSD’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as monotherapy or as part of a combination, for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
The regulatory body says that the approval was based on data from the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 trial, in which the drug, compared with standard treatment (cetuximab with carboplatin or cisplatin plus 5-FU), demo
The Patient Voice Aotearoa chairperson says better medication funding is desperately needed
Eight petitions with 48 thousand signatures were presented to parliament - pleading for money for drugs and devices.
Malcolm Mulholland says the organisation has now decided to lodge their own petition.
He says they are calling on the Government to immediately double the PHARMAC budget with plans to triple it in the future, as well as reform the agency. Read more....
Malcolm Mulholland says the organisation has now decided to lodge their own petition.
He says they are calling on the Government to immediately double the PHARMAC budget with plans to triple it in the future, as well as reform the agency. Read more....
Petitions Presented: A United Stand
Deputy Prime Minister Admits Pharmac Needs More Money
Patient Voice Aotearoa welcomes the comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on ‘The Project’ on Friday last week. Peters stated “Right now…we know we are not spending nearly enough on pharmaceuticals and first world drugs…the reality is that Pharmac’s budget is not big enough and we have to face that as a country and make some accommodations to give people the treatment and first world drugs that they deserve. We have a $7.5
New developments in the treating of head and neck cancer, and diagnosing thyroid cancer.
Emerging thyroid cancer test may prevent unnecessary surgeries
Thyroid cancer is among the most curable types of cancer, with relative survival rates close to 100% for localized and regional tumors. Incidence of the malignancy has increased rapidly, with about 52,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States, according to American Cancer Society data.
Fine-needle aspiration, which is the current
Seniors Need Vaccinations Too
Adults should be vaccinated against cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) to save ‘thousands’ more lives, said a UK expert.
According to a dailymail.com article on September 28, 2019, cancer scientists say ‘evidence is now emerging that giving the jab to those who already harbor HPV could protect them as well,’ per Margaret Stanley of Cambridge University, president of the International Papilloma Virus Society. Read more here....
Cancer medicines need to be par
Wake-up call for cancer agency boss Diana Sarfati
OPINION: Statements about priorities for the new cancer agency made by agency head Professor Diana Sarfati are cause for serious concern.
Last Saturday's profile of Sarfati, in which she was asked to name her three priorities, said: "One thing not on that priority wish list is more money for the stream of high-cost, life-prolonging drugs for terminal cancer, which prompt patient petitions and marches to Parliament."
So it seems prolonging
Our weekly round up of Head and Neck cancer news from New Zealand and around the world. This week an apology to a head and necker who suffered brain damage, the future of robotic surgery, and we can learn from breast cancer about the value of survivorship plans and nurse navigators.
DHB 'looking to make changes' after man left brain damaged, patient's wife told
Auckland Hospital staff have apologised to a Dargaville builder left with brain damage after he was given an overdose of morphine.
Memb
Each week we share Head and Neck Cancer News from around the world....
Machine learning improves the diagnosis of patients with head and neck cancers
Researchers have successfully solved a longstanding problem in the diagnosis of head and neck cancers. The researchers used artificial intelligence to develop a new classification method which identifies the primary origins of cancerous tissue based on chemical DNA changes. The potential for introduction into routine medical practice is currently b
Cancer action 10-year plan should only be a 'start'
Paul Ryder considers himself lucky to be alive.
The 68-year-old Timaru man was diagnosed with cancer in his vocal cords in 2017, but with treatment the disease went into remission and finally subsided.
He says the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019–2029, announced by the Government on Sunday, should only be a start in the fight against the disease as much more than the allotted extra $60 million was needed to find a cure, and more radiation
Head and Neck Cancer Network Launches Petition
The Head and Neck Cancer Network have added their voice to the other cancer organisation calling for Pharmac to fund cancer drug Keytruda. MedSafe approved the drug for use in head and neck cancer after chemotherapy. However, Network Chair Diana Ayling says, Keytruda needs to be available as an option with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy”.
At present HNC patient, Diana Craig is funding her own treatment with donations from a Give a Little Pag
Kerslake's message to Jacinda Ardern: 'We're falling behind'
This article is part of a Because It Matters Newshub series.
Described as New Zealand's "most prolific cancer survivor", Phil Kerslake says he's worried the country's falling behind in terms of cancer care, and is urging the Prime Minister and the Health Minister to pick up the pace.
Kerslake, who's survived eight new diagnoses or recurrences of cancer since 1974, says while he thinks New Zealand's "come a long way",
This week we share the news of 12 new cancer-fighting radiation machines, more funding for immunotherapy research, interesting news about the HPV vaccine, and finally, Judy Kirchmeirer tells her story of 10 years of cancer.
Government's cancer response: PM Jacinda Ardern unveils 12 new cancer-fighting radiation machines
The Government has unveiled the first tranche of its cancer plan, announcing a $25 million spend on 12 new radiation machines nationwide.
But the plan, announced by Prime Minist
HPV infection on Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Day
From Radio New Zealand...."World Head and Neck Cancer Day is tomorrow and this year there's a push to highlight the correlation between these cancers and the HPV virus.
These cancers are increasing at a faster rate than other cancers, so what is the connection and is it preventable?
Jesse Mulligan was joined by Professor Swee Tan, an expert in the field, to tell us more." Click here to listen.
Canterbury DHB supporting World Head and Neck Ca
This week it was hard to find any head and neck cancer news at all! Maybe everyone is enjoying the break. We did find some interesting research into why not many Kiwis participate in clinical trials, a really interesting range of services at the Mayo Clinic, and a new head and neck cancer vaccine goes to trials.
Enjoy!
Why are so few Kiwi cancer patients in clinical trials?
Most Kiwi cancer patients are keen to take part in clinical trials, a survey shows, despite a tiny proportion actually being
This week we share with you a few tips to keep your Chin Up, a story on the prescribing of OxyContin, and some tips on how to communicate with your healthcare team. Enjoy!
Pharmac has spent tens of millions on OxyContin, blamed for America's opioid crisis
Pharmac has spent tens of millions of dollars funding a painkiller at the centre of the American opioid crisis. Experts say it has created a whole new population of drug users. National Correspondent Tony Wall investigates.
Oxycodone, known
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