LungBlog

 Lung cancer is also the most under-funded for cancer research. Lung cancer research only received $35.1 million from 1999-2005, compared with $1.66 billion for breast cancer research from 1992-2004 with an additional $150 million in 2005. From 1997-2005, prostate cancer research received $650 million.

Female health workers are more likely to die from leukaemia, teachers from breast cancer and restaurant workers from lung cancer, new research has found.

Hear the words lung cancer, and automatically you think of dying.

And that’s exactly what went through Jack Samuels’ mind when he was told he had the disease.

But six years later, the 71-year-old Plympton man is still here, brimming with life and keen to tell his story to help highlight the condition as part of lung cancer awareness month.

Dave Hill told his wife Tina he would die a proud man after helping other NHS patients get the treatment they needed.

Mr Hill, from Darlington, County Durham, lost his fight for life at the town’s Memorial Hospital on Monday, only six days after his case persuaded health bosses to perform a U-turn over the supply of the new drug Tarceva.

Concerning results from a Europe-wide survey released today during Lung Cancer Awareness Month reveal that one in three lung cancer patients feel that they are not receiving the emotional support they need to manage their life-threatening disease. Patients surveyed say support is essential during their diagnosis and treatment, but many are still not benefiting from the services available in hospitals and patient groups because they do not address the particular burdens unique to a lung cancer diagnosis(1). Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer and Europe’s most deadly, claiming almost 1,000 lives every day(2).

Whether you are a smoker, have never touched a cigarette, or quit smoking years ago, the sad reality is that you and I are all at risk of dying from this insidious and painful disease.

Here are the grim facts: Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths in this country, more than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. This year, it is estimated that more than 213,000 Americans have received, or yet will, a lung cancer diagnosis, and more than half of these people will not be here to ring in 2008. Here’s another tragic fact: We in Michigan have a higher death rate than the national average from lung cancer.

Phase 2 testing results thus far have shown strong efficacy in treating lung cancer (non-small cell), non-Hodgkins lymphoma, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and kidney cancer. Shanghai Qiaer, Aida’s research subsidiary, has reduced the key cancer targets to the three main diseases which Rh-Apo2L has shown the most efficacy and which have the most market potential. These three cancer targets will be announced at a later date, pending successful trials. Formal results will also be released after clinical tests are completed. After that, the company will apply for the approval of commencement of Phase III clinical trials from SFDA.

Treatment of lung cancer using the robotic radioactive system of CyberKnife is underway. For patients who cannot take the pressure of surgery, can now take a sigh of relief as CyberKnife brings respite to their ailing condition. CyberKnife through its image guided technology automatically detects the affected parts and by sending the laser rays at the precise location corrects and removes tumors extending minimum damage to the neighboring parts and health tissues.

 For patients like Tomma Hargraves, clinical trials for cancer mean the difference between life and death. Just a year ago, a lump on her neck led to a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, but thanks to a clinical trial of a revolutionary treatment, she is now in remission.

Tumor imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) may improve the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of lung cancer patients, according to a recent review.