http://diabetesinsider.com/religious-cancer-patient-feels-enhanced-health-study/39547
A new analysis says those cancer patients who are of religious or
spiritual nature suffers fewer physical symptoms compared to those who
are not.
The connection has been earlier too found by several other studies. However, those varied in many ways.
“When we took a closer look, we found that patients with stronger
spiritual well-being, more benign images of God (such as perceptions of a
benevolent rather than an angry or distant God), or stronger beliefs
(such as convictions that a personal God can be called upon for
assistance) reported better social health,” one of the study authors
Allen Sherman, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said in the
news release.
Heather Jim of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, said the
cancer patients should not be pressurized to follow any spiritual or
religious beliefs even though data reveals religion or spirituality is
linked to better perceived health. She added further that cancer patient
even without following any religious or spiritual beliefs can
experience good health.
In the new study more than 44,000 people suffering from cancer were
analyzed. Higher religious or spirituality patient were found to have
overall better health.
Senior author of the analysis for both physical as well as social
health John M. Salsman said spirituality and religiousness are
multidimensional.
Salsman is presently at Wake Forest School of Medicine in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but he had conducted the study when he
was with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in
Chicago.
He said most of the religions conduct group meetings and those carry
social element too, and this may explain the link with social health.
However, he is not aware whether spirituality or religiousness causes
symptom relief.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Friday, August 7, 2015
Quality of Life, Cost-effectiveness of Radioiodine Ablation in Thyroid Cancer Assessed
http://www.cancertherapyadvisor.com/endocrine-cancer/thyroid-cancer-radio-iodine-ablation-therapy-risk-cost-treatment/article/430380/
While recombinant human TSh (rhTSH) avoids the transient thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) deterioration of health-related qualify of life (HRQoL) in patients with thyroid cancer, it is not cost-effective and would likely not be used in practice, according to an article published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
In the phase 3 ESTIMABL trial, the thyroid ablation rate was equivalent for both thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and rhTSH methods and the two iodine-131 (131I or 3.7 GBq).
A total of 752 patients with thyroid cancer were assessed, from the time of random assignment to a follow-up visit at 8±2 months. Resource use (hospitalization for 131I administration, rhTSH, sick leave, and transportation) was collected prospectively.
RELATED: Germline HABP2 Mutation Associated with Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer
At 131I administration, patients experienced a clinically significant deterioration of HRQoL with THW, but it remained stable with rhTSH. The deterioration was transient with no difference 3 months later. rhTSH was more effective than THW in terms of quality-adjusted life years, but was more expensive.
The use of 1.1 GBq of 131I instead of 3.7 GBq reduced per-patient costs by $1,018 but with slightly decreased efficacy.
Reference
While recombinant human TSh (rhTSH) avoids the transient thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) deterioration of health-related qualify of life (HRQoL) in patients with thyroid cancer, it is not cost-effective and would likely not be used in practice, according to an article published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
In the phase 3 ESTIMABL trial, the thyroid ablation rate was equivalent for both thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and rhTSH methods and the two iodine-131 (131I or 3.7 GBq).
A total of 752 patients with thyroid cancer were assessed, from the time of random assignment to a follow-up visit at 8±2 months. Resource use (hospitalization for 131I administration, rhTSH, sick leave, and transportation) was collected prospectively.
RELATED: Germline HABP2 Mutation Associated with Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer
At 131I administration, patients experienced a clinically significant deterioration of HRQoL with THW, but it remained stable with rhTSH. The deterioration was transient with no difference 3 months later. rhTSH was more effective than THW in terms of quality-adjusted life years, but was more expensive.
The use of 1.1 GBq of 131I instead of 3.7 GBq reduced per-patient costs by $1,018 but with slightly decreased efficacy.
Reference
- Borget I, Bonastre J, Catargi B, et al. Quality of life and cost-effectiveness assessment of radioiodine ablation strategies in patients with thyroid cancer: results from the randomized phase III ESTIMABL trial. J Clin Oncol. 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.61.6722.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
People With Type 2 Diabetes Do Benefit From Blood Sugar Checks
People With Type 2 Diabetes Do Benefit From Blood Sugar Checks
People With Type 2 Diabetes Do Benefit From Blood Sugar Checks
People With Type 2 Diabetes Do Benefit From Blood Sugar Checks
Study suggests monitoring at least twice a day helps people manage better
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News)
-- Personalized blood sugar self-monitoring benefits people with type 2
diabetes even if they're not taking insulin, a new small study shows.
Some experts have questioned the value of self-monitoring in this
group, and many insurers -- including Medicare -- limit the
reimbursement of blood sugar (glucose) testing strips to one a day for
people with type 2 diabetes.
This study included 11 people with type 2 diabetes who worked with
the researchers to create personalized, structured self-monitoring blood
glucose schedules. In most cases, self-monitoring twice a day was the
most helpful in providing meaningful information about blood sugar
levels.
However, there was room for individualization based on a patient's
type of lifestyle and needs. For example, a patient might check their
blood sugar twice a day three days a week instead of once a day seven
days a week, according to the study authors.
People were taught to react to their blood sugar levels readings in a number of ways, such as eating less or going for a walk.
The 11 patients in the study lowered their A1C levels -- a test that
measures average blood sugar levels for the past few months -- from an
average of 7.3 percent to 6.2 percent. The usual goal for people with
diabetes is to keep those levels below 7 percent, the researchers
explained.
"Most of the participants in the study were self-described 'country
folk' who found that they were able to control their diabetes. This
study helps doctors and nurses to understand how people with type 2
diabetes can benefit from [self-monitoring]," study author Dana
Brackney, a diabetes educator and an assistant professor of nursing at
Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., said in an American
Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) news release.
The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the AADE annual
meeting in New Orleans. Research presented at meetings is generally
viewed as preliminary until it has been published in a peer-reviewed
journal.
The results confirm that people with type 2 diabetes do respond to
the results of blood sugar self-monitoring tests, Dana Brackney noted.
"Participants in this study said that sticking to a regular
[self-monitoring] schedule really helped them to know where their blood
levels were and take appropriate action, such as adding physical
activity or choosing a healthy snack," Brackney said.
"They said it helped them accept that they had diabetes, but also
feel confident that they could control it rather than letting it control
them," she added.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about diabetes.
-- Personalized blood sugar self-monitoring benefits people with type 2
diabetes even if they're not taking insulin, a new small study shows.
Some experts have questioned the value of self-monitoring in this
group, and many insurers -- including Medicare -- limit the
reimbursement of blood sugar (glucose) testing strips to one a day for
people with type 2 diabetes.
This study included 11 people with type 2 diabetes who worked with
the researchers to create personalized, structured self-monitoring blood
glucose schedules. In most cases, self-monitoring twice a day was the
most helpful in providing meaningful information about blood sugar
levels.
However, there was room for individualization based on a patient's
type of lifestyle and needs. For example, a patient might check their
blood sugar twice a day three days a week instead of once a day seven
days a week, according to the study authors.
People were taught to react to their blood sugar levels readings in a number of ways, such as eating less or going for a walk.
The 11 patients in the study lowered their A1C levels -- a test that
measures average blood sugar levels for the past few months -- from an
average of 7.3 percent to 6.2 percent. The usual goal for people with
diabetes is to keep those levels below 7 percent, the researchers
explained.
"Most of the participants in the study were self-described 'country
folk' who found that they were able to control their diabetes. This
study helps doctors and nurses to understand how people with type 2
diabetes can benefit from [self-monitoring]," study author Dana
Brackney, a diabetes educator and an assistant professor of nursing at
Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., said in an American
Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) news release.
The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the AADE annual
meeting in New Orleans. Research presented at meetings is generally
viewed as preliminary until it has been published in a peer-reviewed
journal.
The results confirm that people with type 2 diabetes do respond to
the results of blood sugar self-monitoring tests, Dana Brackney noted.
"Participants in this study said that sticking to a regular
[self-monitoring] schedule really helped them to know where their blood
levels were and take appropriate action, such as adding physical
activity or choosing a healthy snack," Brackney said.
"They said it helped them accept that they had diabetes, but also
feel confident that they could control it rather than letting it control
them," she added.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about diabetes.
SOURCE: American Association of Diabetes Educators, news release, Aug. 5, 2015
Last Updated:
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Exercise May Make Tumors Less Aggressive, More Likely to Respond to Treatment
Exercise May Make Tumors Less Aggressive, More Likely to Respond to Treatment
June 10, 2015
June 10, 2015
Exercise may have yet another benefit – the
right amount at the right time could make cancer treatments such as
radiation and chemotherapy more effective.
right amount at the right time could make cancer treatments such as
radiation and chemotherapy more effective.
The
reason has to do with blood flow delivery and oxygen, according to
Bradley Behnke, Ph.D., a physiology researcher at Kansas State
University. “Tumors contain areas of low oxygen (termed hypoxia), which
make them resistant to radiotherapy and more likely to metastasize,”
says Behnke. Exercise appears to combat this issue – increasing the
amount of blood flow to the tumor, resulting in better oxygenation of
the tumor.
reason has to do with blood flow delivery and oxygen, according to
Bradley Behnke, Ph.D., a physiology researcher at Kansas State
University. “Tumors contain areas of low oxygen (termed hypoxia), which
make them resistant to radiotherapy and more likely to metastasize,”
says Behnke. Exercise appears to combat this issue – increasing the
amount of blood flow to the tumor, resulting in better oxygenation of
the tumor.
“Hypoxia is a common
phenomenon which occurs in almost every solid tumor – brain, lung,
breast, and prostate – and if the tumor is hypoxic, the prognosis for
the patient is poor, resulting in significantly shorter survival and
recurrence-free survival of patients versus those with a non-hypoxic
tumor,” says Behnke. “But exercise training seems to alleviate this
hypoxia almost completely.”
phenomenon which occurs in almost every solid tumor – brain, lung,
breast, and prostate – and if the tumor is hypoxic, the prognosis for
the patient is poor, resulting in significantly shorter survival and
recurrence-free survival of patients versus those with a non-hypoxic
tumor,” says Behnke. “But exercise training seems to alleviate this
hypoxia almost completely.”
Behnke says
that exercise changes the tumor environment and may influence the
effectiveness of treatment with radiation and, potentially, with
chemotherapy. “For example, there are exciting new studies that
demonstrate, in preclinical models, that chemotherapy plus exercise
results in a significantly prolonged growth delay of breast tumors
versus chemotherapy alone,” says Behnke.
that exercise changes the tumor environment and may influence the
effectiveness of treatment with radiation and, potentially, with
chemotherapy. “For example, there are exciting new studies that
demonstrate, in preclinical models, that chemotherapy plus exercise
results in a significantly prolonged growth delay of breast tumors
versus chemotherapy alone,” says Behnke.
Behnke’s prior studies in rats with prostate cancer, the results of which were published last year in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,
found that low-to-moderate intensity exercise increased blood flow to
tumors by about 200% and decreased tumor hypoxia by about 50%. “We saw
that during exercise, as well as after long-term exercise training,
there was a greater reduction in hypoxia (up to 90% after training)
versus that which occurs with other conventional treatments for tumor
hypoxia such as high-oxygen breathing therapy.”
found that low-to-moderate intensity exercise increased blood flow to
tumors by about 200% and decreased tumor hypoxia by about 50%. “We saw
that during exercise, as well as after long-term exercise training,
there was a greater reduction in hypoxia (up to 90% after training)
versus that which occurs with other conventional treatments for tumor
hypoxia such as high-oxygen breathing therapy.”
Exercise May Make Tumors Less Aggressive, More Likely to Respond to Treatment
June 10, 2015
Exercise
may have yet another benefit – the right amount at the right time could
make cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy more
effective.
may have yet another benefit – the right amount at the right time could
make cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy more
effective.
The reason has to do with
blood flow delivery and oxygen, according to Bradley Behnke, Ph.D., a
physiology researcher at Kansas State University. “Tumors contain areas
of low oxygen (termed hypoxia), which make them resistant to
radiotherapy and more likely to metastasize,” says Behnke. Exercise
appears to combat this issue – increasing the amount of blood flow to
the tumor, resulting in better oxygenation of the tumor.
blood flow delivery and oxygen, according to Bradley Behnke, Ph.D., a
physiology researcher at Kansas State University. “Tumors contain areas
of low oxygen (termed hypoxia), which make them resistant to
radiotherapy and more likely to metastasize,” says Behnke. Exercise
appears to combat this issue – increasing the amount of blood flow to
the tumor, resulting in better oxygenation of the tumor.
“Hypoxia
is a common phenomenon which occurs in almost every solid tumor –
brain, lung, breast, and prostate – and if the tumor is hypoxic, the
prognosis for the patient is poor, resulting in significantly shorter
survival and recurrence-free survival of patients versus those with a
non-hypoxic tumor,” says Behnke. “But exercise training seems to
alleviate this hypoxia almost completely.”
is a common phenomenon which occurs in almost every solid tumor –
brain, lung, breast, and prostate – and if the tumor is hypoxic, the
prognosis for the patient is poor, resulting in significantly shorter
survival and recurrence-free survival of patients versus those with a
non-hypoxic tumor,” says Behnke. “But exercise training seems to
alleviate this hypoxia almost completely.”
Behnke
says that exercise changes the tumor environment and may influence the
effectiveness of treatment with radiation and, potentially, with
chemotherapy. “For example, there are exciting new studies that
demonstrate, in preclinical models, that chemotherapy plus exercise
results in a significantly prolonged growth delay of breast tumors
versus chemotherapy alone,” says Behnke.
says that exercise changes the tumor environment and may influence the
effectiveness of treatment with radiation and, potentially, with
chemotherapy. “For example, there are exciting new studies that
demonstrate, in preclinical models, that chemotherapy plus exercise
results in a significantly prolonged growth delay of breast tumors
versus chemotherapy alone,” says Behnke.
Behnke’s prior studies in rats with prostate cancer, the results of which were published last year in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,
found that low-to-moderate intensity exercise increased blood flow to
tumors by about 200% and decreased tumor hypoxia by about 50%. “We saw
that during exercise, as well as after long-term exercise training,
there was a greater reduction in hypoxia (up to 90% after training)
versus that which occurs with other conventional treatments for tumor
hypoxia such as high-oxygen breathing therapy.”
found that low-to-moderate intensity exercise increased blood flow to
tumors by about 200% and decreased tumor hypoxia by about 50%. “We saw
that during exercise, as well as after long-term exercise training,
there was a greater reduction in hypoxia (up to 90% after training)
versus that which occurs with other conventional treatments for tumor
hypoxia such as high-oxygen breathing therapy.”
Finding the Right Exercise Amount, Intensity, and Timing
 | ||
Now,
with the help of a $760,000 grant from the American Cancer Society,
Behnke is trying to figure out the specifics – how much and when a
cancer patient needs to exercise to decrease tumor hypoxia and increase
the effectiveness of treatment.
with the help of a $760,000 grant from the American Cancer Society,
Behnke is trying to figure out the specifics – how much and when a
cancer patient needs to exercise to decrease tumor hypoxia and increase
the effectiveness of treatment.
“We are
now exercise-training rats with prostate tumors and looking at how long
after the exercise the increase in oxygen to the tumors lasts, so that
we can determine the ideal timing for exercise therapy for cancer
patients.”
now exercise-training rats with prostate tumors and looking at how long
after the exercise the increase in oxygen to the tumors lasts, so that
we can determine the ideal timing for exercise therapy for cancer
patients.”
“Our preliminary data shows
that the impact of exercise on the tumor environment lasts at least up
to two weeks after training.” Behnke’s next step is to test the impact
of the exercise training on the effectiveness of radiation treatment in
rats.
that the impact of exercise on the tumor environment lasts at least up
to two weeks after training.” Behnke’s next step is to test the impact
of the exercise training on the effectiveness of radiation treatment in
rats.
In his current study, Behnke is
focused on moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or slow
jogging. Behnke says it is important to figure out the exact right
exercise intensity level for cancer patients because too much exercise
(in terms of duration or intensity) may actually be a bad thing when it
comes to treating tumors.
focused on moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or slow
jogging. Behnke says it is important to figure out the exact right
exercise intensity level for cancer patients because too much exercise
(in terms of duration or intensity) may actually be a bad thing when it
comes to treating tumors.
“We
have to figure out what the correct exercise protocols are, we can’t
just tell a patient to go exercise.” says Behnke. “Think about if you
tell someone one vitamin is good and then when they feel sick they take
3; well, what if you tell cancer patients exercise is good and then they
go and do heavy exercise that may compromise immune function and
potentially make the tumor worse?” This is why Behnke wants to find the
specific exercise model that is most beneficial for treatment outcomes.
have to figure out what the correct exercise protocols are, we can’t
just tell a patient to go exercise.” says Behnke. “Think about if you
tell someone one vitamin is good and then when they feel sick they take
3; well, what if you tell cancer patients exercise is good and then they
go and do heavy exercise that may compromise immune function and
potentially make the tumor worse?” This is why Behnke wants to find the
specific exercise model that is most beneficial for treatment outcomes.
However,
Behnke notes that organizations including the American Cancer Society
already recommend exercise for cancer patients and survivors to help
them deal with the emotional and physical side effects of treatment.
“Based on this, I think the results of our research are going to be very
positive; I don’t think there is any data to suggest that a human
shouldn’t exercise before, during, and after cancer treatment.”
Behnke notes that organizations including the American Cancer Society
already recommend exercise for cancer patients and survivors to help
them deal with the emotional and physical side effects of treatment.
“Based on this, I think the results of our research are going to be very
positive; I don’t think there is any data to suggest that a human
shouldn’t exercise before, during, and after cancer treatment.”
Given
that radiation therapy is used for about 60% of cancer patients, Behnke
hopes his findings demonstrating the positive influence of exercise on
tumor treatment could translate into a helpful strategy for many
different types of cancers. “This is a way for us to change the tumor
microenvironment to be more beneficial and not as chaotic or
aggressive.”
that radiation therapy is used for about 60% of cancer patients, Behnke
hopes his findings demonstrating the positive influence of exercise on
tumor treatment could translate into a helpful strategy for many
different types of cancers. “This is a way for us to change the tumor
microenvironment to be more beneficial and not as chaotic or
aggressive.”
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