Conference on cancer in St Andrews
A conference of leading scientists will be held in St Andrews, marking the 30th anniversary of the association for International Cancer Researcher (AICR). The latest advances in cancer research will be discussed in this conference, which will be attended by over 200 researchers from 28 different countries. Among the other delegates includes, the Nobel prize winner Sir ‘Tim Hunt’ and cancer survivor ‘Dave Cook’.
This conference will be a massive event which will target the study and research done in cancer and its treatments. Even this conference will highlight the studies being conducted in laboratory based cancer research and it also aim to explore new ventures to find out new ways for a better treatment. The AICR based in St Andrews even awards grants to cancer scientists around the world for further study and prevention of this disease.
It is also found that, cancer claims many lives in Scotland every year, with breast cancer being the major cause for death.
New way to fight out cancer
July, 2
Study has shown that Broccoli can fight out prostate cancer by altering the activity levels of genes involved in tumour growth. This discovery was made by the scientist after a detailed study on its impact to cancer patients.
The study was conducted on two groups of men who were given broccoli in their normal diet for a year. It was found that the group of men who were given broccoli-rich diet happened to have changes in their gene activity, with inflammation in the Prostate. Meanwhile taking broccoli in little quantity in daily diet helps to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and also lowers the possibility of aggressive cancer.
Scientists are still studying on this recent discovery and are finding out how really it will benefit the cancer patients at large. It is also said that this study is one of its kind in which gene expression in a target tissue has been studied after a dietary intervention. Scientist have also expressed that this study has proved that diets which are rich in cruciferous vegetables help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Food colourant to fight out cancer
June, 10
Now food can defend you from the mighty diseases like cancer and heart disorders. One of the recent studies has revealed that a red colouring ingredient widely used in Chinese food can keep you at bay with cancer and heart diseases.
It was remarkable to note that the extract of red yeast rice cuts the risk of cancer deaths by two-third and also lowers down the risk of dying from heart disease by 33 percent. The figures obtained by a study in China showed those heart patients who took the supplement lowered their chance of having continuous heart attacks by 45 percent. This red yeast rice extract helped a lot to ward off such serious diseases.
According to doctors and experts the benefit from red yeast rice is so much that they have over past the benefit of the cholesterol reducing drug statins. China has been widely using this red yeast rice extract from a long time in many ways, as a food preservative, colourant, seasoning and also as herbal medicine. This wonder colouring ingredient has a huge medicinal value and helps to improve the blood circulation in the body.
All these benefits revealed by the study had given a new dimension to the research works being conducted in the field of cancer and other heart diseases. It is felt that this red yeast rice will be a great help for people battling out with cancer and heart ailments.
Women’s to run for a noble cause
June, 2
The streets of Edinburgh will soon be running packed this weekend with over 7000 women’s running hard to raise £500,000 for charity. This is not any Olympics race but nothing less than that as its for a noble cause. It’s the annual race which is aimed to raise funds for Cancer research and has been successfully organised for the past 13 years, like every year this year too this marathon will attract a huge number of runners to cheer up for a good cause.
The race will cover a stretch of 5 kms and during the course of the run the roads will be closed from Horse Wynd to Holyrood Gait between 8am to 1pm. It was informed that over 750,000 women’s takes part in this huge event every year across the UK. The area event manager for Race for Life Edinburgh, Olivia McLean said, “Edinburgh is regarded as one of our big weekends in national fundraising terms. She added, It is also rated very highly in the UK standings for the number of runners taking part, and that’s a real achievement for Scotland’s capital city. Meanwhile people are eagerly waiting to watch out this charity run.
Cancer as all know has been one of the most fatal diseases and every year huge number of people succumbs to this dreadful disease. This run will act as a motivational and also as a remembrance to all those affected by this disease. The organisers are expecting to raise £491,000 from this weekend’s event towards a total Scottish fundraising target of £3 million for Cancer Research UK. The run is completely meant for a noble cause and is non competitive which makes it more special.
The funds which will be collected by this run will go towards helping many projects in the city and will also be a source of help for those thousands of women who get affected from this disease each year. The charity also funds the Childhood cancer clinical trials programme at the Sick Kids. This run has helped a lot of cancer patients and has contributed a lot for the research works and studies done in this field and hope this year too it achieve new heights.
Cancer losing its killer instincts
February, 20
Cancer, one of the most feared and dreadful disease which has been taking toll on patients lives, has once again made into news. As it may be known that cancer is the leading cause of death in Scotland, with over 15,000 people giving up their lives to this killer disease. But this time a ray of hope is noticed for all those patients who are suffering from this disease or fear to get hold of it in future. It is seen that the survival rates among the cancer patients are improving at a higher rate. Indicating a good sign of relief for all those who had left their hopes to fight out this dreadful disease.
In recent years it has been seen that cancer survival rates are improving at a slow pace, which is a healthy sign for both patients battling out this disease and also to the medical field. The day is not far when cancer will be seen as any other chronic disease which could easily be treated. Slowly this killer disease is losing its fatal power and the day is not far when cancer will not be seen as a fatal disease.
If we look to the past record, we can find that those areas where the rate of survival in cancer was more were prostate, breast, leukaemia and Hodgkin’s disease. Meanwhile the situation of lung cancer is not that good. With cancer being the most furious killer disease in Scotland, has now become a challenge for Scotland to fight out with. Expressing her views, Nicola Strugeon, the Health Secretary said, “I would like to see cancer services that have state-of-the-art buildings and equipment and have staff that are as good as we have today”.
But the main fact lies on the way the patients are treated to fight this disease, more effective and improved treatments should be given. Even the drugs prescribed shall meet the cost efficiency, as people should afford to bear the treatment. Even the treatment waiting time shall also be reduced and also in the most effective way. We can hope in coming years the fear of cancer will fade out from our lives for ever.