Cancer

38 children diagnosed with cancer during Covid-19 pandemic

WOWS Kids Fiji reported that 25 deaths were recorded in 2020 and 13 last year.

Team Leader Mere William said the number of cases that they deal with has increased.

“We are on 74. Last year we went as, the highest was 80, for us last year, it was actually busy for us during the lockdown, we had many new cases that came, so some have passed on in the up until from November, December, January, we have lost some”.

Despite the restrictions brought by the pandemic, WOWS Kids Fiji continued to provide services.

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Fukushima nuclear disaster: Japanese youth sue over cancer diagnoses

The plaintiffs, aged between six and 16 at the time of the disaster, say they got cancer from radiation exposure.

All of them underwent surgery to remove parts or all of their thyroid glands, their lawyer said.

However, they may struggle to prove that the radiation led to their cancer.

Their lawsuit is seeking $5.4m (£4m) in compensation from the plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco).

A Tepco spokesman said the company was aware of the case filing and would address it once they had seen the details of the complaint.

Actor dies of cancer aged 72

He was widely regarded as one of the country's finest contemporary classical actors, with a long association with the company.

Its artistic director and Sir Antony's husband, Gregory Doran, had taken compassionate leave to care for him.

The company said it was "deeply saddened" by the news.

RSC chair Shriti Vadera said the actor was "beloved" in the organisation "and touched and enriched the lives of so many people".

Dustin Diamond diagnosed with cancer

The 44-year-old, who played Samuel "Screech" Powers in the popular 1990s US school-based sitcom, fell ill last week and was taken to hospital.

His representative, Roger Paul, said the actor is now waiting for further details.

"We will know the severity of it when the tests are done," Paul said, adding they expect an update next week.

Saved by the Bell ran for four seasons from 1989 to 1993 and followed a group of high school friends and their principal.

Digicel in mourning following death of former Group CEO, Colm Delves

Colm passed away yesterday in Dublin, Ireland after a courageous battle with cancer.

Cancer danger highlighted on 'No Betel Nut Day'

Business4Health uses its business links to raise concerns about critical health issues in the PNG community.

And the oral cancers arising from betel nut use are a major focus for it.

Business4Health principal Ann Clarke said changing attitudes to betel nut use in PNG communities was going to be tough. 

The challenge was similar to those faced by anti-smoking campaigners, she said.

"And if you think of it in that context it will take time but it also takes better education, better understanding of people's health," Ms Clarke said.

Wayne Smith treated for cancer

Smith, who stood down from the national team following the Rugby Championship, told Fairfax that he found about his prostate cancer during the tournament, but he and his wife decided to keep it quiet.

60 year old Smith had an operation in December and says the news has been very positive since.

Smith has plans to do some coaching advisory work in both Japan and Italy.

 

     

Cancer: There is still hope

But amidst the fear, Dr Suresh Venkita, medical director at the Pacific International Hospital reminds people that there is still hope.

He says cancer is one area greatly researched even today, and there are advancements on cure and prevention, targeted specifically for before the cancer forms.

This, he says, allows for early detection, prevention as much as possible, or for diagnosis, treatment and survival of the cancer.

“We are trying to take away fear of the cancer and bring back hope and confidence,” he said.

'Pen' identifies cancer in 10 seconds

They say it could make surgery to remove a tumour quicker, safer and more precise.

And they hope it would avoid the "heartbreak" of leaving any of the cancer behind.

Tests, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggest the technology is accurate 96% of the time.

The MasSpec Pen takes advantage of the unique metabolism of cancer cells.

Their furious drive to grow and spread means their internal chemistry is very different to that of healthy tissue.

 

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First cancer 'living drug' gets go-ahead

The regulator - the US Food and Drug Administration - said its decision was a "historic" moment and medicine was now "entering a new frontier".

The company Novartis is charging $475,000 (£367,000) for the "living drug" therapy, which leaves 83% of people free of a type of blood cancer.

Doctors in the UK said the announcement was an exciting step forward.

The living drug is tailor-made to each patient, unlike conventional therapies such as surgery or chemotherapy.

It is called CAR-T and is made by extracting white blood cells from the patient's blood.