berisa

Sandy, you look GREAT !!!

Susan, I am terribly sorry for the news. Hang in there and you & your family are in my prayers.

Hi Candy, sorry sorry for your loss. You are such a strong lady that you definitely can get through any bad times ahead you will have. You have a clear mind and clear goal to live on, really thanks God for your boldness. You are not alone, you have friends, sons and us.

hi David, good to hear that you are enjoying your life. Very good, I like fishing very much too. I can imagine how relaxing your days there are!!!

It is really great to hear good news from any of you. Mo-sugar, WELL DONE!! My Dad is having the preventive brain radiation now. There is 8 times to go, just finished 2 times.

Gina, Wonderful news......keep on enjoying your life without worries

Love to hear good news as well. Congratulations.

Fish-Oil Fats May Stop Cancer Weight Loss Fri September 12, 2003 05:50 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Dietary supplements enriched in omega-3 fatty acids, a component of fish oil, may help cancer patients gain weight, new research suggests. Weight loss and muscle deterioration are common problems for people with advanced cancer. In animal studies, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to protect against this problem, also known as cachexia. The current findings, reported in the medical journal Gut, are based on a study of 200 patients with pancreatic cancer who received a diet supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids or a similar supplement lacking these fatty acids for 8 weeks. The subjects were instructed to consume two cans per day of the assigned supplement. In the overall analysis, both supplements were equally effective in stopping the loss of body weight and muscle tissue, Dr. K. C. H. Fearon, from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the UK, and colleagues report. However, on average, patients only consumed 1.4 cans per day of supplement--well below the recommended dose of 2 cans per day. When the data was reanalyzed taking this into account, the authors found that as the amount of the omega-3 supplement consumed went up, so did weight and muscle gain. In contrast, this effect was not seen with the supplement lacking omega-3 fatty acids. The team also found that only weight gain with the omega-3 supplement was actually tied to an improved quality of life. Because many patients did not take the recommended daily amount of supplements, "further trials are required to examine the potential role of omega-3 enriched supplements in the treatment of cancer cachexia," the investigators conclude.

hi Kate, I know uncertainty makes one nervous and scared, seems nothing we can do during that period, this is the most unbearable moment that I experienced. No matter what, try to get more opinions from other oncologists, but I know, it is always a big headache to oncologists while recurrence, as far as I know whether the chemo regimen works dependent on many factors such as the interval time between NED and recurrence, how long the remission time is affecting the response to the chemo. the longer the remission time the better the second chemo response. be bold. You are in my prayer.

Molecule Found in Meat, Milk and Tumors - Study Mon September 29, 2003 05:23 PM ET By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A non-human molecule found in red meat and milk makes its way into the human system when eaten -- and seems to build up especially in tumors, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. The compound, called sialic acid, is found on the surfaces of animal cells but is not found in people, and may be one reason why animal-to-human organ and tissue transplants do not work well. Animals have a version called Neu5Gc, while humans carry Neu5Ac. But researchers at the University of California San Diego found it does show up in the human body, and showed it can be absorbed from eating red meat and milk. They also showed that the body produces an immune response against the molecule. Dr. Ajit Varki and colleagues, reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say it is too soon to make any recommendations based on their findings. "Of course, there are already existing recommendations that people should not consume too much food containing saturated fats, such as dairy products and red meats," Varki said in a statement. "The highest amount (of Neu5Gc) was found in lamb, pork, and beef (so-called 'red meat')," the researchers wrote. Levels were very low or undetectable in poultry and fish, vegetables and hen's eggs. Varki, who is not a vegetarian, noted that many studies have linked a diet rich in meat and milk with cancer, heart disease and other diseases. AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE "The small amounts of Neu5Gc in normal tissues also raise the possibility that anti-Neu5Gc antibodies are involved in autoimmunity," the researchers said. Autoimmune disease occur when the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue and include type-1 or juvenile diabetes and some types of arthritis. "In this regard, it is interesting that vegetarian diet has been suggested to improve rheumatoid arthritis," they wrote. But much research has focused on the fat content of animal fat or byproducts of cooking meat as the cause of disease. Varki's collaborator Dr. Elaine Muchmore developed an antibody -- an immune system targeting protein -- that would hook onto Neu5Gc. The team found Neu5Gc in human tumor samples and to a much lower degree in healthy tissue. More tests showed that most people had made their own antibodies that recognized Neu5Gc, and thus could potentially initiate an inflammatory immune response. Varki and two colleagues drank Neu5Gc purified from pork sources, and the molecule showed up in their urine, blood, hair and saliva. "We need to find out if there is any association between the presence of Neu5Gc and/or the anti-Neu5Gc antibodies with any disease," Varki said. "This will require large-scale population studies." In some cases the human immune response was similar to that seen when people are exposed to another animal molecule, this one a cell surface molecule called alpha galactose. Varki noted that the molecule is almost certainly not immediately toxic to people. "Meat eating has certainly been a feature of human ancestors for many hundreds of thousands of years," he said. "Thus, it is indeed possible that humans have developed some kind of tolerance or indifference to Neu5Gc. However, most humans are continuing to make antibodies against Neu5Gc." It could be that the damage only builds up over years -- and that as people live longer, the consequences make themselves felt. "However, we are now living longer and the question arises whether the gradual accumulation of Neu5Gc and the simultaneous presence of antibodies against could be involved in some diseases of later life," he said.

U.S. Study Shows Vitamins Save Health Care Costs Thu October 2, 2003 10:08 AM ET By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Want to save health care dollars? Give vitamins to the elderly, a study published on Thursday suggests. The study, done on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Wyeth Consumer Health by health care consultant The Lewin Group, finds that vitamins could improve overall health, making elderly people less likely to need drugs or hospital care. "The Lewin Group study found that daily use of a multivitamin by older adults is a relatively inexpensive yet potentially powerful way to improve one's health," Lewin said in the report. As people age, and especially after age 65, the immune system generally weakens, leaving them vulnerable to infections. "The five-year estimate of potential savings (or cost offsets) resulting from improved immune functioning and a reduction in the relative risk of coronary artery disease through providing older adults with a daily multivitamin is approximately $1.6 billion," the report concludes. "The five-year estimated cost offset associated with avoidable hospitalization for heart attacks is approximately $2.4 billion," it adds. Over five years, the report concludes, it would cost $2.3 billion to provide a daily multivitamin to older adults in the United States. Tom Scully, Commissioner of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the Health and Human Services Department, was scheduled to comment on the report later on Thursday. The study was launched with the aim of finding an inexpensive way to save money in health care. "Current sentiment among policymakers in health care favors prevention, making this study an important contribution to the discussion in multiple public arenas," the report said. "Evidence from numerous sources indicates that a significant number of older adults fail to get the amounts and types of food necessary to meet essential energy and nutrient needs." The group looked at a range of studies and reports to make its own findings. It studied the effects of taking vitamins on five diseases -- coronary artery disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. "Additionally we examined literature concerning the effects of multivitamins on immune functioning in older adults and the potential health care savings that might result from avoiding the costly hospitalizations, nursing home stays, and home health services associated with pneumonia, cellulitis (a skin infection), kidney and urinary tract infections, and septicemia (a blood infection)," the report read. For instance, one 1998 study involving 80,000 nurses found a 24 percent reduction in the risk of heart attacks among women who took daily multivitamins.

Cancer Drug Trials Disappoint Wed October 1, 2003 02:08 AM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Drugmakers Roche, Genentech Inc. and OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. said on Wednesday that two first-line phase III studies of their drug Tarceva, combined with chemotherapy, did not improve overall lung cancer survival rates. No. 2 U.S. biotech company Genentech said the disappointing results would not hurt previous earnings-per-share growth forecasts for the current or future years. Tarceva is part of a new class of cancer drugs known as epidermal growth factor inhibitors, which are designed to block a protein involved in cancer cell division. Its mechanism of action is similar to that of Iressa, the lung cancer pill made by AstraZeneca Plc. ImClone Systems Inc.'s experimental drug Erbitux is also designed to block a protein involved in cancer cell division. The companies said studies are continuing on second- and third-line non-small cell lung cancer and data are expected in early 2004. Basel, Switzerland-based Roche conducted studies in Europe, while San Francisco-based Genentech oversaw the trials in the United States. On Sept. 11, Investment adviser First Albany had raised its investment rating on OSI to "buy" from "neutral," citing the approaching conclusion of Phase III trials for its cancer drug Tarceva.

Selenium May Raise Skin Cancer Risk Wed October 1, 2003 04:33 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In patients with a history of skin cancer other than melanoma, the use of selenium supplements does not appear to prevent the recurrence of two other types of skin cancer--basal cell and squamous cell cancer--and may actually raise the risk of squamous cell cancer, new research suggests. The initial results from the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial reported in 1996 showed that selenium use did not influence the rate of nonmelanoma skin cancer in individuals who were at risk for this type of cancer. However, the new findings, which are based on three additional years of follow-up, suggest that use of the selenium, an antioxidant, may promote certain cancers. These findings run counter to the results of animal studies that indicate a protective effect for selenium and other antioxidants (see Reuters Health story February 27, 1998). The study, reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, involved 1312 patients with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer who were randomly assigned to receive daily supplementation with selenium 200 micrograms or placebo ("sugar pill"). In agreement with the initial results, selenium use was not associated with the risk of basal cell cancer, study author Dr. James R. Marshall, from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, and colleagues note. However, use of the antioxidant seemed to raise the risk of squamous cell cancer, the researchers state. Selenium users were 25% more likely to develop this malignancy than nonusers. These findings should be viewed along with the overall impact of selenium supplementation as a potential cancer-preventing agent, the authors note. Prostate cancer prevention trials that are now underway, including one testing selenium supplementation in men with precancerous cells in the prostate, "will help to clarify this overall impact," they add. SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, October

Diet, Exercise Advice for Cancer Survivors Wed October 1, 2003 04:01 PM ET By Karla Gale NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The American Cancer Society has issued a "Guide for Informed Choices," designed to advise cancer survivors, their families, and their physicians about appropriate nutrition and physical activity during and after treatment. Dr. Jean K. Brown, of The State University of New York in Buffalo, and colleagues point out in the Guide that nearly two-thirds of Americans with cancer survive for more than five years after diagnosis. Appropriate weight, a healthful diet, and a physically active lifestyle are particularly important because survivors' risk for new cancers or other chronic illnesses are higher than normal. Published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the recommendations are based on new research findings since recommendations were first published in 2001. One of the main differences in these new recommendations is that "there is more evidence about overweight/obesity and its potential to affect the recurrence of cancer and death from cancer," co-author Colleen Doyle told Reuters Health. Doyle, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is the Cancer Society's director of nutrition and physical activity. There has also been more research examining physical activity during treatment, after recovery, and in patients with advanced cancer, she added. Included with the recommendations are "Patient Pages," which answer many of the questions cancer survivors commonly have. For example, strategies for dealing with loss of appetite and fatigue are discussed. The authors also address measures for dealing with lymphedema, the swelling in the arm or leg that sometimes occurs after cancer surgery or radiation. Physical activity is now recommended for most cancer patients. However, ability to exercise can be compromised by severe anemia or other problems, and specific precautions are advised when these factors are involved. The recommendations also include data regarding special dietary regimens and supplements. Balanced multivitamin-mineral supplements with up to 100% of "Daily Value" may be helpful. However, high doses should be avoided because of their potential to interfere with chemotherapy and radiation or to increase the risk of new cancer. "If patients are considering some type of alternative or complementary therapy, they absolutely should talk to their healthcare provider first," Doyle advises. Some can be outright harmful. And even when risk seems to be minimal, there is little or no evidence yet that such therapies are of any benefit to cancer survivors, she said. SOURCE: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, October 2003.

I have the same question today and I am just thinking about her. I miss her smiling face.

hi Rick, you know in my circle of working fellows, we always say, if we could choose the sex, we should have a baby girl rather than have a baby boy bcoz girls behave in more caring ways, they knows how to better support the family and comparatively more commited into the parents' issues. hahaha... Do American think in that way?? I am interested in knowing more cultural diversity in the world. Really interesting. That's why I like "National Geographic" & "Discovery Channel" very much P.S. This message is not an advertisement!!! Personal comment and opinion ONLY.

Anyone see her posts recently? Seems long time no news from her as well. Hope her mom is fine.

hi Denise, you should get a second opinion but keep on doing the treatment. Second opinion is necessary always. I always welcome all options that open bcoz you will have more choices to choose, my attitude is to collect as many info as possible, while you have a better picture with more information and knowledge, you can make a better, more suitable choice for your mom. You know, for a patient, it is difficult to do some researches on their own bcoz they may not familiar with using computer, they need more time to rest and enjoy their life etc..., we as a family caregiver, should help them doing that part, at least, one day, you could tell yourself you have tried your best. This is my advice. Take care by the way !

Carleen Long time no news from you, thank you for updating us. It is really stressful to have a busy daytime job. Hang in there. You are an excellent wife that you gave the best gift to your husband, you makes his dream come true, how wonderful you are. You both are in my prayers always.

yes, lynn's father's story is an inspiration to keep me believe. Your father is an angel of giving hope to us. Thank you.

Gina, waiting to hear good news!!! We are on your side.

hi Laurie, welcome back, think that you and your mom are enjoying life that no time to surf around here. Enjoy and welcome.

Hi Donna, now in hong kong, it is about 25 - 30 C, still hot in daytime. Suppose now is autumn but the weather doesn't seem like autumn, autumn here normally is a very short season in Hong Kong. The coldest is around 5-6 C here. The hottest is around 34C. David, thank you for your prayers, my Dad is going to have the 1st PCI this Thursday (10/2). You and Karen are very kind and I feel that I know you both for a long while already. Yes, you are right, Beijing is more polluted than Guangzhou.