| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"stoney" |
| Date: |
06 Oct 2006 03:30:57 PM |
| Object: |
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146503>1=8618
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study
Brain scans show changes in blood flow, metabolism
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized by
chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a sizeable minority
of cancer survivors.
Now, researchers say the condition may be linked to brain metabolism and
blood flow changes that can endure for more than a decade.
The new study, published in the Oct. 5 online edition of Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment, should help refute the view that chemo brain is
just a figment of patients' imaginations.
"Many women who have had chemo for breast cancer are suffering from
cognitive problems for many years after their chemo is finished, and
this is the first direct examination of the brain that identifies
long-term, if not permanent, changes in brain metabolism related to
those cognitive problems," said study lead author Dr. Daniel H.S.
Silverman, of the department of molecular and medical pharmacology at
the University of California's David Geffen School of Medicine in Los
Angeles.
Although chemo brain has been spotted among survivors of other forms of
cancer, such as lymphoma, Silverman's group focused on breast cancer
patients because the disease is the second-leading cancer killer of
American women after lung cancer.
Each year, more than 211,000 American women are diagnosed with breast
cancer, the researchers noted, and anywhere from approximately 25
percent to 80 percent of those who undergo chemotherapy complain of
later onset of cognitive difficulties.
Silverman stressed, however, that not every breast cancer patient who
undergoes chemo suffers from chemo brain, and that many of those who do
experience only mild symptoms.
"The impact tends to be relatively subtle," Silverman said. "These are
not basic losses of cognition that are going to be noticed when doing
easy things. It's more a question of being unable to maintain attention
and concentrate when trying to accomplish demanding and high-functioning
tasks."
Nevertheless, for some of those who experience this cognitive
disruption, the impact can be debilitating. That's why Silverman and his
colleagues looked for underlying mechanisms to better understand the
condition.
Using positron emission tomography -- commonly known as PET -- the UCLA
team scanned the brains of 21 former breast cancer patients who had had
tumors surgically removed between five and 10 years prior to this study.
Sixteen of the women had undergone chemotherapy, while the remaining
five had had surgery alone. Scans were also conducted for 13 women of
similar age and backgrounds with no history of breast cancer or
chemotherapy.
The researchers observed brain blood-flow patterns as participants
engaged in short-term memory exercises lasting about 10 minutes. They
also measured brain metabolism after the exercise.
Silverman's team found that the post-chemo patients experienced
relatively large blood flow "spikes" to certain parts of the brain when
performing the mental tasks. This group also executed the tasks 13
percent less well than the non-chemo and non-cancer groups.
As well, former chemotherapy recipients showed relatively low brain
metabolism rates in the frontal cortex after the tasks were completed,
the researchers noted.
Participants who had undergone both chemotherapy and hormonal treatments
also showed about an eight percent drop in their resting metabolism in a
region of the brain called the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia is known to function as a bridge between thought and
action, the researchers noted.
Putting all the facts together, Silverman's team said the task-related
blood flow jumps in the brains of former chemotherapy recipients
indicated increased brain activity. That may mean that the chemo group
were starting from a neurological disadvantage -- working harder (and
with less success) to complete the tasks than those who had never
undergone such treatment.
"Chemo-brain symptoms are the single biggest impediment to the quality
of life of long-term breast cancer survivors who are getting chemo at
earlier and earlier stages and living longer, or even to full life
expectancy," noted Silverman. "So, of course, this is discouraging news
if you're trying to do something for the affected patients after the
fact."
"But on the other hand," he noted, "these findings could ultimately be
very encouraging in terms of trying to prevent this, because you could
perhaps identify patterns of brain metabolism that could help steer
individual patients toward therapy regimens that would be least harmful
for them, or to terminate therapies before they cause permanent brain
damage."
Dr. Claudine Isaacs, director of the clinical breast cancer program at
Georgetown University, said the study was interesting but inconclusive.
"These are very provocative findings, and I think this is the way we
need to go in terms of utilizing imaging studies to better understand
the problem," she said. "But to know what all this means is another
thing."
"The problem is that this is so multi-factorial," cautioned Isaacs.
"There are so many things that go into this -- age-related influences,
menopause -- and it's very difficult to tease out the different parts."
"It is also true," she added, "that other studies in this area have
shown that a relative minority of patients are affected by this
phenomenon, and that in substantial numbers, the problems resolve over
time among those who are. So, the situation is not necessarily forever."
More information
To learn more about chemo brain, visit the American Cancer Society.
/end
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
07 Oct 2006 08:13:24 AM |
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In article <eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146503&
GT1=8618
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study
Brain scans show changes in blood flow, metabolism
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized by
chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a sizeable minority
of cancer survivors.
Now, researchers say the condition may be linked to brain metabolism and
blood flow changes that can endure for more than a decade.
The new study, published in the Oct. 5 online edition of Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment, should help refute the view that chemo brain is
just a figment of patients' imaginations.
I attended a cancer research meeting many years ago. It was reported
then that chemotherapy treated cancer survivors years later often
exhibited tumors in other parts of the body, unrelated to the original
cancers. It was believed that the chemotherapeutic agents used at the
time might have actually been the cause of the secondary cancer.
Chemotherapy is a terrible treatment. It is like trying to kill a fly
with a shotgun. You may get the fly, but chances are that you will do a
lot of 'collateral damage' too. Unfortunately, it is still the best
choice that we have in many cases today. It is definitely better than
the alternative, death.
That is why I have high hopes for more specific treatments coming out of
molecular biology, something that would kill off the cancer cells and
leave normal cells alone. One possibility is RNA interference (RNAi) for
which a Nobel Prize was awarded this week.
For an explanation of how RNA works (not too technical) see:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/02.html
For those who want more details, check out the links at the lower right.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
.
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| User: "stoney" |
|
| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
10 Oct 2006 01:26:58 AM |
|
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On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:13:24 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146503&
GT1=8618
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study
Brain scans show changes in blood flow, metabolism
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized by
chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a sizeable minority
of cancer survivors.
Now, researchers say the condition may be linked to brain metabolism and
blood flow changes that can endure for more than a decade.
The new study, published in the Oct. 5 online edition of Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment, should help refute the view that chemo brain is
just a figment of patients' imaginations.
I attended a cancer research meeting many years ago. It was reported
then that chemotherapy treated cancer survivors years later often
exhibited tumors in other parts of the body, unrelated to the original
cancers. It was believed that the chemotherapeutic agents used at the
time might have actually been the cause of the secondary cancer.
Or not, or both. Some time ago I posted an article which indicated the
body prepares the to be afflicted areas in advance.
Chemotherapy is a terrible treatment. It is like trying to kill a fly
with a shotgun. You may get the fly, but chances are that you will do a
lot of 'collateral damage' too. Unfortunately, it is still the best
choice that we have in many cases today. It is definitely better than
the alternative, death.
That is why I have high hopes for more specific treatments coming out of
molecular biology, something that would kill off the cancer cells and
leave normal cells alone. One possibility is RNA interference (RNAi) for
which a Nobel Prize was awarded this week.
Yes.
For an explanation of how RNA works (not too technical) see:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/02.html
For those who want more details, check out the links at the lower right.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
|
|
|
| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
10 Oct 2006 06:07:59 AM |
|
|
In article <3jtli21vno3s91amcmck27b4ro2svfe8ui@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:13:24 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=1001465
03&
GT1=8618
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study
Brain scans show changes in blood flow, metabolism
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized by
chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a sizeable minority
of cancer survivors.
Now, researchers say the condition may be linked to brain metabolism and
blood flow changes that can endure for more than a decade.
The new study, published in the Oct. 5 online edition of Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment, should help refute the view that chemo brain is
just a figment of patients' imaginations.
I attended a cancer research meeting many years ago. It was reported
then that chemotherapy treated cancer survivors years later often
exhibited tumors in other parts of the body, unrelated to the original
cancers. It was believed that the chemotherapeutic agents used at the
time might have actually been the cause of the secondary cancer.
Or not, or both. Some time ago I posted an article which indicated the
body prepares the to be afflicted areas in advance.
Yes, I recall something about that. Something about the oncogene
switches, I believe.
Chemotherapy is a terrible treatment. It is like trying to kill a fly
with a shotgun. You may get the fly, but chances are that you will do a
lot of 'collateral damage' too. Unfortunately, it is still the best
choice that we have in many cases today. It is definitely better than
the alternative, death.
That is why I have high hopes for more specific treatments coming out of
molecular biology, something that would kill off the cancer cells and
leave normal cells alone. One possibility is RNA interference (RNAi) for
which a Nobel Prize was awarded this week.
Yes.
For an explanation of how RNA works (not too technical) see:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/02.html
For those who want more details, check out the links at the lower right.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
.
|
|
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| User: "stoney" |
|
| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
11 Oct 2006 12:04:31 AM |
|
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On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:07:59 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <3jtli21vno3s91amcmck27b4ro2svfe8ui@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:13:24 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=1001465
03&
GT1=8618
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study
Brain scans show changes in blood flow, metabolism
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized by
chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a sizeable minority
of cancer survivors.
Now, researchers say the condition may be linked to brain metabolism and
blood flow changes that can endure for more than a decade.
The new study, published in the Oct. 5 online edition of Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment, should help refute the view that chemo brain is
just a figment of patients' imaginations.
I attended a cancer research meeting many years ago. It was reported
then that chemotherapy treated cancer survivors years later often
exhibited tumors in other parts of the body, unrelated to the original
cancers. It was believed that the chemotherapeutic agents used at the
time might have actually been the cause of the secondary cancer.
Or not, or both. Some time ago I posted an article which indicated the
body prepares the to be afflicted areas in advance.
Yes, I recall something about that. Something about the oncogene
switches, I believe.
Could be. I don't recall and it wasn't my field.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
|
|
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| User: "johac" |
|
| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
11 Oct 2006 05:09:20 AM |
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In article <97doi295v6q3evjfavikf80dr6udfgb1ac@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:07:59 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <3jtli21vno3s91amcmck27b4ro2svfe8ui@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:13:24 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=1001
465
03&
GT1=8618
'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study
Brain scans show changes in blood flow, metabolism
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized by
chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a sizeable
minority
of cancer survivors.
Now, researchers say the condition may be linked to brain metabolism
and
blood flow changes that can endure for more than a decade.
The new study, published in the Oct. 5 online edition of Breast Cancer
Research and Treatment, should help refute the view that chemo brain is
just a figment of patients' imaginations.
I attended a cancer research meeting many years ago. It was reported
then that chemotherapy treated cancer survivors years later often
exhibited tumors in other parts of the body, unrelated to the original
cancers. It was believed that the chemotherapeutic agents used at the
time might have actually been the cause of the secondary cancer.
Or not, or both. Some time ago I posted an article which indicated the
body prepares the to be afflicted areas in advance.
Yes, I recall something about that. Something about the oncogene
switches, I believe.
Could be. I don't recall and it wasn't my field.
Many people have been shown to have a genetic predisposition to certain
types of cancer. The genes responsible are called oncogenes and.
according to the theory are activated in a two step process. In the
first step, something, perhaps environmental, primes the gene, or turns
on a 'switch'. Think of it as arming a bomb. Later, perhaps years later,
a second stimulus comes in and causes the gene to be expressed and the
cancer to develop.
That is on reason why some people exposed to carcinogens like asbestos,
cigarette tars, etc. may not suffer cancer right away, but sometimes may
develop the disease years later, even after the exposure has stopped.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
Contact - Throw a .net over the .com
.
|
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
12 Oct 2006 05:02:40 PM |
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On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:09:20 -0700, johac <jhachmann@sbcglobal.com>
wrote in alt.atheism
In article <97doi295v6q3evjfavikf80dr6udfgb1ac@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
[]
I attended a cancer research meeting many years ago. It was reported
then that chemotherapy treated cancer survivors years later often
exhibited tumors in other parts of the body, unrelated to the original
cancers. It was believed that the chemotherapeutic agents used at the
time might have actually been the cause of the secondary cancer.
Or not, or both. Some time ago I posted an article which indicated the
body prepares the to be afflicted areas in advance.
Yes, I recall something about that. Something about the oncogene
switches, I believe.
Could be. I don't recall and it wasn't my field.
Many people have been shown to have a genetic predisposition to certain
types of cancer. The genes responsible are called oncogenes and.
according to the theory are activated in a two step process. In the
first step, something, perhaps environmental, primes the gene, or turns
on a 'switch'. Think of it as arming a bomb. Later, perhaps years later,
a second stimulus comes in and causes the gene to be expressed and the
cancer to develop.
That is on reason why some people exposed to carcinogens like asbestos,
cigarette tars, etc. may not suffer cancer right away, but sometimes may
develop the disease years later, even after the exposure has stopped.
The asbestos in my lungs haven't started 'blooming' yet. I've no idea
what the high levels of 5 heavy metals in my blood will do.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
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| User: "Lisbeth Andersson" |
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| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
06 Oct 2006 05:05:54 PM |
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stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com:
<..>
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized
by chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a
sizeable minority of cancer survivors.
<...>
This explains a lot :-(
It's still better than being dead though.
Lisbeth.
----
The day I don't learn anything new is the day I die.
*What we know is not nearly as interesting as *how we know it.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
.
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| User: "Darrell Stec" |
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| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
07 Oct 2006 05:19:51 AM |
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After serious contemplation, on or about Friday 06 October 2006 1:05 pm
Lisbeth Andersson perhaps from wrote:
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com:
<..>
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized
by chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a
sizeable minority of cancer survivors.
<...>
This explains a lot :-(
It's still better than being dead though.
Lisbeth.
----
The day I don't learn anything new is the day I die.
*What we know is not nearly as interesting as *how we know it.
I can tell you it is very real. My sweetie was once a doctor. Now she
forgets something a few minutes after telling me, and repeats what she
said as though I never heard it before. Then she gets surprised that I
knew it, and asks where I heard it before.
It frustrates her to no end.
--
Later,
Darrell Stec
Webpage Sorcery
http://webpagesorcery.com
We Put the Magic in Your Webpages
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
10 Oct 2006 01:24:02 AM |
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On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 01:19:51 -0400, Darrell Stec
<darrell_stec@webpagesorcery.com> wrote in alt.atheism
After serious contemplation, on or about Friday 06 October 2006 1:05 pm
Lisbeth Andersson perhaps from wrote:
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com:
<..>
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized
by chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a
sizeable minority of cancer survivors.
<...>
This explains a lot :-(
It's still better than being dead though.
Lisbeth.
----
The day I don't learn anything new is the day I die.
*What we know is not nearly as interesting as *how we know it.
I can tell you it is very real. My sweetie was once a doctor. Now she
forgets something a few minutes after telling me, and repeats what she
said as though I never heard it before. Then she gets surprised that I
knew it, and asks where I heard it before.
It frustrates her to no end.
I'm sure it does. The same affliction can occurr via other methods and
it sucks. Royally.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Survivors Is Real: Study |
10 Oct 2006 01:20:38 AM |
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On 06 Oct 2006 17:05:54 GMT, Lisbeth Andersson <lisand@bredband.net>
wrote in alt.atheism
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote in
news:eitci2d8rjmkt2bhbf93kf8iomv8optub2@4ax.com:
<..>
THURSDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- "Chemo brain," characterized
by chronic problems with memory and attention, afflicts a
sizeable minority of cancer survivors.
<...>
This explains a lot :-(
It's still better than being dead though.
True.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
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