Interesting claims about ALC causes.

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it: Missing microbes 'cause' childhood cancer - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44199844

Exciting new weapon against ALL being developed

Excitement at new cancer treatment - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35586834

Could you donate Stem Cells to Anthony Nolan? It's FREE :-)

Preganant? considering starting a family? Have you considered donating your umbilical cord blood to Anthony Nolan?

You could help save a life :-)

Please follow this link:

http://www.anthonynolan.org/What-we-do/stem-cell-donation.aspx

The service is FREE and would utilise the life saving properties of tissue which would normally be disposed of after your babies birth......something for nothing..and then some!

RR856 - The burden of occupational cancer in Great Britain - Leukaemia

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A new study into the connection between occupations and the link with various forms of Leukaemia has been published by the HSE.

HSE About HSE HSE's work Science, engineering and research Resources Research report series Research reports 801-900 RR856 - The burden of occupational cancer in Great Britain - Leukaemia RR856 - The burden of occupational cancer in Great Britain - Leukaemia


The aim of this project was to produce an updated estimate of the current burden of cancer for Great Britain resulting from occupational exposure to carcinogenic agents or exposure circumstances. The primary measure of the burden of cancer was the attributable fraction (AF) being the proportion of cases that would not have occurred in the absence of exposure; and the AF was used to estimate the number of attributable deaths and registrations. The study involved obtaining data on the risk of the cancer due to the exposure of interest, taking into account confounding factors and overlapping exposures, as well as the proportion of the target population exposed over the relevant exposure period. Only carcinogenic agents, or exposure circumstances, classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as definite (Group 1) or probable (Group 2A) human carcinogens were considered. Here, we present estimates for leukaemia that have been derived using incidence data for calendar year 2004, and mortality data for calendar year 2005.



The estimated total (male and female) AF, deaths and registrations for leukaemia related to overall occupational exposure is 0.74% (95% Confidence Interval (CI)= 0-3.86), which equates to 23 (95%CI= 5-120) attributable deaths and 38 (95%CI= 8-198) attributable registrations.



This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.



Full report [1]

Assistance in the use of Adobe Acrobat PDF files is available on our FAQs[2] page

Team doctor claims Petrov could have been a Chernobyl victim

Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov may have been a victim of nuclear radiation from the Chernobyl disaster, the Bulgarian doctor has said. The Villa skipper was diagnosed with acute Leukaemia last week and is undergoing treatment.

But it has emerged that Petrov could have been harmed by the toxic plume from the exploding Ukranian energy plant fell over Bulgaria in 1986.

To read more about this story please visit the Mail Online Newspage by following this link.

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Stan Petrov's Leukaemia still headline news

Its a sad fact that illnesses such as Leukaemia never get a great deal of press coverage unless it affects a well known public figure.

Last week Aston Villa player Stan Petrov was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia and simply Googling either his name or the word " Leukaemia" will return hundreds of web pages of info relating to his battle against his newly diagnosed illness. But why does it only seem to be that when stars such as Stan are affected that the media sit up and take notice? What about the thousands of other "normal" people, many of them children, who are, and have been fighting their own battles for many years,....why don't the press appear to hold their lives in such high esteem.... are they less valuable than Stan? Less news worthy?

This post is not against Stan, far from it,  i wish him the very best of luck in his battle. This post is aimed squarely at the media who only appear to give a damn...or space in their papers, to the subject of illnesses such as Leukaemia if it is deemed to sell their product.

How much exposure have they given recently  to the ongoing search for new bone marrow donors by the Anthony Nolan charity? How much backing have they given to Sir Ian Botham and Geoff Thomas in their support of the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research charity? Yet they pick up a story such as Stans and milk it simply to make money for themselves....how hollow and pointless is that?

Papers reach millions and they have the power to influence many into action.....yet how many so far have encouraged people to sign up to become bone marrow donors? how many have suggested fans make a donation to fund research into Leukaemia Research? THAT is the point that the media is not making, and for Stan and many thousands like him, that literally could be the difference between life and death.

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Stiliyan Petrov diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has been diagnosed with Acute Leukemia, the Premier League soccer club said on its website.

The diagnosis was confirmed by tests the 32-year-old midfielder underwent for a fever following last weekend’s loss at Arsenal.

“We expect to learn more about Stiliyan’s situation in due course and we have moved quickly to support him and his family,” the club said in a statement. “Stiliyan is cherished by many and he will get from Villa every ounce of love and support that we have to help bring this to a positive conclusion.”

This story illustrates yet again the way in which Leukaemia, a disease which is often labeled as one which effects  the very young or the very old, can in fact strike at pretty much any time in an individuals life.

Of course we all wish Stiliyan all the best in his fight against his Leukaemia, but i also hope that the thousands of his fans who have already paid tribute to him on numerous sites may perhaps comsider popping a few quid in the direction of Leukaemia related charities such as Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and the Anthony Nolan trust. These organisations ,and others like them, are at the very front line of helping to try and save the lives of Stiliyan and thousands like him around the world. To all the fans and supporters i would say " dedications and kind words will give comfort to the individual but your support for those charities fighting Leukaemia gives a chance of life to many!"

In 1960 when Leukaemia Research was founded by the Eastwood family after the tragic death of their daughter Susan, a childs chance of surviving Acute Leukaemia was 1 in 10.

Due to the advances made in treatment over the last 50 years almost 9 out of 10 children beat this disease....but they need YOUR support to continue their AMAZING work :-). Lets make it 10 out of 10..

Good luck Stiliyan :-).

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Mike Rutherford: My son's battle with leukaemia

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Telegraph columnist Mike Rutherford pays tribute to his 22-year-old son Marcus Rutherford, who lost his fight against leukaemia in February.

I won't try to post an article to explain the story behind the circumstances which lead to the loss of Marcus,Mike makes a much better job of telling the story than i could ever hope to achieve so I will just ask instead that you follow the link below to read Mike's article about facing the loss of his son who sadly and suddenly died of Acute Leukaemia (ALL) in February 2012.

Mike's story

Our thoughts of course go out to the Rutherford Family at this most difficult time.

 

An amazing breakthrough in Leukaemia treatment may be available in 5 years.

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A simple injection to cure Leukaemia could be produced within five years after a remarkable breakthrough by a British research team.

They believe they have found a way to trigger the body's immune system to beat a disease which kills 4,000 people a year in this country. The same techniques may eventually be advanced to treat other cancers, such as breast and lung, they say.

The breakthrough follows six years of research, funded by the Leukaemia Research Fund, at London's Hammersmith Hospital and Imperial College School of Medicine.

It involves two strands, firstly to 'label' the cancerous cells, and secondly to mass-produce immune cells outside the body which can then be injected to search and destroy the malignant ones. In the future, the researchers hope to use the technique to 'wake up' a patient's own immune system to destroy malignant cells without using donor cells.

Dr Hans Stauss, a tumour immunologist at Imperial, said: 'The possibilities for new treatments are enormous.' The first trial of the injection is about to begin on ten patients.

The 'labelling' was achieved by identifying a single gene which is over-active in leukaemia cells. It is referred to as WT-1. For the second strand, the researchers took white blood cells from healthy donors and isolated the few that mounted the fiercest response against tumour cells in the laboratory.

By cloning them, they were able to produce unlimited supplies of peak performance immune cells, called T-cells. In tests, the engineered immune cells specifically destroyed leukaemia cells and ignored normal cells of the same type.

'That's the beauty of the approach,' said Dr Stauss. 'It is so specific at destroying cancer cells.' He hopes to further develop the technique for after-care to ensure there is no recurrence of the cancer .The timescale is about five to six years before we see it widely used,' said Dr Stauss.

'The principle can be applied to almost all forms of leukaemia. What makes the work even more exciting is that our findings can also be applied to solid cancers, such as breast or lung cancer, where there is similar over-activity of WT-1.'

Lord Winston, director of research and development at the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'To the best of our knowledge this is the first time in the world that anyone has identified a target which allows T-cells to selectively destroy cells that cause leukaemia.

'Such a breakthrough underlines the vital importance of long-term academic research in the production of new and desperately needed treatments.'

Every year 5,000 cases of leukaemia are diagnosed in Britain and 4,000 victims die. It can be either acute, with rapid degeneration, or chronic, a slowly progressive form of the disease.

In both cases the bone marrow of the patient produces large numbers of abnormal, fast- dividing cells which inhibit the body's ability to produce blood. Chemotherapy is the recognised treatment. Sometimes bone marrow transplants are needed

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15039/Breakthrough-leukaemia.html#ixzz1XSo8sx31


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How a David Beckham haircut saves Leukaemia boy Maddox.

A 'David Beckham' haircut saved a young boy's life after Maddox Tallowin's parents spotted strange lumps on the back of their his head and his neck after giving him an ultra-short Mohican-style crop.

It was quickly diagnosed that the three-year-old had leukaemia and, within a day of discovering the bumps, Maddox was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy.

‘It was more luck than anything else that we found it,’ said father, Ben, 32. ‘The sides were short but when we touched the actual mohawk, there were these bumps on either side of his neck at the bottom of his head.

To read the full story click HERE to view the Metro.co.uk Website.

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Yesterday was very special but also very sad......but ultimately inspiring....

Because yesterday marked one year since Joel Picker-Spence passed away after his brave and inspiring fight with Leukaemia.
I guess that no one would know how it feels to lose a child as his mum Ann ,his dad Dan and his brother and sister Shaun and Eva did, and i have the upmost respect for the way that they have coped with this tradgedy over the last 12 months.
His mum Ann has been tirelessly working with the Anthony Nolan Trust organising bone marrow donor recruitment events throughout the East Midlands, and Dan Eva and Shaun have been there to support her in her valiant efforts to try and help others to be spared the heartache that this family have undoubtably endured over the last year, and in the 3+ years after Joels diagnosis when they tried as hard as any mortal being could to save his young life.
Don't look to the myriads of celebrities who clog up our TV,radio and newspapers for inspiration......look instead to the "normal" people like the Picker-Spence family if you want to seek an example of the strength of the human spirit when faced with extreme adversity.
It has been said before that "Negative situations can often result in surprisingly positive outcomes", and i am sure that with the work that Ann has been doing in recruiting many more to the Anthony Nolan register, many more children like Joel will have a "positive outcome", thanks to the dedication of Ann and her great family.

Brads Story.Please watch this video.

I cannot find a way of importing this video onto this blog, so i will just post a link to it instead.
This is a photo montage of a little guy named brad, and his ongoing battle with ALL (Acute Leukaemia).

To see the video (made by Carl Finn) please click HERE

Child leukaemia genes found

A study has found particular gene mutations that put children at a higher risk of leukaemia.

The Times said that “research into the development of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)… suggests that individuals who inherit specific genetic variants are almost twice as likely to develop the disease”.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common leukaemia in children, and accounts for a quarter of all childhood cancers. This genome-wide association study identified three gene variations that are more common in children with ALL than in those without it.
The study is well-conducted, and its results significantly advance our knowledge of this condition. However, ALL is a complex disease and is likely to have many causes, some genetic and some environmental. These findings do not mean that researchers know how to prevent the disease in children found to have these mutations. Also, the variants discovered in this study will not be responsible for all cases of leukaemia. At the present time, genetic testing of children for these mutations is unlikely.

Where did the story come from?
The research was carried out by Dr Elli Papaemmanuil and colleagues from the Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey, and other academic and research institutes in the UK. It was funded by Leukaemia Research (UK) and the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund. The authors also acknowledge funding from Cancer Research UK. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature Genetics.

What kind of scientific study was this?
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is the most prevalent childhood cancer in developed countries. Although its exact cause is not known, factors such as radiation exposure, some genetic disorders and the environment (exposure to certain chemicals and some infections) increase the risk of a child developing ALL.
This genome-wide association study looked for particular gene sequences (variants) associated with leukaemia in children. By pooling the results of two case-control studies, a total of 907 children with leukaemia and 2,398 controls without leukaemia were available for analysis. These children’s gene sequences were compared in order to test for variations that were more common in the children with leukaemia. Only people of western European ancestry were included.
Between the groups, 291,423 gene variants were examined and compared. Where significant links were found between variants and disease status, the researchers discuss other studies that may explain the biological reasons for these associations. In one case, they investigated this further through experimentation.

What were the results of the study?
The researchers found that three gene variants in their pooled sample were more common in leukaemia cases than in controls. One variant was found on a gene called IKZF1, one on a gene called ARID5B, and one on a gene called CEBPE. All three of these variants were in genes involved in the differentiation (specialisation) of certain types of white blood cells.

What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers say that their study provides the first unambiguous evidence that common gene variants influence the risk of developing ALL in children. They say that their results provide ‘new insight’ into the causes of this specific haematological cancer.

What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
This is a well-conducted study and the results are reliable. It identified several gene variants that are more common in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). There may be other genes that play a role in the condition:
The researchers acknowledge that the risk of ALL may be affected by ethnic differences. As this research was limited to western European children, the findings may not apply to non-western Europeans or non-Europeans.
The knowledge that certain variants are associated with leukaemia does not mean that researchers know how to prevent the disease in children with the variations. Leukaemia is a complex disease, and the risk of developing it is likely to be linked not only to genes, but also to environmental factors. In addition, not all cases of leukaemia may have these variations.
More research is needed before we know whether the proteins that are encoded by these genes are suitable targets for leukaemia treatments.
Overall, this study advances our knowledge of a complex disease. The findings are robust, but replication in further studies using different cases and controls would increase the confidence that the associations found in this research are real.
Links to the headlines
Research links childhood leukaemia to parents’ genes. The Times, August 17 2009
Child leukaemia 'genes' revealed. BBC News, August 17 2009
Genes 'could play significant role in development of leukaemia'. The Daily Telegraph, August 17 2009
Links to the science
Papaemmanuil E, Hosking FJ, Vijayakrishnan J, et al. Loci on 7p12.2, 10q21.2 and 14q11.2 are associated with risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nature Genetics 2009; Published online: August 9.

Further reading
Cochrane: Several reviews deal with issues relating to the treatment of ALL; none address causes specifically:
van Dalen EC, Raphaël MF, Caron HN, Kremer LCM. Treatment including anthracyclines versus treatment not including anthracyclines for childhood cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1
Sasse EC, Sasse AD, Brandalise SR, Clark OAC, Richards S. Colony-stimulating factors for prevention of myelosuppressive therapy-induced febrile neutropenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 3

I pinched this from the NHS Choices Website which you can find by clicking HERE.

Another heartbreaking story about a young teacher who had Leukaemia, but was unaware of it's presence.

Update: Tributes flood in for Miss Hinton

Tributes have flooded in for a popular teacher who died of leukaemia aged just 31.
Andrea Hinton, a PE teacher at Oakwood School, Horley, was diagnosed with Acute Leukaemia on Thursday, February 12, but fell into a coma and died later that day.

Yet again this illustrates the fact that ANYONE can develop leukaemia. It does not discriminate by age, colour,creed or fitness. Leukaemia can strike at anytime, at any age, and can and does sadly, destroy lives.

To read this story, please follow this link:

http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/horley/Tributes-popular-Oakwood-teacher-died-Leukaemia/article-702107-detail/article.html

Notable Personalities That had (or currently suffer from) Leukaemia and Lymphoma

Following on from the post about poor Jade Goody's public story about her fight with Cervical cancer, here is a list (not definitive..so if you know others, please let me know!) of celebrities that have been affected by some sort of blood cancer:

* Paul Allen - Co founder of Microsoft

* Gene Autry - Singer/Actor

* Paul Azinger - Golfer

* Jeremy Beadle - Gag/games show host and charity fundraiser (CLL)

* Ed Bradley - CBS News Anchor (60 Minutes)

* Michael Brecker (Leukaemia) - Jazz Saxophonist

* Robin Bush (Leukaemia, age 3) - Daughter of President George H.W. Bush

* Susan Butcher (Leukaemia) - Winner of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

* John Allan Cameron (Leukaemia, Bone Marrow Cancer) - Celtic Musician

* William Casey - CIA

* Joseph Coors - Adolph Coors Brewing Company

* John Cullen - Hockey Player

* Mark Fields - Football Player

* Andres Galarraga - Baseball Player

* Tim Garton - Swimmer

* Lynden David Hall (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) - Soul Singer

* Anthony Herrera - Actor

* King Hussein - Jordanian King

* Arte Johnson - Actor

* LeShon Johnson - Football Player

* Ray Katt - Baseball Player

* Saku Koivu - Hockey Player

* Mario Lemieux - Hockey Player

* Charles A. Lindbergh - Aviator (Spirit of St Louis)

* Joe Longthorne - Singer, Entertainer (Lymphoma)

* Jeff MacNelly - Cartoonist

* Mickey Mantle, Jr. - Baseball Player

* Roger Maris (Lung Cancer, Lymphoma) - Baseball Player

* Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Nobel Laureate

* Carrie Nye - Actress

* Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) - First Lady

* Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia) - Shah of Iran

* James Myers - Composer & Co Writer of the Hit song "Rock Around the clock"

* Mala Powers - Actress

* Joey Ramone - Musician/Singer

* Steve Reeves - Athlete/Actor

* Craig Thomas - US Senator

* Paul Tsongas - US Senator

* Mr. T (Laurence Tureaud) (T-Cell Lymphoma) - Actor (The A Team)

* Maisie Walters - Daughter of actress Julie Walters

* Gene Wilder - Comedian and Actor (Willy Wonka)

* Nikos Kazantzakis - Author of the book "Zorba the Greek"

*Terry Nutkins - TV  presenter and Animal Expert

*Nora Ephron - Writer

If you know of any more well know people who have had or currently are fighting blood cancer,let me know ! :-)

Scientists hail new leukaemia drug breakthrough

A NEW wonder drug has been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of leukaemia.
Scientists said Mabthera can almost double the chances of remission - where abnormal cells can no longer be found in the blood or bone marrow.
It has also been shown to stop the disease in relapsed patients and seems to work best when added to standard chemotherapy.
The drug was most effective in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, known as CLL .
More than 2000 cases a year are diagnosed in the UK.
Researcher Professor Andrew Pettitt of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital said: "The goals of treatment are to shrink the disease to the point where we cannot detect it, and maximise the length of time before the cancer returns.
"This new treatment will give many patients the opportunity of living longer."

(Source: Daily Record December 8th 2008)

Jemima was diagnosed with Acute Lymphobalstic Leukaemia on 13th June 2007

Another very interesting, informative and helpful web blog that may be able to answer a lot of questions for parents who are facing the news that their child has Leukaemia.

Take a look at jemima's blog here:

http://www.jemimarose.co.uk/

Everybody loves Mia.A diary of childhood leukaemia.

"My name is Mia Sophie Stillwell and my birthday is 16th September 2005.I live in Ryde on the Isle of Wight with Mum (Michelle), Dad (Scott) and my brother Harvey who’s 7.
Until September 2008 I was a healthy nearly 3 year old I went to nursery, swimming lessons, ballet lessons and rhythm time music classes.
I helped my Mum run a playgroup on Fridays and hung out with my Dad on the days that Mum had to work. During the summer holidays this year I spent every sunny day (there weren’t loads!) on the beach in Ryde, with Harvey and my friends.
On 9th September 2008 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Everything changes overnight!!!!!! "

A very informative and moving account of a little girls battle with ALL.

This is the link to her website:

http://www.everybodylovesmia.co.uk/

Burglars steal leukaemia boy's presents

Well, we know that there are always going to be bad people in this world, but this one hits home and makes you really angry. My youngest child once asked me "Why can't just bad people get cancer ?", and I guess it has to be said that if they did, maybe cruel acts like this would stop !

A FAMILY returned from a dream holiday, celebrating their five-year-old grandson’s recovery from Leukaemia, to discover they were the victims of a devastating burglary.

Story here:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/22/burglars-steal-leukaemia-boy-s-presents-91466-22745499/