Lorenzen Cancer Foundation Urges Cancer Drug Coverage in the Prescription Drug Benefit Act

In the interests of cancer patients and oncologists nationwide, the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation (LCF), a non-profit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer, has joined the public interest law firm Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) and others today in presenting a written comments statement to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) voicing support for the Section 641 demonstration project and expressing concerns regarding CMS’s proposed restrictions limiting coverage of the drug benefit to exclude off-label uses of FDA-approved drug or biological therapies.

Monterey, CA July 7, 2004 -- In the interests of cancer patients and oncologists nationwide, the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation (LCF), a non-profit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer, has joined the public interest law firm Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) and others today in presenting a written comments statement to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) voicing support for the Section 641 demonstration project and expressing concerns regarding CMS’s proposed restrictions limiting coverage of the drug benefit to exclude off-label uses of FDA-approved drug or biological therapies.

Once the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug for marketing, physicians may prescribe the drug for purposes other than those that the FDA has given specific indication. Off-label prescribing is common in cancer treatment as drugs often work well for many types of cancer. A General Accounting Office analysis in 1991 demonstrated that over half of cancer patients received at least one off-label medicine in the course of their care.

In enacting Section 641 of the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003, Congress did not exclude off-label uses from the demonstration project related to Section 641. To the contrary, Section 641(a) directs that the project be conducted following the standards of the part D benefit program which does not exclude off-label use.

Recently announced proposed eligibility criteria by the CMS effectively exclude the coverage of off-label use of FDA-approved agents for cancer therapy and in other serious diseases.
   
Today’s statement urges CMS officials to reverse this position and to make clear to the public and to medical providers that Medicare will reimburse for off-label use for medications and biological therapies in the demonstration project related to Section 641. And further, to make clear that any proposed or actual restriction on off-label use in the demonstration project is not a precedent for full enactment of the part D prescription drug benefit program.

Pancreatic Cancer Facts:
· Pancreatic cancer is the most virulent of the major cancers
· Pancreatic cancer research is the least funded of the major cancers
· Pancreatic cancer causes more than 1% of all death in the U.S.
· Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality

An understanding of asbestos is necessary before we try to understand mesothelioma lung cancer. Asbestos, a natural fibrous mineral, used commonly in construction process and manufacturing industries is detrimental to human health. Continuous inhalation of its fibers enhances the susceptibility to respiratory disorders and can lead to many dangerous diseases. A leading example of such dangerous disease is Mesothelioma lung cancer. Actually, mesothelioma lung cancer is misnomer because mesothelioma cancers affect the lining of lungs (pleura) and abdomen and not the lungs. Since mesothelioma cancers mostly affect the lining of the lungs, it is generally called mesothelioma lung cancer. The workers who had worked in industries such as shipbuilding, asbestos mining, and asbestos production are vulnerable to mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma and the Role of Carcinogens:

What is mesothelioma cancer and how does the lining of the lung become cancerous? Cancer is a tumor that is malignant in nature. Tumor is formed when there is abnormal cell division and cell multiplication in the cancerous cells. Exposure to carcinogens or cancer-causing material like cigarette smoke, asbestos and silica dust is instrumental in this abnormal cell division and formation of tumor.

Mesothelioma cancer is directly linked to asbestos exposure. However, those already exposed to asbestos have a greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to other carcinogens such as cigarette smoke. A study reports that the workers with a history of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoke are more prone to lung cancer than the non-smokers and those with no history of asbestos exposure.

Complications Associated with Mesothelioma Cancer:

Normally, the latency stage for asbestos-related diseases in general and mesothelioma cancers of the lining of lung in particular, 20-50 years, which makes detection of Mesothelioma a complicated issue. This situation is further aggravated particularly where the worker is also addicted to cigarette smoking. By the time, the disease shows its symptoms, a considerable exposure to additional carcinogens linked to cigarette smoking has already taken place. This makes a worker more vulnerable to lung cancer besides the vulnerability to mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma Cancers and Legal Redress:

The Government is conscious of the ill effects of asbestos exposure and the seriousness of mesothelioma cancer. The employees working in factories with significant risk of asbestos exposure are eligible for Mesothelioma compensation, if the exposure is the cause of Mesothelioma. There has been a spate of lawsuits for seeking compensation for mesothelioma and lung cancers. In many cases, the courts have awarded heavy sums as compensation against the asbestos manufacturing companies. 

Cancer is a very serious illness. This dreaded disease has caused many deaths; cancer is a disease that’s characterized by uncontrollable cell division and the danger of these mutant cells to invade the neighboring healthy cells and infect them. There are many types of cancer and most of them are deadly which can cause death, while there are some treatments available; there has been no known cure that’s potently effective just yet. Some treatments can kill the cancerous cells while some control the symptoms such as pain. Millions every year gets afflicted with different types of cancer and millions more die every year all over the world. Cancer has been a serious predicament in the medical world and there are concerns on the probability of finding a cure soon.

There are some major efforts being done to correct this but funds have been dwindling making these researches an effort that needs the aid of many people. Many foundations, colleges and other medical groups are doing intensive scientific endeavors to understand fully the development of cancer and what possible treatments, therapies and cure could be done to prevent cancer and its growth. They are called cancer research. In cancer research they discover new methods of treating cancer with the development of new technology and new discoveries about the disease. With proper funding, cancer researches would be able to flourish and hopefully find the perfect cure.

Many organizations have been doing their best to help fund this research facilities, doing fund raising projects and programs for public awareness. It is essential for the public to take notice of this programs because anyone from anywhere can be afflicted with cancer. Gradually, more and more people have found ways in doing both, raising funds for cancer and spreading awareness. When doing such, you hit the head of a nail twice making it more beneficial for cancer victims. Any method is appreciated as long as it spread awareness and help bring in money to aid cancer research. The current popular method is by selling cancer wristbands, which are inscribed with inspiring and informing statements.

Cancer wristbands have been the craze lately, many are wearing them because they are cool and fashionable and yet they help out in finding a cure for cancer. Remember the ribbons everybody used to wear for AIDS. Cancer Wristbands now are what the AIDS ribbons were then. This stretchy cancer wristbands, usually made from either from rubber or silicone, are a great way to do fundraising. They are one size fits all and don’t cost too much. There is a 100 percent profit in cancer wristbands, which may be donated to cancer researches and also boost cancer awareness. In doing so, you not only get a cool looking cancer wristband, you are also helping out the countless cancer victims all over the world.

Many say that this trend started out when Lance Armstrong came out yellow “LiveStrong” wristband to promote and fund cancer research. That promotion had all the right ingredients to capture the people’s interest. Present was the revered American icon asking the people for help, the item was very affordable, was a good conversation peace and it showed that if you were wearing it, you were concerned about other people and their needs. It was also for a cause everyone wanted to help in and deserved all the help t can get. Soon enough, everyone was wearing them, from high profile people, to entertainers with big names straight to the president.

After that, many cancer wristbands went into the market spreading the word, many organizations joined the bandwagon and produced their own cancer wristbands. It has come to be that the color of the cancer wristband represented which type of cancer was to be benefited; for example, pink bracelets were in aid for breast cancer. Messages and statements would be inscribed in the bracelets empowering the knowledge of the people about cancer and tugging their hearts and the hearts of others to help out for the worthy cause.

Cancer wristbands are not only cool, they also help out, many small organizations can help out by browsing the internet and order them from reputable manufacturers who pledge assistance for every cancer wristband you purchase. You may also do your own fundraising; some sites offer very low prices for wholesale purchases so that you can sell them at a markup price so you can have earnings to donate to research facilities. Be aware, support cancer wristbands to help cancer research.

Have you know, that the breast cancer can also catch the man? Yes - it's really true!
Have a look on the last news!

The special Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer
- Only approximately 1-1.5% of all breast cancer cases occur in men.
- Several risk factors have been identified that make some men more likely to develop breast cancer than others.

These risk factors include:
The Age: The average age of men diagnosed with breast cancer is between 60 and 70 years old.
The history of the family:
- 20% of men with breast cancer have close female relatives who have (or have had) breast cancer.

The Radiation exposure:
- Prior exposure to radiation (usually for treatment of a cancer) is a risk factor for male breast cancer.

The Liver disease:
- If the liver is normal function, she helps with hormone metabolism by binding proteins that carry hormones in the blood. If the Man's has liver diseases such as cirrhosis, they tend to have lower levels of androgens (male hormones) and on the other hand a higher estrogens levels (female hormones).This reality puts them at an increased risk of developing gynecomastia (non-cancerous tissue growth) and breast cancer.

Symptoms Male Breast Abnormalities
- The most male breast changes are due to benign (non-cancerous) abnormalities, such as gynecomastia (non-cancerous tissue growth)
- So, the men should report any persistent breast changes to their physicians for clinical evaluation.
-The Symptoms of male breast cancer may include:
-a breast lump,
-swelling,
-skin dimpling or puckering,
-nipple retraction (the nipple turns inward),
-redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin,
-and nipple discharge http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/nipple.asp.

How to treating Male Breast Cancer

This will be depending on the type and stage http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/staging.asp of breast cancer.

The following treatment will most likely be used:

Surgery - Radiation therapy - Chemotherapy - Hormone therapy

About the Survival Rates for Male Breast Cancer

Today, the survival rates are similar the women cancer, when the treatment of the tumour begins at the same stage.

Anyway, the male breast cancer tends to be diagnosed in later stages than female breast cancer.

The following chart is an approximate survival rate for each stage of breast cancer. The percentages are only averages. The chances of survival will differ for each man depending on his own medical situation and several other factors, including new treatment options, how he responds to treatment, etc.

STAGE 1 TUMOR SIZE less than 2 cm No Lymph Node 5year Survivalrate 100 %
STAGE 2 TUMOR SIZE Between 2-5 cm No Lymph Node 5year Survivalrate 95 %
STAGE 3 TUMOR SIZE More than 5 cm No Lymph Node 5year Survivalrate 84 %
Stage 4 TUMOR SIZE not applicable YES Survivalrate 52 %

All about the Planning Treatment and the Research

More about this you get it on http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/staging.asp#what
Additional Resources and References

·The American Cancer Society provides information on male breast cancer at http://www.cancer.org/
·The National Cancer Institute provides information on male breast cancer at http://www.cancer.gov/
·The University of Pennsylvania's Oncolink document, "NCI/PDQ Physician Statement: Male Breast Cancer," is available at http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/ 

Alternative forms of medicine like:

Acupuncture can be used for providing pain relief.

Herbal Medicine helps strengthen the body's ability to eliminate cancer cells. They do not however cure cancer, but can definitely prolong the life of a person suffering from cancer.

Homeopathy is effective in providing relief from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Mind and Body Treatment focuses on a persons emotions, behaviour and faith. It is believed that a person must maintain a positive attitude and live a life free of mental and emotional stress. Massage and reflexology have also been found to be effective in strengthening cells and promoting the release of anti-cancer hormones in the body. The Mind and Body treatment has been found to be very effective and powerful in dealing with cancer, and perhaps even preventing it.

Nutrition and Diet has been found to be effective in preventing tissue and cell damage and ensuring the proper immune function of the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been found to be effective in providing relief from the side effects of the conventional treatments of cancer. Practitioners of this form of medicine recommend the use of herbs like Asian Ginseng, Astragalus and Dong Quai.


Article submited By John D. Samara On the behalf of www.childcancerandyou.org

Global cancer concern india is a ngo in india serving cancer suffering people for cure of different types of cancer like child cancer, throat cancer, breast cancer, bone cancer, prostat cancer etc.

For making donationskindly visit www.childcancerandyou.org

Donation for Cancer Patients , Online Donations, Donate Online for Cancer Patients, NGO india


About the author:
John D. Samara is a journalist and presently working in remote areas of asian sub continents for awareness on Cancer.