Most recent edit on 2007-11-14 01:35:37 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
Cancerbackup is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer. All Cancerbackup services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends. Cancerbackup, as a charity, receives 54% of its funding from individuals, 11% from charitable trusts, 5% from grants, 14% from companies, 2% from investments and 14% from its trading company. Pharmaceutical companies contributed 9% of the total 2005/06 income. In April 2006 Cancerbackup changed its name from CancerBACUP, so that the charity's name better represents the service the charity provides: information, understanding and support to anyone affected by cancer.
Deletions:
Cancerbackup is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer. All Cancerbackup services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends. Cancerbackup, as a charity, receives 54% of its funding from individuals, 11% from charitable trusts, 5% from grants, 14% from companies, 2% from investments and 14% from its trading company. Pharmaceutical companies contributed 9% of the total 2005/06 income. In April 2006 Cancerbackup changed its name from CancerBACUP, so that the charity's name better represents the service the charity provides: information, understanding and support to anyone affected by cancer.
Edited on 2007-11-14 01:35:01 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*$10M Grant To VCU To Develop New Cancer Treatments
*Negotiations Needed To Ensure Cancer Patients In The UK Don't Have A Long Wait For Cancer Treatments, Says Cancerbackup
Negotiations Needed To Ensure Cancer Patients In The UK Don't Have A Long Wait For Cancer Treatments, Says Cancerbackup
15 May 2007
In response to the Karolinska report, a global comparison on access to cancer treatments, released today, Cancerbackup issues the following response:
"Access to treatments is a complex issue, NICE and funding are just parts of the equation," says Joanne Rule, Cancerbackup Chief Executive.
"New treatments are delayed by many factors, including lack of funds and financial management within PCTs, knowledge of new treatments by clinicians, and the delay in new drugs being referred to NICE by the Department of Health.
Pharmaceutical companies also need to find a way to ensure that their treatments can be purchased by the NHS at levels closer to the NICE affordability threshold. The Department of Health, pharmaceuticals and regulators need to sit round a table and try and find a way for cancer patients to have faster access to cancer treatments,"
Cancerbackup is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer. All Cancerbackup services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends. Cancerbackup, as a charity, receives 54% of its funding from individuals, 11% from charitable trusts, 5% from grants, 14% from companies, 2% from investments and 14% from its trading company. Pharmaceutical companies contributed 9% of the total 2005/06 income. In April 2006 Cancerbackup changed its name from
CancerBACUP, so that the charity's name better represents the service the charity provides: information, understanding and support to anyone affected by cancer.
www.cancerbackup.org.uk
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=70839∞
Edited on 2007-11-14 00:18:27 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*NHS Top Up Payments Should Be Allowed For Cancer Care, UK
*$10M Grant To VCU To Develop New Cancer Treatments
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=66579∞
$10M Grant To VCU To Develop New Cancer Treatments
13 May 2007
The National Cancer Institute has awarded a five-year, $10.7 million grant to Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center researchers to develop a new form of radiation therapy that will enable the safe administration of more aggressive cancer treatments.
The NCI's Project Program Grant, titled "Image Guided Adaptive Radiation Therapy," or IGART, was awarded to Jeffrey F. Williamson, Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology and chair of that department's division of medical physics. The methods in development are based on sophisticated mathematical models that allow higher doses of radiation to kill cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal cells from damage.
"This project grant is a testament to the high impact of the ideas generated by researchers at VCU, and to the national leadership of the VCU Massey Cancer Center and its radiation biology and oncology program," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D.
"In an era of decreased federal cancer research grants, securing such large-scale funding is an extraordinary achievement by Dr. Williamson and his colleagues," added Jerome Strauss, M.D., dean of the VCU School of Medicine. Williamson and colleagues also will collaborate with investigators from Stanford University, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, the University of Iowa and the Netherlands Cancer Institute.
The Project
The project will enhance the safety and effectiveness of current treatments by incorporating quantitative and predictive image analysis into treatment planning.
"Anyone can acquire treatment technology, but knowing how to maximize its potential by layering on advances in imaging science, biostatistics and biology is what will really improve cancer outcomes in patients," said Williamson. As radiation treatments are administered, a tumor's shape and size changes. Lung tumors, in particular, change shape and position during treatment due to the patient's breathing. Radiation is often given daily over a period of days or weeks, and the ability to adapt the treatment to a tumor's movement during the course of treatment can have a significant effect on the patient's outcome.
"Human anatomy is dynamic and constantly changing, and organs shift and deform differently during each daily treatment," explained Williamson. "We know that tumors have day-to-day motions, daily motions, and second-by-second motions. By acquiring data on these motions and developing 4-D models and predictions, we will be better-able to predict where a tumor will be a second from now rather than where it was a second ago as we deliver radiation."
One of the technologies being adopted for the project functions much like a Global Positioning System and will be implanted in tumors to provide real-time feedback to scientists. The information on tumor movement will be updated 10 times per second.
Clinical Studies
In about six months, researchers will begin accruing patients with lung, cervical or prostate cancer to participate in the IGART project. They expect to enroll about 25 patients from each cancer type for the first two years of study. Using state-of-the-art technologies that provide images to guide the delivery of radiation doses, researchers first will carefully examine the movement of tumors and then employ adaptation techniques based on the unique characteristics of those tumors.
"By updating the 4-D anatomy as patients are treated, we can adapt or modify the treatment daily, or, if necessary, on a second-to-second basis to accommodate anatomical and biological changes," Williamson said.
Patients involved in clinical studies receive a high level of care and communication from their treatment team, and are assured of receiving the current standard plus the new, potentially better, components being applied to their treatment.
Massey's radiation oncology program is the largest in Virginia, with 106 faculty and staff. Its chairman, Mitchell Anscher, M.D., is a nationally recognized expert in radiation treatment for prostate cancer.
Massey's treatment facilities and capabilities include:
* Trilogy combined with
ExacTrac, a first-in-the-world combination of the most advanced image guidance and X-ray positioning that accounts for patients' breathing movements on the treatment couch.
* Brachytherapy Suites with advanced imaging-science computational techniques. Brachytherapy involves seed implants to deliver radiation over time.
* Cone-beam x-ray computed tomography imaging (CBCT)
* Deformable image registration (DIR)
* Biological imaging for target delineation
* 4-D intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment delivery
* Probablistic IMRT optimization
NCI Project Program Grants: Few and Far Between
About a dozen leading institutions in the United States hold NCI Project Program Grants for radiation oncology. Of these, only VCU's Massey Cancer Center and Massachusetts General Hospital have grants in both biology and physics within their radiation oncology programs. These grants tend to lead to proof-of-concepts and new standards of treatment for cancer treatment nationwide.
The other radiation oncology NCI Project Program Grant at Massey is titled "Genetic Modulation of Cellular Radiation Response," which is now in its eighth year under the leadership of Kristoffer Valerie, Ph.D. The IGART project will involve the contributions of dozens of researchers at VCU. In addition to Williamson, principal investigators include radiation oncology faculty members Jeffrey Siebers, Ph.D.; Martin Murphy, Ph.D.; Nesrin Dogan, Ph.D.; and Paul Keall, Ph.D., an adjunct professor at VCU who is also director of radiation oncology physics at Stanford University.
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=70274∞
Edited on 2007-11-12 14:00:58 by JasonD [Restored to Original Version by Kathy]
Additions:
Cancer patient, Muriel Buckby from Powys, Mid-Wales, has to travel from her home to Cheltenham hospital to receive her radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. She is 87 years old and has to travel 175 miles. Allan Lloyd, from Hereford, said he travelled 7,000 miles to take his wife to hospital in Cheltenham to receive her cancer treatment. It took 210 hours and cost ?750 in petrol. He is now campaigning for a radiotherapy treatment centre in Hereford.
Macmillan estimates that the NHS is actually saving ?200 a day by providing treatment as day-treatment and not as in-patient. Since cancer patients in particular - over any other type of patient - have to make 'multiple trips' to hospitals for their treatment, they get penalised the most.
Patients who took part in Macmillan's focus groups made an average of 60 trips to hospital throughout the course of their treatment - spending an average of ?380 on travel, with total costs ranging from ?25 - ?848. Missing a chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointment is not an option for cancer patients for whom treatment may literally be a matter of life and death. We think it is morally wrong to charge cancer patients under such circumstances. It is effectively a tax on illness.
Macmillan Cancer Relief found patients paid ?380 on average during their treatment to get to and from hospital.
But the costs were often more, because three-quarters of hospitals charge for parking - some up to ?30 a day.
?It costs a kings ransom to buy synthetic bryostatin, ?261 per 50 micrograms - that's ?5.2 million per gram!?
The new grant provides The Royal Marsden and The Institute with £10 million of funding each year for cancer research and for a new state-of-the-art molecular pathology centre.
The award forms part of the Government's new ‘Best Research for Best Health' programme, and aims to drive innovation and research in the NHS towards providing more rapid benefits for patients. The Royal Marsden and The Institute were selected for their proven record of excellence in cancer research, their research capabilities and strong forward plan. As a comprehensive cancer centre, The Royal Marsden and The Institute are committed to improving outcomes for patients with cancer nationally and internationally.
Dr Stephen Johnston, Director of Clinical Research and Development for The Royal Marsden and The Institute said, “It is very encouraging that the NIHR sees cancer research as a real priority, as cancer is one of the UK's biggest killers. This new funding will allow us to take forward our ambitious future plans for research and drug development. In particular, our focus is to translate new research findings on the causes of cancer into better diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention.
The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. The Institute is one of the world's most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with over 90p in every ? directly supporting research.
"These drugs inhibit tyrosine kinases, a key signalling system in cells, and will cost at least ?60,000 per patient per year. It is unlikely the NHS will be able to afford any of them and in any case the NICE backlog will delay their assessment for at least a year."
"Despite the ?90 billion being spent in the NHS in 2007, which will rise to an expected ?108 billion next year, UK service provision and technology still lagged behind its European neighbours."
Deletions:
letode
Cancer patient, Muriel Buckby from Powys, Mid-Wales, has to travel from her home to Cheltenham hospital to receive her radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. She is 87 years old and has to travel 175 miles. Allan Lloyd, from Hereford, said he travelled 7,000 miles to take his wife to hospital in Cheltenham to receive her cancer treatment. It took 210 hours and cost £750 in petrol. He is now campaigning for a radiotherapy treatment centre in Hereford.
Macmillan estimates that the NHS is actually saving £200 a day by providing treatment as day-treatment and not as in-patient. Since cancer patients in particular - over any other type of patient - have to make 'multiple trips' to hospitals for their treatment, they get penalised the most.
Patients who took part in Macmillan's focus groups made an average of 60 trips to hospital throughout the course of their treatment - spending an average of £380 on travel, with total costs ranging from £25 - £848. Missing a chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointment is not an option for cancer patients for whom treatment may literally be a matter of life and death. We think it is morally wrong to charge cancer patients under such circumstances. It is effectively a tax on illness.
Macmillan Cancer Relief found patients paid £380 on average during their treatment to get to and from hospital.
But the costs were often more, because three-quarters of hospitals charge for parking - some up to £30 a day.
?It costs a kings ransom to buy synthetic bryostatin, £261 per 50 micrograms - that's £5.2 million per gram!?
The new grant provides The Royal Marsden and The Institute with £10 million of funding each year for cancer research and for a new state-of-the-art molecular pathology centre.
The award forms part of the Government's new â??Best Research for Best Health' programme, and aims to drive innovation and research in the NHS towards providing more rapid benefits for patients. The Royal Marsden and The Institute were selected for their proven record of excellence in cancer research, their research capabilities and strong forward plan. As a comprehensive cancer centre, The Royal Marsden and The Institute are committed to improving outcomes for patients with cancer nationally and internationally.
Dr Stephen Johnston, Director of Clinical Research and Development for The Royal Marsden and The Institute said, â??It is very encouraging that the NIHR sees cancer research as a real priority, as cancer is one of the UK's biggest killers. This new funding will allow us to take forward our ambitious future plans for research and drug development. In particular, our focus is to translate new research findings on the causes of cancer into better diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention.
The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. The Institute is one of the world's most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with over 90p in every £ directly supporting research.
"These drugs inhibit tyrosine kinases, a key signalling system in cells, and will cost at least £60,000 per patient per year. It is unlikely the NHS will be able to afford any of them and in any case the NICE backlog will delay their assessment for at least a year."
"Despite the £90 billion being spent in the NHS in 2007, which will rise to an expected £108 billion next year, UK service provision and technology still lagged behind its European neighbours."
Edited on 2007-11-12 13:27:42 by GetgeTeltr
Additions:
letode
Cancer patient, Muriel Buckby from Powys, Mid-Wales, has to travel from her home to Cheltenham hospital to receive her radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. She is 87 years old and has to travel 175 miles. Allan Lloyd, from Hereford, said he travelled 7,000 miles to take his wife to hospital in Cheltenham to receive her cancer treatment. It took 210 hours and cost £750 in petrol. He is now campaigning for a radiotherapy treatment centre in Hereford.
Macmillan estimates that the NHS is actually saving £200 a day by providing treatment as day-treatment and not as in-patient. Since cancer patients in particular - over any other type of patient - have to make 'multiple trips' to hospitals for their treatment, they get penalised the most.
Patients who took part in Macmillan's focus groups made an average of 60 trips to hospital throughout the course of their treatment - spending an average of £380 on travel, with total costs ranging from £25 - £848. Missing a chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointment is not an option for cancer patients for whom treatment may literally be a matter of life and death. We think it is morally wrong to charge cancer patients under such circumstances. It is effectively a tax on illness.
Macmillan Cancer Relief found patients paid £380 on average during their treatment to get to and from hospital.
But the costs were often more, because three-quarters of hospitals charge for parking - some up to £30 a day.
?It costs a kings ransom to buy synthetic bryostatin, £261 per 50 micrograms - that's £5.2 million per gram!?
The new grant provides The Royal Marsden and The Institute with £10 million of funding each year for cancer research and for a new state-of-the-art molecular pathology centre.
The award forms part of the Government's new â??Best Research for Best Health' programme, and aims to drive innovation and research in the NHS towards providing more rapid benefits for patients. The Royal Marsden and The Institute were selected for their proven record of excellence in cancer research, their research capabilities and strong forward plan. As a comprehensive cancer centre, The Royal Marsden and The Institute are committed to improving outcomes for patients with cancer nationally and internationally.
Dr Stephen Johnston, Director of Clinical Research and Development for The Royal Marsden and The Institute said, â??It is very encouraging that the NIHR sees cancer research as a real priority, as cancer is one of the UK's biggest killers. This new funding will allow us to take forward our ambitious future plans for research and drug development. In particular, our focus is to translate new research findings on the causes of cancer into better diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention.
The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. The Institute is one of the world's most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with over 90p in every £ directly supporting research.
"These drugs inhibit tyrosine kinases, a key signalling system in cells, and will cost at least £60,000 per patient per year. It is unlikely the NHS will be able to afford any of them and in any case the NICE backlog will delay their assessment for at least a year."
"Despite the £90 billion being spent in the NHS in 2007, which will rise to an expected £108 billion next year, UK service provision and technology still lagged behind its European neighbours."
Deletions:
Cancer patient, Muriel Buckby from Powys, Mid-Wales, has to travel from her home to Cheltenham hospital to receive her radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. She is 87 years old and has to travel 175 miles. Allan Lloyd, from Hereford, said he travelled 7,000 miles to take his wife to hospital in Cheltenham to receive her cancer treatment. It took 210 hours and cost ?750 in petrol. He is now campaigning for a radiotherapy treatment centre in Hereford.
Macmillan estimates that the NHS is actually saving ?200 a day by providing treatment as day-treatment and not as in-patient. Since cancer patients in particular - over any other type of patient - have to make 'multiple trips' to hospitals for their treatment, they get penalised the most.
Patients who took part in Macmillan's focus groups made an average of 60 trips to hospital throughout the course of their treatment - spending an average of ?380 on travel, with total costs ranging from ?25 - ?848. Missing a chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointment is not an option for cancer patients for whom treatment may literally be a matter of life and death. We think it is morally wrong to charge cancer patients under such circumstances. It is effectively a tax on illness.
Macmillan Cancer Relief found patients paid ?380 on average during their treatment to get to and from hospital.
But the costs were often more, because three-quarters of hospitals charge for parking - some up to ?30 a day.
?It costs a kings ransom to buy synthetic bryostatin, ?261 per 50 micrograms - that's ?5.2 million per gram!?
The new grant provides The Royal Marsden and The Institute with £10 million of funding each year for cancer research and for a new state-of-the-art molecular pathology centre.
The award forms part of the Government's new ‘Best Research for Best Health' programme, and aims to drive innovation and research in the NHS towards providing more rapid benefits for patients. The Royal Marsden and The Institute were selected for their proven record of excellence in cancer research, their research capabilities and strong forward plan. As a comprehensive cancer centre, The Royal Marsden and The Institute are committed to improving outcomes for patients with cancer nationally and internationally.
Dr Stephen Johnston, Director of Clinical Research and Development for The Royal Marsden and The Institute said, “It is very encouraging that the NIHR sees cancer research as a real priority, as cancer is one of the UK's biggest killers. This new funding will allow us to take forward our ambitious future plans for research and drug development. In particular, our focus is to translate new research findings on the causes of cancer into better diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention.
The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. The Institute is one of the world's most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with over 90p in every ? directly supporting research.
"These drugs inhibit tyrosine kinases, a key signalling system in cells, and will cost at least ?60,000 per patient per year. It is unlikely the NHS will be able to afford any of them and in any case the NICE backlog will delay their assessment for at least a year."
"Despite the ?90 billion being spent in the NHS in 2007, which will rise to an expected ?108 billion next year, UK service provision and technology still lagged behind its European neighbours."
Edited on 2007-03-30 10:06:59 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
Professor Karol Sikora is Medical Director of CancerPartnersUK which is creating the largest UK cancer network as a series of joint ventures with NHS Trusts. He was Professor of Cancer Medicine and honorary Consultant Oncologist at Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London. He has published over 300 papers and written or edited 20 books including Treatment of Cancer - the standard British postgraduate textbook now going to its fifth edition and most recently The Economics of Cancer Care.
Deletions:
Professor Karol Sikora is Medical Director of CancerPartnersUK which is creating the largest UK cancer network as a series of joint ventures with NHS Trusts. He was Professor of Cancer Medicine and honorary Consultant Oncologist at Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London. He has published over 300 papers and written or edited 20 books including Treatment of Cancer - the standard British postgraduate textbook now going to its fifth edition and most recently The Economics of Cancer Care.
Edited on 2007-03-30 10:05:43 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*Support For Young Scientists With High Risk, High Reward Ideas
*NHS Top Up Payments Should Be Allowed For Cancer Care, UK
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=65390∞
NHS Top Up Payments Should Be Allowed For Cancer Care, UK
29 Mar 2007
A leading expert on modern day management of cancer is calling for the implementation of proper procedures that would allow NHS patients to top up cancer care in the private sector.
Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Professor Karol Sikora said paying for cancer care was the new dilemma for the NHS.
"Over the next 12 months there will be at least six new powerful targeted anti-cancer drugs administered as simple tablets for breast, lung, kidney and colorectal cancer.
"These drugs inhibit tyrosine kinases, a key signalling system in cells, and will cost at least ?60,000 per patient per year. It is unlikely the NHS will be able to afford any of them and in any case the NICE backlog will delay their assessment for at least a year."
Professor Sikora said that paying for new drugs was only one part of the cancer care dilemma.
"At least with drugs the economics are relatively straightforward, with precision radiotherapy the issues are more complex and so far hidden from the political media limelight," said Professor Sikora.
"There are 61 radiotherapy centres in the UK. Of these, 28 now have equipment to provide intensity modulated radiotherapy, which is now standard in the US and most of Western Europe. However, only three British centres routinely provide this radiotherapy to significant numbers of patients: Clatterbridge in Liverpool, Ipswich and the Royal Marsden in London.
"Furthermore, delays abound with a three-month waiting time for radiotherapy being common in the UK. In contrast, a centre in Zurich currently has a working group engaged in re-engineering the time from first contact to radiotherapy delivery from five to three working days.
"Despite the ?90 billion being spent in the NHS in 2007, which will rise to an expected ?108 billion next year, UK service provision and technology still lagged behind its European neighbours."
Professor Sikora said UK needed an urgent political debate about paying for cancer care.
"How much we are willing to pay for an extra year of good quality life with cancer is going to be a key question for the baby boomer generation," he said.
"Consumerism and social solidarity do not sit comfortably together. A recent survey by the information charity Cancerbackup showed that 67 per cent will vote in the next election on the basis of health policy and for 76 per cent of us cancer is the most important health issue.
"No politician can afford to ignore these statistics. The UK needs to have an urgent debate about whether the NHS should be able to provide, not just a core package of services, but also allow patients to contribute financially for improved services for themselves," Professor Sikora said.
Professor Karol Sikora is Medical Director of
CancerPartnersUK which is creating the largest UK cancer network as a series of joint ventures with NHS Trusts. He was Professor of Cancer Medicine and honorary Consultant Oncologist at Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London. He has published over 300 papers and written or edited 20 books including Treatment of Cancer - the standard British postgraduate textbook now going to its fifth edition and most recently The Economics of Cancer Care.
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=66579∞
Edited on 2007-03-19 07:47:50 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*America's Demand For Cancer Treatment Will Exceed Supply Report Forecasts
*Support For Young Scientists With High Risk, High Reward Ideas
Support For Young Scientists With High Risk, High Reward Ideas
18 Mar 2007
To foster radical breakthroughs in cancer, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and Andrew and Debra Rachleff have created a novel grant program to provide seed funding for young scientists to conduct high risk research designed to significantly impact our understanding of cancer and approaches to its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Scientists with out-of-the-box, unproven ideas have always had enormous difficulty obtaining funding. For junior scientists, this challenge is far greater. However, it is these young investigators who often have the fresh perspective, creativity and drive that lead to revolutionary discoveries, much like their entrepreneurial counterparts in the technology world. The goal of the Damon Runyon - Rachleff Innovation Award is to apply a venture capital philosophy to funding scientific research by investing in junior scientists with innovative ideas, as well as the vision and passion to transform a field.
The Rachleffs have partnered with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation to establish this new program. "I bring the mentality of taking risks to get innovation and Damon Runyon brings its expertise in running internationally respected grant programs for young investigators. By joining together, we were able to create something different, while avoiding duplicative administrative costs. We hope that our program and partnership will be a model for others," explains Andy Rachleff.
Damon Runyon and the Rachleffs seek dramatic scientific breakthroughs with these awards. "Unlike traditional research funding which focuses on incremental advances, we are investing in ideas that are high risk but have the potential for breakthrough discoveries," says Lorraine Egan, Executive Director of the Foundation. As Andy Rachleff explains, "Similar to the venture capital world, we are not focused on batting averages. We are looking for home runs."
Launched with initial funding of $5 million from the Rachleffs, the program awards between three and five new grants each year, with each recipient receiving $450,000 over three years. The first awards will be made in the fall of 2007.
Nation's Leading Scientists on Advisory Board
Recognizing that a different kind of expertise is required to evaluate out-of-the box thinking, Damon Runyon recruited a scientific advisory board comprised of world-renowned scientists who themselves conceived breakthrough ideas at a young age. They understand the challenge of attracting grant money for novel ideas. As committee member Mark Davis, PhD, of Stanford University, a pioneer in the field of immunology, recalls, "I was told that one of my early grant requests was rejected simply because 'some of your experiments might fail.' It's hard to make real progress with that mind set."
Special attention was also paid to creating a board representing diverse scientific backgrounds in cutting-edge areas of research so that ideas across a broad spectrum could be considered for funding. Representatives from academia and industry provide perspective across the continuum from basic discovery to application. The committee is chaired by Ronald Levy, MD, of Stanford University, who developed Rituxan, the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibody for treatment of Lymphoma , and includes such scientific leaders as Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD (UCSF), David Botstein, PhD (Princeton), Napoleone Ferrara, MD (Genentech) and Todd Golub, MD (Broad Institute).
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Founded in 1946, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation is highly respected by the scientific community for the quality of the basic and clinical research it has supported and the important role it has played in identifying the most promising young scientists and encouraging them to focus their careers on cancer research. To date, the Foundation has invested over $200 million and funded more than 3,000 scientists. 100% of all donations to the Foundation are used to support scientific research. Its administrative and fundraising costs are paid from its Broadway Tickets Service and endowment. For more information visit
http://www.drcrf.org/∞
Contact: Cynthia L. Stirling
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=65390∞
Edited on 2007-03-15 09:02:29 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*Vital Funding For Cancer Research Announced For Europe's Largest Comprehensive Cancer Centre
*America's Demand For Cancer Treatment Will Exceed Supply Report Forecasts
America's Demand For Cancer Treatment Will Exceed Supply Report Forecasts
14 Mar 2007
A new report suggests that America's demand for cancer treatment will outstrip supply by the end of the next decade.
The report was commissioned by the Board of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and is published in its Journal of Oncology Practice.
The report says the US could be short of as many as 4,000 oncologists by the year 2020, because demand for treatment is growing faster than supply.
Demand for treatment is growing for two main reasons. One is the "graying of America"; the proportion of older people in the population is rising, as is their number. Another reason is that more people are surviving cancer. Taken together these effects will increase demand for cancer treatment by 48 per cent, says the report.
In contrast, looking at supply in terms of the services provided by cancer doctors or oncologists, this will only rise by 14 per cent. while the number of specialist doctors is rising, it is not rising fast enough. Part of the reason is the rising numbers of those who will be retiring in the next decade.
This results in a capacity shortage of 9.4 to 15.0 million doctor visits, says the report, which equates to between 2,550 to 4,080 cancer doctors - about one quarter to one third of the 2005 supply figure.
The number of people diagnosed with cancer in 2005, including those who had finished treatment was 11.7 million, representing about 1 in 26 Americans. According to the report, by 2020 this figure will be 18.7 million, representing about 1 in 19 Americans.
The report authors sourced their supply-side data from surveys of oncologists together with the 2005 American Medical Association Masterfile data on cancer doctors. From this they established current and predicted future capacity to receive patients.
They created their demand-side estimates by taking demographic and time-related data on case diagnosis, prevalence and incidence projections from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and applying them to population projections from the US Census Bureau (issued in March 2004).
They then created different supply and demand scenarios using different sets of assumptions and projected them to the year 2020. The baseline supply and demand forecast assumed there would no change in the patterns of cancer care delivery and doctors' practice.
The report concludes that these figures pose a serious challenge to Americans, the public, policy makers, and the oncology profession. No one strategy will close the gap, it says.
What is needed is a multifaceted approach working on a number of options at the same time, say the report's authors. They suggest options such as increasing the number of oncology fellowships, more non-doctor clinicians, primary care doctors playing a greater role in the care of remission patients and changing the way services are delivered.
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=65246∞
Edited on 2006-12-30 12:45:10 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Announces Stephen Harper
*Vital Funding For Cancer Research Announced For Europe's Largest Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Vital Funding For Cancer Research Announced For Europe's Largest Comprehensive Cancer Centre
29 Dec 2006
UK Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has just announced that The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, which form Europe's largest comprehensive cancer centre, have been awarded one of ten National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre grants. The centre is the only one in the NHS to be awarded this prestigious grant for cancer research.
The new grant provides The Royal Marsden and The Institute with £10 million of funding each year for cancer research and for a new state-of-the-art molecular pathology centre.
The award forms part of the Government's new ‘Best Research for Best Health' programme, and aims to drive innovation and research in the NHS towards providing more rapid benefits for patients. The Royal Marsden and The Institute were selected for their proven record of excellence in cancer research, their research capabilities and strong forward plan. As a comprehensive cancer centre, The Royal Marsden and The Institute are committed to improving outcomes for patients with cancer nationally and internationally.
Dr Stephen Johnston, Director of Clinical Research and Development for The Royal Marsden and The Institute said, “It is very encouraging that the NIHR sees cancer research as a real priority, as cancer is one of the UK's biggest killers. This new funding will allow us to take forward our ambitious future plans for research and drug development. In particular, our focus is to translate new research findings on the causes of cancer into better diagnosis, treatment and ultimately prevention.
The Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust work in a unique partnership, forming the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe. This relationship enables close daily contact with those on the frontline in the fight against cancer - the clinicians, the carers and most importantly, the patients.
The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe's leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Click here to visit their website.
The Institute is a charity that relies on voluntary income. The Institute is one of the world's most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with over 90p in every ? directly supporting research.
http://www.icr.ac.uk∞
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=59226∞
Edited on 2006-11-26 01:06:40 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*BSD Medical Launches Interactive Cancer Website For Physicians
*Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Announces Stephen Harper
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Announces Stephen Harper
24 Nov 2006
Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, announced the setting up of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, a five-year plan created by 700 cancer experts and cancer survivors. Harper added that the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is a non-profit corporation.
Haper said "The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer will serve as a clearing house for state of the art information about preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. Its job is to make sure that the best cancer care practices in any single part of Canada are known and available to health care providers in every part of Canada?. Make no mistake about it, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is going to save lives. In fact, experts are predicting the strategy could pre-empt 1.2 million new cases of cancer and prevent 423,000 cancer deaths over the next 30 years."
The Partnership's board of directors will be made up of representatives from cancer stakeholder organizations - the provinces and territories, patient groups, family groups, organizations, Aboriginal peoples and the Federal Government.
Harper said Jeffrey Lozon will be Chairman of the Partnership, and Dr. Simon Sutcliffe will be vice Chairman. Jeffrey Lozon is President and CEO of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto. Dr. Sutcliffe is President and CEO of the BC Cancer Agency.
The ultimate aim is to reduce total numbers of new cancer cases in Canada, improve quality of life for Canadians suffering from cancer, and reduce the chances of Canadians dying from cancer.
The Canadian government has committed CA$260 million towards the Partnership.
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=57495∞
Edited on 2006-10-22 14:11:59 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
The physicians website serves as an inclusive resource center, informing physicians about how the therapy works to fight cancer, what other physicians are saying about the treatment and providing a discussion board to allow physicians to communicate with each other, ask questions about the therapy and share their experiences. Visitors to the http://www.heatcancer.com∞ website can access physician information kits, reimbursement information, interactive DVDs and other tools, providing training and education as well as the ability to be in contact with a sales representative. The website was developed by Richter7, a full-service advertising and marketing firm with expertise in the development of medical websites. Richter7 has developed and implemented similar websites that have been successful for medical device manufacturers such as Medtronic and Biolase.
Deletions:
The physicians website serves as an inclusive resource center, informing physicians about how the therapy works to fight cancer, what other physicians are saying about the treatment and providing a discussion board to allow physicians to communicate with each other, ask questions about the therapy and share their experiences. Visitors to the http://www.heatcancer.com∞ website can access physician information kits, reimbursement information, interactive DVDs and other tools, providing training and education as well as the ability to be in contact with a sales representative. The website was developed by Richter7, a full-service advertising and marketing firm with expertise in the development of medical websites. Richter7 has developed and implemented similar websites that have been successful for medical device manufacturers such as Medtronic and Biolase.
Edited on 2006-10-22 14:10:19 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*Research Could Lead To Major Breakthrough In The Cost Of Effective New Cancer Drug
*BSD Medical Launches Interactive Cancer Website For Physicians
BSD Medical Launches Interactive Cancer Website For Physicians
22 Oct 2006
BSD Medical Corp. (Amex: BSM) today announced that the company has launched a new interactive website to providing information and resources to physicians about BSD Medical's cancer therapy,
http://www.heatcancer.com∞. This is the third stage of a comprehensive internet campaign directed at educating patients, and now physicians, on therapies available through BSD's cancer treatment systems. Patient websites previously launched as part of this comprehensive campaign include
http://www.treatwithheat.com∞ and
http://www.flowersforhope.com∞ (the award-winning Hope Garden). Visits to the Hope Garden are increasing constantly as word spreads from those who have already visited the website. Over 75,000 people have visited the Hope Garden over the past two months. BSD Medical's goal is to increase the monthly visits to over 2,000,000. Approximately 20% of those who visit the Hope Garden are seeking out information on therapy provided by BSD Medical's cancer treatment systems at the patient website,
http://www.treatwithheat.com∞.
The physicians website serves as an inclusive resource center, informing physicians about how the therapy works to fight cancer, what other physicians are saying about the treatment and providing a discussion board to allow physicians to communicate with each other, ask questions about the therapy and share their experiences. Visitors to the
http://www.heatcancer.com∞ website can access physician information kits, reimbursement information, interactive DVDs and other tools, providing training and education as well as the ability to be in contact with a sales representative. The website was developed by
Richter7, a full-service advertising and marketing firm with expertise in the development of medical websites.
Richter7 has developed and implemented similar websites that have been successful for medical device manufacturers such as Medtronic and Biolase.
BSD Medical is the leading developer of cancer therapy systems that are based on the use of precision-guided RF/microwave energy to increase the temperature of cancerous tissue and force it into hyperthermia. Hyperthermia therapy is used to kill cancer directly and increase the effectiveness of companion radiation treatments. Research has also shown promising results from the use of hyperthermia therapy in combination with chemotherapy, and for tumor reduction prior to surgery. For further information visit BSD Medical's website at
http://www.BSDMedical.com∞.
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements and projections or expectations of future events, including the prospects for future sales of the Company's cancer therapy systems based on increasing patient or physician exposure to the Company's cancer therapy are subject to risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
BSD Medical Corp
http://www.BSDMedical.com∞
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=54730∞
Edited on 2006-10-22 06:26:16 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
The university is jointly funding the research of PhD student Giso Abadi from Valdosta State University in Georgia, who is working with Sunderland scientists Dr Lyn Noble and Professor Paul Groundwater on the anti-cancer agent bryostatin.
Deletions:
The university is jointly funding the research of PhD student Giso Abadi from Valdosta State University in Georgia, who is working with Sunderland scientists Dr Lyn Noble and Professor Paul Groundwater on the anti-cancer agent bryostatin.
Edited on 2006-10-22 06:24:51 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
Now PhD student Giso is trying a different approach. Bacteria that use the marine animal as a host are thought to be responsible for producing the bryostatin.
Deletions:
Now PhD student Giso is trying a different approach. Bacteria that use the marine animal as a host are thought to be responsible for producing the bryostatin.
Edited on 2006-10-22 06:24:28 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*CDC-Funded Project Offers Free Colonoscopies To Uninsured Residents In Five States, USA
*Research Could Lead To Major Breakthrough In The Cost Of Effective New Cancer Drug
Research Could Lead To Major Breakthrough In The Cost Of Effective New Cancer Drug
21 Oct 2006
Scientists at the University of Sunderland have joined forces with a US university in a new project that aims to make a miracle cancer drug affordable.
The university is jointly funding the research of
PhD student Giso Abadi from Valdosta State University in Georgia, who is working with Sunderland scientists Dr Lyn Noble and Professor Paul Groundwater on the anti-cancer agent bryostatin.
In clinical trials bryostatin has already proven extremely effective in fighting many cancers, and has recently been proven effective in the treatment of Alzheimers disease. The drug is present in the marine invertebrate bugula neritina, and in the surrounding sediment in areas of the Gulf of Mexico.
However, it takes 14 tons of dry weight bugula from the ocean to extract only one ounce of purified bryostatin.
?Mass production just isn't viable on economic or environmental grounds using this method,? says Dr Noble, Giso's director of studies at Sunderland.
?Usually when potential drugs which occur naturally are discovered chemists can synthesise them in the lab, and this is possible with bryostatin, but it takes 65 reaction steps. Pharmaceutical companies will only normally consider synthesising a medicinal product that uses a process of between five and ten steps, so this method also has no commercial mileage.
?It costs a kings ransom to buy synthetic bryostatin, ?261 per 50 micrograms - that's ?5.2 million per gram!?
A lot of research has been done to find a cost effective way to produce the drug in the USA, including a $7m project to create a ?sea farm' where the marine organism could be bred naturally. Unfortunately, the farm was exposed to unpredictable weather conditions and the bugula colony was lost in a hurricane.
Now
PhD student Giso is trying a different approach. Bacteria that use the marine animal as a host are thought to be responsible for producing the bryostatin.
Efforts are underway to successfully grow the bacteria in salt water tanks in the lab at Valdosta, by optimising the conditions which mimic the bacteria's natural environment. If successful it is hoped that Giso's methods, alongside the expertise of Sunderland chemists, will eventually find an effective and relatively inexpensive method of producing bryostatin in the laboratory.
Chemists at Sunderland were so impressed with Giso's research that they flew out to Valdosta and convinced officials there to jointly fund her work.
Giso, who is used to the humid heat of America's Deep South and currently trying to adjust to the North-East weather, is planning to extend her work into investigating if it's possible to find bugula neritina and harvest it from the North Sea, rather than the Gulf of Mexico.
?Bugula is seasonal in the Gulf of Mexico, a very nondescript brown moss like animal, and it has been found in colder waters of other oceans around the world,? she said. ?It's not known if they are active in the North Sea, but the water's certainly cold enough.?
Whether or not they do manage to find the elusive creatures in the North Sea, by optimising the growing conditions for the bacteria to thrive and produce in the lab the research team's eventual aim is to create a ?production line' of bryostatin. If they can manage that the drug will be available cheaply for the first time, and will change the lives of literally millions of cancer and Alzheimer sufferers worldwide.
SUNDERLAND UNIVERSITY
Langham Tower
Ryhope Road
Sunderland
SR2 7EE
http://www.sunderland.ac.uk∞
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=54643∞
Edited on 2006-07-29 07:16:05 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
~*Disability Benefits Question from Ostomyland Message Board
*CDC-Funded Project Offers Free Colonoscopies To Uninsured Residents In Five States, USA
CDC-Funded Project Offers Free Colonoscopies To Uninsured Residents In Five States
28 Jul 2006
In five states, a CDC-funded project will offer colorectal cancer screenings at no cost for uninsured U.S. residents over age 50, the AP/Newark Star-Ledger reports. Because of cost, time, intense preparation and discomfort of colorectal screenings, nearly 42 million U.S. residents over 50 are not getting tested for colorectal cancer, the nation's second-leading cancer killer. Colonoscopies are the most costly screening option and require a full day at the doctor's office coupled with intense preparation, but they are required only once every 10 years. An in-home fecal occult blood test is a simpler and cheaper screening option that is conducted annually. Bruce Jenkins of the Missouri health department's "Screening for Life" program said, "It's a part of the body [people] don't want anybody to mess with." In addition to the "yuck factor" associated with colorectal screening, many people do not get tested because of cost, the AP/Star-Ledger reports. The CDC program, which could be expanded nationwide, is the first major federal effort to target the uninsured for colorectal screening. Participants in two locations will receive colonoscopies, while those in the three other locations will receive at-home fecal tests. According to CDC, nearly 60% of the more than 55,000 projected deaths from the disease this year could have been prevented through regular screenings. Colorectal screenings can detect polyps that can take up to a decade to become cancerous. If the polyps are found and removed in time, cancer can be avoided altogether. Daniel Blumenthal, a doctor at Atlanta's Morehouse School of Medicine, is researching ways to improve screening rates among black U.S. residents, who are at especially high risk for the disease. "We have to make an impact somewhere outside of the doctor office," Blumenthal said (Neergaard, AP/Newark Star-Ledger, 7/25).
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=48149∞
Edited on 2006-07-27 02:28:39 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
Categories
CategoryCancer
Edited on 2006-07-24 01:06:34 by KathyFromEngland
Additions:
Cancer Treatment News
(Click here for Cancer Research Articles)
Deletions:
Cancer Treatment News
(Cancer Research Articles can be found here)
Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2006-07-23 15:18:45 by KathyFromEngland []
Page view:
Cancer Treatment News
Includes articles about funding etc.
(
Cancer Research Articles can be found here)
Contents
*The Cost Of Travel To And From Hospital For Cancer Patients, UK
*Warning over cancer travel costs
*Disability Benefits Question from Ostomyland Message Board
The Cost Of Travel To And From Hospital For Cancer Patients, UK
30 Mar 2006
Macmillan's research 'Free at the Point of Delivery' shows that travelling costs hit cancer patients hard due to the frequency of visits to hospital and the long distances they need to travel get to specialist treatment centres. A typical course of radiotherapy may involve a daily round trip to hospital for five days a week for up to six weeks - up to 30 trips to hospital in all. As radiotherapy is usually delivered in specialist treatment centres servicing large catchment areas, particularly in rural areas, patients may have to make lengthy round trips every weekday throughout their course of treatment.
Cancer patients living in the Western region of the designated catchment area of the Three Counties Cancer Network, with its Oncology Centre at Cheltenham, seem to experience the longest journeys for cancer treatment in the UK. Some are having to travel 200 miles for a round trip - that's three hours journey each way.
Cancer patient, Muriel Buckby from Powys, Mid-Wales, has to travel from her home to Cheltenham hospital to receive her radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. She is 87 years old and has to travel 175 miles. Allan Lloyd, from Hereford, said he travelled 7,000 miles to take his wife to hospital in Cheltenham to receive her cancer treatment. It took 210 hours and cost ?750 in petrol. He is now campaigning for a radiotherapy treatment centre in Hereford.
Similarly we know that patients in rural areas around the UK, in Scotland and the South West, who have long journeys will still have to pay for their petrol and travel costs from their own pocket. Macmillan is calling for these travel costs to be refunded as it's not right that patients, particularly those in rural areas like Wales, end up effectively paying for their treatment.
Macmillan estimates that the NHS is actually saving ?200 a day by providing treatment as day-treatment and not as in-patient. Since cancer patients in particular - over any other type of patient - have to make 'multiple trips' to hospitals for their treatment, they get penalised the most.
Patients who took part in Macmillan's focus groups made an average of 60 trips to hospital throughout the course of their treatment - spending an average of ?380 on travel, with total costs ranging from ?25 - ?848. Missing a chemotherapy or radiotherapy appointment is not an option for cancer patients for whom treatment may literally be a matter of life and death. We think it is morally wrong to charge cancer patients under such circumstances. It is effectively a tax on illness.
We would like people to ask their MP to raise this issue with Patricia Hewitt, Health Minister. Click here to find your MP.
People affected by cancer can get more information about the financial help available to them by calling the Better Deal campaign hotline free on: 0800 500 800 or logging onto
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal∞
http://www.macmillan.org.uk∞
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=40512∞
Warning over cancer travel costs
Cancer patients are having to pay a "stealth tax" for their treatment because of transport and parking costs, a report says.
Macmillan Cancer Relief found patients paid ?380 on average during their treatment to get to and from hospital.
But the costs were often more, because three-quarters of hospitals charge for parking - some up to ?30 a day.
Macmillan chief executive Peter Cardy said the financial burden was adding to the stress of treatment.
"It is outrageous that cancer patients should have the added stress of trying to find the money to travel for their life-saving treatment, as if having cancer isn't stressful enough.
"That is why Macmillan is calling on the government to allow all cancer patients to get help with travel costs."
Patients on income support are entitled to a travel grant but Macmillan found only one in five hospitals promoted the scheme.
The report said many patients were forced to give up work so the added costs meant that there was less money for basic necessities such as food, children's clothes and household bills.
Cancer patients often have to travel a lot because the nature of their treatment means they have frequent hospital appointments.
Cancer services are becoming increasingly centralised, so some patients face round trips of more than 100 miles.
The travel demands meant paying for them had become a "stealth tax", Macmillan said.
Grant
The charity has called on the government to make sure the travel grant programme, Hospital Travel Costs Scheme, is publicised and extended to include all cancer patients.
It also said hospital parking for cancer patients should be free.
A spokesperson for the NHS Confederation, which represents health service managers, said the body recognised the expense of travelling to hospital and car parking was a key concern.
"We agree with Macmillan Cancer Relief that patients should be fully informed about their rights to reimbursement for costs.
"However, some NHS hospitals have a very limited supply of car parking and are unable to provide free parking for all patients which is why charges are used as a way of managing demand.
"In the longer term, initiatives to provide more services closer to where patients live - in primary care settings - should ensure that patients' travel costs are reduced and we welcome that trend."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4694291.stm∞
Further Information
BACUP website:
"Can I get free transport to have a course of radiotherapy?"
If you are unwell or disabled to such an extent that you cannot get to hospital in any other way, then transport can be arranged by ambulance or a hospital car. This service is free of charge.
Otherwise you will have to meet the cost of your transport to and from hospital for radiotherapy, unless you, or your partner, are receiving either Income Support or a Job Seeker's Allowance. If you are getting these benefits then you can claim back part or all of the cost of your fares - the hospital will be able to give you the forms to do this. You will need to provide evidence of your entitlement to one of the benefits and of your transport costs, such as tickets.
If you do not qualify for hospital transport and are not receiving state benefits then, if paying for transport causes real hardship, it might be possible to apply to certain charities, such as Macmillan Cancer Relief for help with travel costs. Sometimes individual hospitals also have special funds that might help. So the best thing to do is to have a chat with the radiographers who are giving you your treatment and they will be able to give you details of what is available by way of financial support.
http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/QAs/Search/1121∞
Christie's website:
"Can I get help with the cost of travelling to and from hospital?"
If you make your own way to hospital, you can get help with the cost of public transport (bus or train fares) or car mileage if you are getting:
Income Support
Working Families Tax Credit
Disability Working Tax Credit
If you have an HC2 or HC3 certificate
The hospital cashiers will pay your travelling expenses. They will also supply you with a token for the car park if you bring proof that you are eligible (income support or family credit book or exemption certificate).
http://www.christie.nhs.uk/how_to_find_us/travel_expenses.htm∞
Patient UK says much the same, but also contains useful links for information and application forms:
Some patients and parents of child patients attending hospital for NHS treatment may qualify for help with travel costs to and from hospital. Check with the hospital before travelling if you are not sure whether you are eligible for help.
Who can get help?
If you (or your partner) gets one of the following:
Income Support.
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
If you have an NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
Some war pensioners - if treatment is connected with the pensionable disability.
People on a low income who have a certificate HC2 or HC3
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069050∞
Disability Benefits Question from Ostomyland Message Board
Post by maria_d on Apr 15th, 2005, 1:42pm
hi all i don't no if most of you know that while you are being treated for cancer that you are intitled to benifites such as disabled parking mobility ect, when i had cancer i got all these my cancer nurse sorted it all out, i'm now due for renewal in oct, i have been told that now i'm in remission ;D i will no longer be eligable for it but may get the lower rate just thought i would let you know incase you wern't aware xoxoxoxox
Post by rachie on Apr 15th, 2005, 4:06pm
I also got disability living allowance at the higher rate. It certainly made things easier.
It means you can have a disabled parking badge AND free car tax too! (I didn't bother with those)
My benefits were stopped about 5 months after I returned to work. I had to fill in another 103764387 page form to get them to reassess me... all I wanted was the benefit cancelled!
Its worth getting in touch with them. :)
Post by dsankey on Apr 15th, 2005, 10:11pm
Well, i never knew that!! Thanks for that info Maria...will definately be looking into it further :) :)
Post by Cynthia on Apr 16th, 2005, 11:26am
I claim incapacity benefit as I did not feel well enough th return to work. I never realised I was entitled to DLA especially at the higher rate. I know it seems mad considering the situation that I'm in but I never thought that I was ill enough to claim this. (Considering I was a social worker you would think That I would know better.) Thanks for bringing this topic up. I now just have to motivate myself to fill all those forms in.
Post by rachie on Apr 17th, 2005, 7:37pm
Cynthia,
My stoma nurse actually told me to apply for DLA, and filled in the forms with me, cos she knew I'd play it all down! ::)
Cancer cases are considered a priority and you should hear quickly.... just make sure you write worse case scenario on everything! (That's what I was told, though it was very depressing!)
Good luck
rachie
Post by AndyJ on Apr 18th, 2005, 5:53pm
Can anyone advise please...
I am self employed and have a colostomy following surgery for bowel cancer last August. During the period August to mid January I received Incapacity Benefit whilst I did not work.
In February I was diagnosed with secondary cancer (this time on my left lung) for which I am now receiving chemotherapy. I will be getting a CT scan in mid-May and if the chemo is doing the trick, I will need to have my left lung removed...so another major operation and period of recovery.
I am still working now a few days per week and will do so until I have surgery. At this point I will claim for Incapacity Benefit again, but what I wanted to know is if I am entitled to any additional benefits such as DLA? My wife works so I am not sure if this will effect entitlement. Many thanks.
Andy
Post by rachie on Apr 18th, 2005, 9:31pm
You SHOULD be entitled to DLA, and the forms say it shouldn't be affected by working - so long as you don't exceed a certain number of hours.
If I were you, I'd find the phone number of the benefits agency (I think I remember it being a freephone number, and it's in the phone book!) and ask them. It's a nightmare trying to get through, but once you're there, they really are helpful.
The other place to ask would be the Job Centre Plus. They initially gave me the DLA form.
Good luck with everything.
rachie
Post by Kathy_from_England on Apr 18th, 2005, 10:17pm
Hi Andy,
DLA isn't means tested so it shouldn't be affected by your wife's income. Gary is paid it, and it didn't matter when I was working full-time.
I have a few links on this page (scroll down near the bottom):
http://www.ostomylinks.co.uk/disability.html∞
We've found Welfare Rights extremely helpful and supportive and a good source of information.
Rachie can help you better than I about claiming DLA with cancer, but I will add to think of yourself at your worst when you fill it in.
(Just as an example, say you can't manage to climb stairs at all at your worst, but you can just about manage when you're having a better day - fill it in as on a bad day).
Good luck with your claim!
Post by AndyJ on Apr 19th, 2005, 8:17am
Rachie / Kathy,
Thanks for the advice. I will look into this.
Andy
Post by phyll08 on May 18th, 2005, 3:54am
For anyone reading this from the USA, my Oncologist told me on the day he found my cancer had returned, to apply for Social Security Disability THAT DAY...he is usually so laid back, but he told me NOT to go home, but to go to the social security office and get it in the works, and he would fill in his part of the paperwork. This was the end of October, and I did as he asked...I was approved for benefits in February, retroactive for the previous 14 months.
I had been working some of that time, but just on a per diem basis, and my job provided a salary breakdown and schedule so they could see when the illness began to take it's toll.
I had a wonderful man help me at Social Security, and now am also on Medicare, so I can afford to live!! My retirement from my long term job also came through! I took it early, so it's only 1/2 what it would have been had I waited till I was 65, but hey...Life is uncertain...Eat dessert first!!
Best wishes who need to apply for benefits.
Phyllis :)