Cancer Headlines SAN DIEGO , Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (Amex: HTI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant human enzymes, today announced it has initiated patient enrollment for its Chemophase(TM) Phase I clinical trial and has dosed two patients. Chemophase is a novel recombinant therapeutic being developed to enhance the delivery of chemotherapy. The initial clinical protocol for Chemophase is designed to evaluate a single intravesical (into the bladder) administration of Chemophase along with the widely used anticancer drug mitomycin in patients with superficial bladder cancer. The Phase I study will enroll at least five evaluable patients with superficial bladder cancer. The objectives of the study are to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of Chemophase administered intravesically with mitomycin. The study is being conducted at BCG Oncology in Phoenix , Arizona under the supervision of Donald L. Lamm, MD, the principal investigator.
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National Cancer Institute
Cancer Diagnosis: Strategies for Getting the Best TreatmentAs a patient with cancer, two of the most important decisions you will make are which treatment you will receive and where. But diagnosing cancer is a very complex process that involves many health care professionals. In addition, the testing that is done on patients varies between doctors and specialists. And even the best health care professionals make mistakes. How do newly diagnosed patients know they are getting the best therapy for their cancer? Unfortunately, most patients don’t get the best treatment because they are diagnosed by a doctor who is not an oncologist. Therefore, that doctor is not likely to direct them to the most up-to-date therapies available. The first step toward getting what you need is to get a second opinion. The Institute for Advanced Study in Medicine reported that 25% of patients had their treatment changed based on a second opinion. Comprehensive Cancer Centers are the best places to get second opinions. That’s where the experts are, doctors who think about your type of cancer every day. And that’s what you want. If you aren’t near a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center or Clinical Cancer Center (you can find their locations online), you can still get a second opinion. Choose a doctor who is not affiliated with your doctor, and who is at a hospital that is not affiliated with your doctor’s hospital. Another important part of getting the best therapy is to get a second opinion on your cancer by an expert pathologist. This involves getting the biopsy specimen to an outside pathologist. Pathologists can’t always precisely determine the stage of cancer, and sometimes not even the type of cancer. And, sometimes tests that could be done on your biopsy specimen aren’t, simply because they aren’t commonly used. But that doesn’t mean these tests won’t help you. You need an expert to examine your biopsy specimens. For example, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has an excellent reputation in pathology. Another important thing to do when you are first diagnosed is to contact the organizations for your type of cancer. They can lead you to experts in that field. Finally, get good nutritional counseling, and if you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, try your best to stop. Copyright 2005 Palkon Publishing Services Corp.
Patricia C. Walter Ms. Walter is a long-time patient advocate who supports the rights of cancer patients to make informed choices about every aspect of their treatment and care. Her goal is to educate patients about their full range of options and give them every possible tool to live a long, high-quality life. A member of the American Medical Writers Association, Ms. Walter has worked in the publishing field for 25 years, the last 12 years in medical publishing. She has also worked in the medical communications field and in the pharmaceutical industry. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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