Cancer Death Rate Drops Dramatically

A woman with glasses and a tie dye shirt smoking.


The death rate from cancer dropped by one-third in the last three decades, according to The American Cancer Society.  They attributed the decline to changes in preventive measures and screening in the past decade.  Cervical cancer rates dropped by 65% between 2012 and 2019 among women in their 20’s after a generation of women were vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV, for the first time.  The report, which was published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, said that the decline in smoking rates, better early detection and innovative treatments have driven a drop in death rates since 1991.

Skin Cancer A Risk, But We All Need To Get Some Sunlight

A group of people giving thumbs up to the camera.


Of course, it has been proven that spending too much time in the sun without proper covering and/or sunscreen increases your risk of skin cancer.  But don’t avoid sunlight altogether, or it can put your circadian rhythm (which acts like a clock to keep nearly every organ and system on a 24-hour cycle) off.  Sunlight tells your body to start the day and keeps you awake and feeling energized.  It also helps regulate the appetite.  As the sun sets, your circadian clock releases sleep-promoting hormones.  Studies have shown that people in their 50’s and 60’s get less than an hour per day of sunlight.  At a bare minimum, experts recommend you go outside every morning for 15-30 minutes and again in the late afternoon or early evening.

Skin Cancer A Risk, But We All Need To Get Some Sunlight

A woman is helping an older man with his shirt off.


Of course, it has been proven that spending too much time in the sun without proper covering and/or sunscreen increases your risk of skin cancer.  But don’t avoid sunlight altogether, or it can put your circadian rhythm (which acts like a clock to keep nearly every organ and system on a 24-hour cycle) off.  Sunlight tells your body to start the day and keeps you awake and feeling energized.  It also helps regulate the appetite.  As the sun sets, your circadian clock releases sleep-promoting hormones.  Studies have shown that people in their 50’s and 60’s get less than an hour per day of sunlight.  At a bare minimum, experts recommend you go outside every morning for 15-30 minutes and again in the late afternoon or early evening.

Cancer-Detection Blood Tests Increasingly Used

A man in white lab coat and tie.


Blood tests which can pick up early signs of cancer are growing in usage.  Illumina Inc. recently disclosed that its Grail unit has  has sold 38K of its test (which costs $949) since it debuted in June of 2021.  This comes despite the fact that most insurance companies don’t cover the cost so it is an out-of-pocket expense.  Also known as liquid biopsies, they are designed to augment traditional screening tests.  Analyst Puneet Souda at SVB Securities estimates they could eventually reach $50 billion in annual revenue, although he didn’t predict in which year this would occur.

Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Cap Starts In 2025 : Too Late For Many

A building with the capitol in the background.


The climate health bill recently passed by Congress provides quite a bit of relief for seniors.  However, the fact that not all provisions kick in next year has some seniors worried.  USA Today recently profiled Jackie Trapp, one of more than 1.3 million Americans whose drug spending exceeds Medicare;’s definition of “catastrophic†coverage.  Jackie has incurable blood cancer and is on a chemotherapy regimen which costs $240K per year and results in $21,740 in out-of-pocket expenses for the drug Revlimid.  “We used to donate a healthy amount to charity.  Now, I’m receiving charity,†she told USA Today.

Monterey, CA Seniors Need To Stick To A Healthy Diet Or Risk Alzheimer’s, Dementia

An older woman holding her hand out to someone


We all know that processed foods aren’t good for you.  More proof of this come from the Alzheimer’s Association, which did a presentation at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego to show the audience proof from various studies which showed that food like instant noodles, sugary drinks and frozen meals all play a role in cognitive decline.  “It’s no secret that physical and mental cognitive health are intimately involved with each other, so it’s no surprise that this latest research suggests brain impairment too,†Rafael Perez-Escamilla, a professor of public health at Yale University, told the audience.  “Just 100 calories of processed foods can affect your physical health.  So, that’s two cookies,†he continued.  Other research has linked ultra-processed food consumption to health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancers.  Try the Mediterranean Diet, it’s great for your health and delicious.  Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away.  If you need information or just someone to talk to, there are some wonderful people at the Monterey branch of the Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan Ranch.  They also have a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-272-3900.

Monterey, CA Obesity A Big Problem In America

A person measuring their belly with a tape measure.


Obesity is a huge problem for Americans, and some people are just accepting the condition rather than fighting it.   “We consider fat a part of human body diversity,†Tigress Osborn, chair of the nonprofit National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, told USA Today.

In 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona declared obesity a bigger threat to America than terrorists, but our government has done very little to regulate food marketing, reduce demand by increasing taxes or adding the kind of nutrition labels to decrease junk food consumption.  Currently, 42% of Americans fit the medical definition of being obese (having a body mass index of 30 or greater).  Many types of cancer are linked to obesity.  So is heart, liver and kidney disease.  And people with obesity run an 80% higher risk of developing diabetes.  Many people swear by the Mediterranean Diet to lose weight.  It consists of delicious foods like lamb, chicken, beef, olive oil, fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts.  Montage or Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) has some great information on their website about weight loss.

Monterey, CA New Hope For Those With Pancreatic Cancer

A person holding hands with another person in bed.


We have a lot of good oncologists on the Monterey Peninsula but one of the cancers that is extremely difficult to treat is pancreatic.  It has a five-year survival rate of only 10%.  However, researchers are working on a new drug that shows promise.  USA Today profiled Barbara Brigham, who was almost resigned to dying after a 2020 pancreatic cancer diagnosis.  Her doctor encouraged her to join a clinical trial which was testing a new way to stimulate the immune system against cancer, and it worked!  She is now living free of cancer.  A gene called KRAS, mutated in many pancreatic tumors, could soon be “druggable,†says Providence Foundation oncologist Eric Tran.  And there are other drugs going through the clinical trial stages which look very promising.

FDA Rejects Two Cancer Drugs Developed In China

A doctor and patient looking at a book


The Food & Drug Administration has denied approval of two proposed new cancer drugs which were developed in China.  The FDA issued a letter to Hong Kong-based Hutchmed Ltd. denying permission to market the drug ufatinib, which is approved in the Chinese market to treat pancreatic and neuroendocrine tumors.  It also notified China-based Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. and its U.S.-based partner Coherus BioSciences Inc. that it denied its application to sell the drug toripalimab, which treats nasopharyngeal cancer.  The FDA asked the companies to change their quality-related processes at which time the FDA will reexamine the applications.  However, the FDA did note that two clinical trials Hutchmed conducted in China for ufatinib didn’t support approval so that company may have to go back to the drawing board on clinical trials as well.  FDA officials have commented publicly recently that they were not happy with the quality of drug studies conducted in China and that it was unclear whether the results would be applicable to U.S. patients.

 

FDA Approves New Blood Cancer Treatment From Johnson & Johnson

A close up of a cell with viruses inside


The Food & Drug Administration has cleared drug therapy called Carvykti, the first treatment for blood cancer in the U.S.  It works on patients with multiple melanoma whose disease has worsened despite prior treatment with other drugs.  On one of J&J’s U.S. studies, 98% of the 97 multiple-myeloma patients treated with Carvykti had a significand reduction in the proteins that signal the presence of myeloma.  And 83% had a complete remission, with no detectable cancer cells at a median time point of 22 months after treatment.