Teen cancer survival improves

Thursday August 21st, 2008

Survival rates for teenagers and young adults with cancer has climbed steadily over two decades, researchers reported yesterday.

The total increase in survival rates was 11 percentage points, the British Journal of Cancer reports.

Researchers from Cancer Research UK's Paediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group at the The University of Manchester analysed five-year survival in more than 30,000 13 to 24-year-olds diagnosed with cancer.

Lead author, Professor Jillian Birch, said the overall survival rate, which improved from 63 per cent (1979-1984) to 74 per cent (1996-2001) was great news but more work was needed.

"It is important that cancer services are tailored to suit teenagers and young adults, as their needs differ from older adults and children - clinically and psychologically," Professor Birch said.

The greatest increase in survival rates was for leukaemia, which increased by 21 percentage points over the 23 years studied.

But survival for brain tumours, bone cancers and soft tissue sarcomas has changed little since the mid 1980s.

Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK said research like this was vital to measure the impact of changes to the way teenagers with cancer were treated.

"It is important that this group of patients receive the most appropriate treatment and Cancer Research UK will continue investing in research to work towards this goal," Dr Walker said.

British Journal of Cancer, advance online publication August 19, 2008; doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604460

Recycled journals head for Zambia

Thursday August 21st, 2008

A nurse has found a good use for those old nursing magazines and journals that nobody wants - in Zambia. More

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