The problem with trying to treat cancer has always been that the body does not accept cancer as something foreign. It is hard to target a tumor for destruction if you don’t recognize cancer as an invader. So traditional chemotherapies have been based on the idea that cancer is rapidly growing. Powerful drugs that destroy rapidly growing cells do well against cancer, unfortunately they also damage rapidly growing normal cells, especially the hair, stomach lining, and bone marrow – hence the usual side effects from Chemo, hair falling out, nausea, and anemia.

But the latest treatments are clever – they are based on genetic differences that lead to the production of certain abnormal proteins that promote cancer growth. They take into account that certain cancers, such as melanoma, are antigenic, meaning they have surface proteins that can be used to trigger our body’s immune system in ways that can shrink the cancer.

These treatments which are less toxic and more focused are generally better tolerated and cause less side effects. Once you convince the body that cancer is foreign, you can then provoke the immune system to fight it.

Three targeted therapies for cancer made very exciting news at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology this past week. First, with stomach cancer, a breakthrough treatment with the use of Herceptin, a very successful drug already in regular use for breast cancer. Herceptin targets an abnormal protein found in 1/4 of women with breast cancer and decreases recurrence in 50 percent.

This protein, (HER2) was now found in high amounts in 22 percent of patients with stomach cancer. There are 21,000 new cases a year of stomach cancer in the U.S. one million new cases worldwide. In a study out of Belgium, Herceptin used in stomach cancer patients with high amounts of this abnormal protein lived three months longer than those who weren’t treated. The risk of death decreased by 26 percent.

Second, in women with extensive breast cancer, another new option was found to be useful. PARP inhibitors are chemicals which keep cancer from repairing its damaged genes. Breast cancer patients who received this lived twice as long, an average of 9.2 months, even with extensive cancer. This treatment is exciting because it stops only the cancer from repairing itself, NOT normal tissue. It may be especially useful in patients where breast cancer is linked to specific genetic abnormalities such as BRCA gene.

Third, a cancer vaccine has been developed against lymphoma, using the body’s own immune cells to fight the cancer, was shown with a small group of patients to keep them in remission for 44 months compared to 31 months for those who didn’t receive it.

These are all preliminary studies, but they together show progress in using technology, genetics, and specific therapies to help patients based on their characteristics and not just bombing cancer with a one-size-fits-all, kill-the-cancer-before-you-kill-the-body approach.

In contrast, by using tailored treatments that take into account the specifics of a patient’s cancer, you may get a better result than the shotgun poisons of chemotherapy. The research here is early but promising.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for the LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear“ and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.”  Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

The topic of anal cancer has gotten a lot of media attention lately because of Farrah Fawcett’s very public battle with the disease. And it’s raised a lot of important questions about advances in cancer treatment and the future for patients fighting the battle of their lives.

What is anal cancer and who is at risk for it?

Anal cancer is characterized by the growth of a tumor around the anus ― which is opening at the end of the intestinal tract — and it’s completely different from colon cancer. A large proportion of anal cancers have tested positive for human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted disease, but this isn’t the only cause.

Other patient populations at a greater risk for developing anal cancer include patients with multiple sexual partners, those who participate in anal intercourse, smokers, people with immunosuppressive diseases, such as HIV, and people with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

What is the treatment for anal or intestinal cancer?

If it’s caught early, the most common treatment for anal cancer is surgery. But in patients whose cancer affects the anal sphincter, having surgery to remove the tumor and cancerous cells can lead to fecal incontinence causing the need for a permanent colostomy. So often for these patients, radiation and chemotherapy may be the preferred course of treatment. For later stage anal cancers, doctors treat patients with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.

———————————————————————————————————————————–

What is the cure rate for anal cancer?

Well ― like any cancer, early detection greatly increases the chance of survival. If it’s caught in the early stage, there is an 86 percent five year survival rate. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the survival rate decreases to 54 percent. Up to 10 percent of patients treated for anal cancer will develop cancer elsewhere in the body.

———————————————————————————————————————————–

What kind of advances are we making in cancer research?

We have made advances with regard to the surgical treatment of cancers by offering minimally invasive surgeries. In some cases, we’re able to provide surgical treatments with less negative side effects and shorter recovery time. Clinical studies have shown that other treatments like radiation and chemotherapy may be just as effective as surgery without many of the negative side effects.

With regard to medical treatments, there have certainly been advances in the kinds of treatments we’re using. New medical technologies are making it possible for doctors to individualize a patient’s treatment by studying the genetic makeup of their particular cancer — ultimately decreasing the chances of recurrence or spread of the cancer, and increasing a patient’s survival outcome.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

What are the major milestones/accomplishments we’ve seen in cancer research recently?

Well again, one of the major milestones is being able to identify the genetic makeup of cancers individual to each patient.

The other advancement is the research that’s been done in molecular-targeted therapies. These therapies target the development of cancers by inhibiting the growth of the disease at the cellular level — which we hope will be able to limit or potentially even stop the cancer from spreading.

Molecular-targeted therapy is a more specific treatment than chemotherapy, because chemo treatment kills off not only the bad cells — but also the healthy cells in the body. So with a therapy that is very specific in its attack of cancerous cells, the hope is that it should more be effective in stopping the development of the cancer.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

What are some tips for preventing cancer?

We’ve all heard it time and time again — good health comes from making healthy choices. So my first tip would be stop smoking! I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, cigarettes are full of cancer-causing agents and have been linked to the development of many cancers in the body.

Second, everything in moderation including alcohol! If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a nice cocktail, make sure you do it in moderation, which means 1 or 2 glasses — preferrably of red wine — or else,  just avoid alcohol all together.

Make healthy dietary choices. Try to maintain a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fruits and vegetables. Both provide essential nutrients and antioxidants which help ward off disease. Limit the amount of read meat you consume, since high levels of it have been linked to certain cancers.

Recent studies have shown that vitamin D may play an important role protecting against the development of certain diseases. Because exposure to small amounts of sunlight causes the body to produce healthy amounts of vitamin D, people who live in cold environments or places with extended seasons of darkness may want to consider getting their vitamin D levels checked and taking supplements.

And finally — know your family history so you can better determine your risk for other cancers, because your screenings for certain cancers may start earlier than what is recommended to the general population, and preventive therapies may be an option for you.

Dr. Cynara Coomer is an assistant professor of surgery specializing in breast health and breast cancer surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. She is a FOX News Health contributor providing medical expertise on a variety of topics in cancer research with a focus on women’s health, breast diseases and tips for healthy breasts at any age.

It seems that the medical marijuana movement is on the move!

After years of difficult encounters with state and federal legislation to get approval on a nationwide level, stories about the benefits of medical marijuana have been overwhelming the news cycles.

A recent story from Harvard declared that one of the active ingredients in marijuana cut tumor growth in common lung cancer in animals. I read another story that found marijuana use in the Seattle-area increased rates of testicular cancer. It seems science is all over the place, but many states are trying to amend their local laws in an effort to legitimize medical marijuana use among people that have medical necessity.

So I wonder how our new administration will tackle the issue. Are we going to see national guidelines for proper indication based on real science? Or are we going to end up with the same system we have today, which seems to be an unregulated service with poor checks and balances?

Certainly one thing that cannot be tolerated is for the federal government to look the other way. The medical community should have a strong voice, not only in science, but in the way the system will operate, since it is they who will most likely be responsible for any hiccups along the way.

Patients who have legitimate medical needs should also be heard so the system doesn’t become polluted with people trying to take advantage of the availability of medical marijuana.

Join the discussion on my Facebook page.

Doctors in Manhattan have given a 15-year-old girl born with a tumorous birth defect a normal life. After performing 18 procedures on Cody Hall of England, surgeons have made her one-time facial deformity virtually non-existent.

BOSTON (AP) — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor.

Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat say tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma, they said.

His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

The French woman who had sought the legal right to commit suicide to end the suffering caused by an incurable and disfiguring cancer killed herself with sleeping tablets, authorities said.

Chantal Sebire, 52, whose face was distorted by a rare cancer of the sinus, was found dead in her home in eastern France last week, shortly after a court ruled that a doctor could not be allowed to help her die.

The autopsy conducted on Chantal Sebire – who was found dead Wednesday after she sparked an international debate on euthanasia – has failed to give a cause of death; it is being reported by a cable news network.

Sebire, 52, suffered from disfiguring facial tumors and begged for the right to die. A Dijon, France prosecutor said Friday it is still unclear whether Sebire died of natural or unnatural causes.

Do you think euthanasia should be legalized? Post your comments below.