Up to 70 per cent of patients with advanced stage cancer suffer from pain for which they receive inadequate pain relief. This can lead to impaired physical and psychological well-being, resulting in a poorer quality of life (van den Beuken-vanEverdingen et al, 2007). Many practitioners consider acupuncture to be a viable way to combat this […]
Bio-Detection Dog Kiwi searches for prostate cancer. She is one of the amazing dogs from Medical Detection Dogs […]
Can we eliminate the need for bone marrow donors? There is a chance that we can. At the moment, people who develop leukaemia, lymphoma and other blood diseases often need to undergo a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (“HSCT”). This is because initial treatment of the disease (front-line therapy) often fails and the disease comes back. […]
We already know what an amazing sense of smell dogs have and how it protects us on a daily basis. Dogs are used extensively to sniff out explosives, illegal drugs and other contraband. Thanks to the pioneering work of Medical Detection Dogs, a charity set up in 2008 by Dr Claire Guest and of which I […]
One in every two people is going to get cancer in the UK so it’s a story that concerns every one of us. Journalists are so important because they interpret the facts and inform the wider public about cancer. It’s difficult sometimes for journalists to weigh up validity of evidence. For example, at the recent […]
Read More… from Cancer – a story that concerns every one of us
Antiperspirant use is a risk factor for breast cancer, according to scientists. We recently learned that the Swiss government was considering banning the use of aluminium salts in antiperspirants. In making up their mind they would do well to heed the results of an epidemiological study just published in EBioMedicine which show that the use […]
Read More… from Antiperspirants do increase risk of breast cancer
Over the last 10 years, since I founded the charity Medical Detection Dogs, I have seen for myself what things these amazing dogs are able to do for human beings. Even before that, I was aware of the incredible benefits dogs could bring. When I qualified as a behavioural psychologist at Swansea and Warwick Universities, […]
The trouble with men is that many don’t look after themselves when it comes to their health. Yes, they’ll take their car to the garage regularly to get it serviced, and they are out polishing the bodywork every other weekend, but they’d never dream of taking themselves to the doctors to get a check up. […]
Proton pump inhibitors, which suppress acid production in the stomach, are widely prescribed for heartburn. The usual advice is to take them 30 minutes before breakfast, because eating causes acid to be to produced. However, recent studies suggest that these drugs may be more effective when taken before supper at night. A 2003 U.S. study […]
My first trusteeship was back in 1987 for what is now Age UK. The charity now includes more than 150 local Age UKs throughout England as well as the national bodies in each of the devolved countries. Age International works similarly in some of the world’s poorest countries. Each charity is dedicated to help older […]