Latest news with #multipleMyeloma
Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS patients to receive drug that destroys cancer from inside
A so-called 'Trojan Horse' drug that destroys blood cancer from within is set to be rolled out to thousands of NHS patients. The health service will be the first in the world to make the drug available to patients with multiple myeloma – an incurable cancer of the bone marrow. The drug, called belantamab mafadotin, was developed in the UK and has been dubbed a 'Trojan Horse' therapy because it tricks cancer cells into absorbing it before killing them from within. While the cancer is incurable, treatment is designed to extend people's lives by as much as possible while minimising the impact of side effects and on quality of life. In trials, cancer progression was delayed by three years on average in those taking the drug, which was three times longer than the most common treatment. Around 1,500 patients a year in England will benefit after the treatment was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on Thursday. The drug will be offered to patients whose cancer has progressed or not responded to the first choice of treatment using another drug, lenalidomide. Patients who are prescribed the drug will receive it via an infusion once every three weeks in combination with two other cancer treatments.
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Ong Beng Seng, Singapore F1 tycoon, to plead guilty in Iswaran case
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who faces two charges in relation to former transport minister S Iswaran's case, is set to plead guilty in court on July 3. Advertisement This was after a pre-trial conference for Ong's case took place on Tuesday. Court records did not state if he would be pleading guilty to both charges or one charge, and if so, which one. His bail, which is set at S$800,000 (US$620,000), was extended. Ong, 79, has been undergoing chemotherapy for bone marrow cancer. He previously obtained permission to travel abroad for medical-related purposes. He was originally set to plead guilty on April 2, but this was rescheduled after he asked for time to obtain more detailed medical reports from his doctors. Advertisement Two people close to Ong previously confirmed his condition to CNA Digital, with one saying he has multiple myeloma.
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Common food 95% of Americans don't get enough of lowers cancer risk
Nearly 100 percent of Americans don't eat enough fiber - but it turns out the humble carbohydrate might protect against cancer. Results from a new clinical trial showed that a high fiber plant-based diet improved people's risk factors for the blood cancer multiple myeloma, including body mass index (BMI), inflammation levels, gut microbiome, and insulin regulation. At the start of the study, high-fiber foods comprised just 20 percent of people's diets, but after 12 weeks of following the plant-based diet, that number jumped to 91 percent. 'With everything that patients cannot control during and before cancer treatment, studying diet provides an opportunity for patients to make a difference in their disease risk and the potential success of their treatment,' Dr Urvi A Shah, a multiple myeloma specialist at New York City 's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said. 'Our study shows the power of nutrition in the preventative setting and showcases the potential to give patients a sense of agency in their diagnosis.' Fiber is a key nutrient that supports digestion, helps regulate appetite, encourages weight loss, and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Yet a staggering 95 percent of Americans, both children and adults don't get enough of it. The average American gets just 16 grams of fiber per day, less than half of what the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend. The pilot study included 20 people with conditions like obesity and insulin resistance that make a multiple myeloma diagnosis more likely. They followed a high-fiber diet full of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and beans for three months. They also had six months of nutrition counseling, and researchers followed their progress for a year. After three months on the diet, the median participants' BMI had decreased by seven percent, and this weight loss was sustained at one year. Disease progression slowed in two patients and remained stable in the others. Dr Shah said: 'Our study had diverse racial enrollment as well as a comprehensive dietary and biomarker evaluation. 'Our comprehensive analysis of improved immune and metabolic response suggests that a high-fiber plant-based diet can also reduce risk for cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and other metabolic conditions.' Soluble fibers, including oats, beans, and fruits, help lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol, while insoluble fibers aid in the movement of food through the digestive system, preventing constipation. This overlooked nutrient, often overshadowed by protein, is crucial for preventing a host of chronic diseases from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and high blood pressure. Francesca Castro, a clinical research dietitian at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said: 'Eating more fiber can lower risk for many other conditions and can improve overall health, beyond just reducing cancer risk.' A 2015 study reported that people who ate the most fiber had a 16 percent lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who ate the least. For every extra 10 grams of fiber consumed daily, the risk dropped by another 10 percent. Eating fiber-rich foods helps balance blood sugar levels, slowing down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream to prevent blood sugar spikes. And a 2013 investigation into fiber's affects on heart disease, scientists found that eating more fiber was linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, with each seven-gram daily increase reducing risk by about nine percent. Both insoluble fiber (found in whole grains and vegetables) and fiber from cereals and vegetables were tied to better heart health, while fruit fiber also helped lower cardiovascular risk. To boost fiber in the diet, the researchers suggest setting realistic daily goals and focusing on one meal at a time. Dietitians recommend starting with small steps, starting with lentils, black beans, other legumes. And adding whole grains (quinoa, oats), fiber-packed vegetables like spinach and broccoli, and fruits like berries and apples to hit your daily target. 'Think about what foods you can add or swap to increase fiber intake,' Castro said. 'It can be very simple like adding a piece of fruit at the end of a meal or swapping out a refined grain for a whole grain.' The team from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will present their findings at the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition on Monday.
