Melanoma a “fake cancer”? — Public perception and research strides
In a discussion of melanoma on Inspire, a caregiver said to fellow members: The doctors and drug companies are making tremendous strides in the treatment of this terrible disease!! Her message of hope resonates strongly today.
Are we moving beyond Levodopa for Parkinson’s Disease?
Are we moving beyond Levodopa for Parkinson’s Disease? By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH In November, the American Academy of Neurologists (AAN) updated their 2002 guidelines for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) with dopaminergic drugs (drugs that improve dopamine release). The preeminent drug for treatment of early Parkinson’s, levodopa, creates the dopamine neurotransmitter that people with Parkinson’s progressively lack. Despite the fact that levodopa was approved to treat [...]
Beating back chronic myelogenous leukemia
Beating back chronic myelogenous leukemia By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH A patient feels fine, but a routine complete blood count (CBC) test reveals an unusually high white blood cell count. High white blood cell counts may result from many conditions, but if it’s accompanied by other signs such as high or low platelet counts and anemia, further tests may reveal that the patient has Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, [...]
“Still alive and kicking” – The importance of sickle cell disease clinical trial awareness
"Still alive and kicking" - The importance of sickle cell disease clinical trial awareness By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare disease: an inherited and incurable blood disorder that causes red blood cells to be misshapen and rigid, affecting their ability to provide oxygen to tissues. Their shape and rigidity cause random blood vessel inflammation and blockages anywhere in the body, with [...]
New classes of psoriatic arthritis drugs in clinical trials show promise
New classes of psoriatic arthritis drugs in clinical trials show promise By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting approximately one to two percent of the population. While psoriasis causes red and scaly patches on the skin, PsA creates mild to severe pain and swelling of any joint. About 5 to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis eventually develop PsA, and [...]
Epilepsy can happen to anyone at any age
Epilepsy can happen to anyone at any age By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Seizures are frightening for those who have them, for their loved ones and for onlookers. Descriptions of epilepsy go back as far as the Sumerians in 2500 BC. Expressing awe and dread, Babylonians, in 1050 BC, called seizures “ṣibtu” translated as “possession” and ṣabātu, “to seize” as in being possessed or seized by the [...]
Phase II studies for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma show promise
Phase II studies for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma show promise By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Let’s talk about lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphocytes, formed in the bone marrow and thymus that circulate in the lymph system. A previous post covered updates on research and treatments of Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer characterized by the presence of abnormal cells called “Reed-Sternberg” cells.1 Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is any type of lymphoma [...]
Hope for Patients with Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Family Members
Hope for Patients with Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Family Members By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Losing who you are is essentially what the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease means. An irreversible and progressive brain disorder, it is the sixth leading cause of death, affecting over 6 million people in the US.1 The disease profoundly impacts those who are diagnosed as well as their loved ones: I am [...]
From Treatment Desert to Blooming Field of Breakthroughs: Multiple Sclerosis
From Treatment Desert to Blooming Field of Breakthroughs: Multiple Sclerosis By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Research prior to 2019 underestimated the prevalence of neurological diseases, and specifically Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by over one-half. A new algorithm, including health insurance claims data, determined that the population suffering from MS was not around 400,000 but actually closer to one million (913,925).1,2 This discovery continues the forward progress begun in [...]
Updates from ASCO and ESMO 2021 Add to Successes in Hodgkin Lymphoma Research and Treatment
Updates from ASCO and ESMO 2021 Add to Successes in Hodgkin Lymphoma Research and Treatment By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH In 1832 Sir Thomas Hodgkin described a morbid condition of the glands and spleen which in 1865 was named Hodgkin disease by Samuel Wilkes. It was a fatal disease. Yet it has become, as this Inspire patient describes, highly treatable.1 my first oncologist, trying to reassure me [...]