Otago/Southland residents most generous regions in nationwide cancer fundraiser

Otago and Southland residents have proved they are an encouraging and compassionate bunch by donating nearly $22,000 to back their buddies taking on the Dry July Challenge - a popular nationwide fundraiser where participants take a break from the booze to not only feel better and healthier themselves, but to raise funds to support those living with cancer.
This impressive figure - which will continue to accumulate until the end of August - gives Otago and Southland a big tick as New Zealand's most generous region in terms of average donations for Dry July, with many donors digging deep to give over $100 each.

http://www.pharmacytoday.co.nz/media-releases/2015/july-2015/29/otagosouthland-residents-most-generous-regions-in-nationwide-cancer-fundraiser.aspx 

Drug trials - a way for NZ to get front and centre of new cancer therapies

New Zealand could become a mecca for clinical trials as “niche-busting” cancer drugs replace blockbusters, according to a US research leader. If it set up a database of all cancer patients’ medical histories, along with genetic profiles of their cancers, this country could attract companies wanting to trial new personalised drugs, University of Colorado associate professor of medicine and oncology Ross Camidge says.
“People would be beating down the door to work here,” he said, addressing a parliamentary breakfast in Wellington on Wednesday. New Zealand Association of Clinical Research president Kevin Sheehy says our cancer register could potentially link to genetic data and trial participation, provided privacy concerns were met.

http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/news/2015/june-2015/26/drug-trials---a-way-for-nz-to-get-front-and-centre-of-new-cancer-therapies.aspx

Cancer specialist warns TPP will delay medicines

A cancer specialist has warned that if medicine patents are extended under the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, patients will have to wait longer for the drugs they need.
Christchurch oncologist Bernie Fitzharris told Nine to Noon patients were already dying waiting for new drugs to be funded by the Government's drug buying agency Pharmac. Dr Fitzharris said, for instance, there was a new drug to treat malignant melanoma but it was not yet available under the public health system.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/top/279978/cancer-specialist-warns-tpp-will-delay-medicines 

Cancer 'cure' drug breakthrough only for the super rich

Revolutionary new drugs that could cure terminal cancer should be on the market here within a few years but patients will have to be "super rich" to afford them. One four-dose treatment of the drug now under clinical trials costs about $140,000 while other ongoing courses can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
New Zealand Cancer Society chief executive Claire Austin said while the scientific breakthroughs were good news, they also raised ethical issues around patient expectations and access to the costly treatments. "What we need to address is how do we make it affordable and accessible. You have to be super rich to afford these drugs. What value are they if people can't afford them?" Austin said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/69008646/Cancer-cure-drug-breakthrough-only-for-the-super-rich 

Welcome to Cancer Trials New Zealand

If you have an idea for a clinical research project which you think Cancer Trials New Zealand could help with, in the first instance please contact Michael Findlay (Director), Sarah Benge (Research Manager) or Jane Wylie (Concept Development Officer) at cancertrialsnz@auckland.ac.nz.
Following this initial contact we will ask you to complete (as fully as possible) our Application for Clinical Project Support.  This form is available from the link below if you wish to start completing it sooner.  It has been designed to help guide you through the thought processes of what you are thinking/planning.

https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/sms/about/our-departments/oncology/cancer-trials-nz.html 

Hidden cancer threat - the everyday chemicals around us

Common chemicals we encounter every day may combine in the human body to cause the development of cancer, scientists say. The startling findings from a task force of around 174 scientists from 28 countries, published today tackles long-standing concerns that there are links between mixtures of commonly encountered chemicals and the development of cancer.
From the thousands of chemicals to which people are routinely exposed, the scientists selected 85 prototypic chemicals that were not considered to be carcinogenic to humans, and they reviewed their effects against a long list of mechanisms that are important for cancer development.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11469896

Kiwi professor's asbestos lung cancer breakthrough

A Kiwi professor has developed a new treatment which may be the answer to helping those diagnosed with the incurable disease: asbestos lung cancer. Associate Professor at the University of Sydney Medical School, New Zealander Dr Glen Reid, has spent the past few years working on research into a new treatment for mesothelioma - lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
Dubbed TargomiRs, the treatment uses tiny cells loaded with a microRNA which is deficient in mesothelioma, a statement says. Those tiny cells are then administered to a patient as they sit in a chemotherapy chair in a bid to restore the body's natural tumour-suppressing mechanisms.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11465449 

The New Zealand Breast Cancer

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment or living with advanced breast cancer, free NZBCF funded counselling is available when you need someone to talk to. A referral from your Breast Cancer Specialist, or Nurse at a breast cancer clinic, or GP is required.

Download the counselling referral form for your medical practitioner to complete.

The NZBCF has partnered with Stratos, a national counselling service to provide support for people coping with the emotional challenges which often accompany breast cancer. Counselling can help you talk through concerns, manage stress and find better ways to cope and communicate with family and friends.  Often it’s helpful to talk things through with someone not connected to your life.

http://www.nzbcf.org.nz/HOME.aspx 

Welcome to the Prostate Cancer Founfation of new Zealand.

Our Mission. To provide an environment empowering men to make informed decisions about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Throughout New Zealand, we offer peer support to men, and their families, who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and we actively promote awareness of this disease through community promotions, including our Blue September campaign month. 

http://prostate.org.nz/

Dealing With Cancer; Getting to Grips With It

Cancer is a group of diseases that involve the uncontrollable growth and spread of abnormal cells. Good healthy cells in the body have a normal life cycle: they grow, divide and die.
Cancer cells starts out as good healthy cells that unfortunately then turn bad. Cancer cells take on an abnormal life cycle, they grow and divide, but instead of dying, they keep growing and dividing. The problem arises when the abnormal cancer cells go berserk, grow uncontrollably and sometimes outlast and over take the good healthy cells.

http://www.canteen.org.nz/dealing-with-cancer/getting-to-grips-with-it