A R57 million funding drive could determine whether a South African cancer treatment is adopted in the public healthcare system. Cancer heat therapy has been shown to improve survival and reduce long-term costs. Dr Carrie Minnaar, a South African researcher specialising in oncologic hyperthermia, is leading plans to install six modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) devices at three public hospitals over the…
Tag: cancer
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NHLS Cancer Testing Delays Outsourcing Solutions
The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) has confirmed it is engaging private sector laboratories to address a critical backlog in cancer testing at its Johannesburg facility. This backlog has left some public healthcare patients waiting as long as three months for potentially life-saving diagnostic results. The NHLS, which forms the diagnostic backbone of the nation’s public health system, is facing…
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Cancer Court Battle: Patients Deserve Better Treatment
Concerns are mounting over the Gauteng Department of Health’s persistent legal challenges against court orders compelling it to address the province’s devastating cancer treatment backlog. This ongoing cancer court battle highlights significant issues within the healthcare system. Instead of complying with two separate High Court rulings, the department is channelling taxpayer money into an appeal process. This leaves thousands of…
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GLP-1 Drugs Lower Cancer Rates in Weight Loss Study
New findings suggest that popular GLP-1 drugs, widely prescribed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, may significantly influence a patient’s risk of developing certain cancers. This is mainly for the better. A comprehensive review of medical records has uncovered a compelling link. It found that the use of GLP-1 agonists – such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound –…
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SA Scientists Pioneer Nanotech Therapy for Lethal Melanoma
In a significant medical breakthrough, scientists from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have developed a novel therapy for melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. The innovative treatment combines advanced nanotechnology with a natural compound found in turmeric. This combination provides a powerful, targeted attack directly to cancer cells. The research by Wits University’s Advanced Drug Delivery Platform…
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Substandard Cancer Drugs in Africa Are A Serious Concern
A groundbreaking investigation across four African nations has uncovered a disturbing truth: a significant portion of cancer medications are substandard or counterfeit. This leaves vulnerable patients with treatments that may be ineffective or even harmful. The study, published in The Lancet Global Health, sheds light on a critical and previously unmeasured gap in pharmaceutical regulation on the continent. It highlights…
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Early-Onset Cancer Cases Surge Dramatically
There has been an alarming surge in early-onset cancer cases worldwide. Specifically, there is a 79.1% increase since the 1990s, leaving scientists puzzled. A disturbing trend is sweeping the globe: cancer, a disease often associated with ageing, is increasingly being diagnosed in younger people. Over the past three decades, research has shown a concerning surge in malignancies affecting adults under…
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Are New Cancer Treatments Worth the Price?
A significant number of cancer drugs approved since 2000, as reviewed by Bloomberg News, have never been definitively shown to extend patient survival for their approved uses. This raises questions about the growing cost of cancer treatments. The landscape of cancer treatment has been revolutionized over the past three decades, with over 200 new cancer drugs greenlit by the US…
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Liberty Insurance Claims: R12 Billion Paid Out
Life insurer Liberty announced that it paid out a substantial R12 billion in death, disability, and income protection claims to over 120,000 beneficiaries throughout 2024. This impressive figure reflects the volume of Liberty insurance claims processed last year. The statistics shed light on evolving claiming patterns. There is a concerning underinsurance gap among women and a notable increase in claims…
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Roche sues over alleged misuse of trade secrets
Roche has filed a lawsuit in the California federal court against Stanford University and medical technology startup Foresight Diagnostics, alleging that Foresight misappropriated its genetic-sequencing trade secrets to develop competing cancer-detection products. In the complaint, Roche claims that Stanford University professors Maximilian Diehn and Ash Alizadeh, whose technology Roche acquired in 2015, secretly established Foresight while serving as consultants for…