Administering a Combination of Therapies to Pancreatic Cancer Patients Improves Outcome
The University of Pittsburg Cancer Institute (UPCI) recently conducted a study in which researchers found that the combination of chemotherapy, biotherapy and radiotherapy on pancreatic cancer patients prior to surgery was beneficial, according to a Science Daily news article.
Fourteen patients were studied, all of which had operable tumors, and all of which underwent the treatment regime prior to a surgical procedure. The news article reported that following the "treatment regime" around 10 patients were capable of receiving surgery and the "incidence of serious adverse events following surgery was not increased in these patients, and several demonstrated significant shrinkage of their tumors before surgery".
The study provides significant proof that of by implementing all three therapies, patients that have developed pancreatic cancer may be able to rid their bodies of the deadly and tumor-induced condition.
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pancreatic cancer is "the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States." The NLM reported that the risk factors for this condition include:
* smoking
* diabetes
* chronic pancreatitis
* hereditary/family conditions/disorders
In addition to these risk factors, there is another, less common cause of the development of pancreatic cancer, which includes the consumption of a prescription drug known as Byetta. The drug Byetta (exenatide) is used to treat type 2 diabetes among adults and is administered through a twice-a-day injection.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company made the drug available in April 2005. After approximately 30 cases of inflammation and acute pancreatitis occurred in October 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an investigation into the drug, however, no Byetta recall was implemented.
An additional number of Byetta patients were hospitalized in August 2008 for pancreatitis illnesses. Two of the six patients had allegedly died because of their consumption of the drug and its subsequent side effects. Individuals who consumed Byetta for their type 2 diabetes condition are encouraged to contact a medical professional immediately as well as a personal injury lawyer or a pharmaceutical attorney to better understand how to develop a Byetta class action lawsuit that may increase the monetary compensation or reward of a Byetta victim.
It is imperative that a patient suffering from the Byetta side effects as well as diabetes empower themselves with as much knowledge as possible as it may mean a successful outcome versus a poor one.
About the Author:
LegalView (http://www.LegalView.info) provides a plethora of legal topics to choose from including information on pharmaceutical scandals such as the Chantix dangers, the Baxter Heparin recall or the Byetta side effects (http://byetta.legalview.info).