CancerSurvival-related stories
Virus may be able to fight cancer
Although the virus is generally associated with sickness and even tragic, terminal health conditions, one virus may actually be incredibly helpful if the conclusion from a new study this week is correct.There is at least one virus that has cancer-fighting abilities which could be harnessed to treat some metastatic cancers, according to the study published in the November 7 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
In what sounds like a reference to apple juice, the virus -- named Seneca Valley Virus-001 -- was found to be effective in treating cancer cells from various cancers that included lung, pediatric and eye cancer in immune-deficient mice. Although this treatment for cancer is actually a virus, some experts still have questions. Still, it's a promising development.
Lung cancer survival predicated on quality of life
For those who have lung cancer, a new piece of research suggests that quality of life is single largest predictor of survival. Not drugs, not food -- but quality of life (which can be hard to quantify).Instead of data like tumor size, development stage or other medical concerns, the actual quality of a cancer patient's life is is utmost concern according to the research. This is very interesting and flies in the face of strictly empirical data concerning cancer patient longevity.
What qualifies as higher "quality of life," you may ask? Being married of having a partner in life was among the highest.
