Four FREE health reports for you

Register now for our vital and insightful health updates, and get four free health reports to help you live more healthily.

email to friend Printer friendly

Family matters

Cancer wonder drug kill or cure?

Just days before nurse Barbara Clark made the headlines by convincing her local NHS trust to supply the drug, the manufacturer had revealed to America’s drugs regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that it “significantly increased” the risk of heart problems.

So far, the drug has killed 15 women in the US, where it has been available for several years, and there have been 62 reports of serious side-effects. This does not include the flu-like symptoms that afflict nearly half of all users.

Campaign groups that have been lobbying for the drug to be made available on the NHS claim that it may save 1000 lives a year - but, according to the latest safety figures, it could kill 1750 women.

Every woman in the UK with early-stage breast cancer is to be tested to see if Herceptin therapy is appropriate. The drug, given as a saline drip, counteracts the activity of a protein called ‘HER-2’, the cause of the breast cancer in around one in seven cases.

It is not known if they will follow the lead of clinicians in America who, aware of the drug’s serious side-effects, are also testing the health of women’s hearts and lungs before prescribing the drug.

Drug Protests: Patient groups campaign for their sponsors - NICE (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence), the much-maligned body that determines which drugs should be available on the UK’s Nation...

Cancer drug: heart problems - The drug paclitaxel, used to treat advanced breast and ovarian cancer, can cause severe circulatory and heart problems. ...

Oral antifungals associated with heart failure - Oral and intravenous forms of the antifungal itraconazole (Sporanox) have been found to lead to an increased risk of congestive heart failure. ...

Appetite Suppressants: They cause heart failure, doctors discover - Anti-obesity drugs and appetite suppressants are causing heart attacks, doctors have discovered. All the patients had been healthy, with no history of...

Supplements for heart problems - As well as lifestyle changes you can make, you can also reduce your risk of heart failure and illness by taking daily supplements.

Nsaids and diuretics causing heart failure - Doctors may be increasing the risk of heart failure among older patients if they are mixing diuretics with NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory dru...

Surgery: Heart problems not helped by drugs - Around 1 million people suffer heart complications, such as heart attack, angina and heart failure, every year after surgery. Of these, 250,000 die.

Even a very mild form can cause heart problems - Enough studies have been published to establish, beyond any doubt, the connection between the mind and the body. Our thoughts, moods and attitude hav...

The British Institute for the Identification & Treatment of Allergic Disorders

How You Beat Asthma
How To Beat Your M.E.
How You Beat ADHD
How You Beat Arthritis
How You Beat Backpain
How You Beat Depression How You Beat Pain
How You Beat The Menopause
How You Beat Heart Problems
WDDTY Health Shop

Register for our health updates and free gifts.
First Name:
Email: