May 31, 2002

In This Issue: 
NATIONAL SURVIVORS DAY IS SUNDAY,  AARP Sues Drug Makers, Ethics in Clinical Trials, Testing for Colon Cancer,  Vitamin E for Prostates, Help Obtaining Needed Drugs, Brain Tumors Increasing, Multiple Myeloma News

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THE LATEST NEWS
AARP Joins Lawsuits Against Drug Makers

Ethical Standards for Clinical Trials in Developing World

New Stool Test For Detecting Colon Cancer

Vitamin E Suppresses Androgen Receptor, PSA Expression in Prostate Cancer


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NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY IS SUNDAY JUNE 2
In the United States, one in two men will develop cancer, and for women the risk is one in three, according to sponsors of National Cancer Survivors Day. The day is intended to honor survivors who are living beyond cancer, and also to recognize professionals who are helping to fight the battle against cancer. 
http://www.ncsdf.org/index.html

The National Coalition of Cancer Survivors (NCCS) is the patient-led advocacy organization working on behalf of 8.9 million survivors of all types of cancer and those who care for them. NCCS serves a key role in policy-making in Washington, DC.
http://www.cansearch.org/home.html

On Sunday, June 2, NCCS will launch its redesigned website and change its web address. The launch of NCCS' new web address coincides with events celebrating National Cancer Survivors' Day. http://www.canceradvocacy.org 


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AARP PRODUCES LIST OF ALL PHARMACY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The AARP has consolidated lists of different types of programs to help lower-income patients obtain medicines. The list includes programs sponsored by 25 states, drug-makers' discount and free drug programs, discount cards and pharmacies, as well as information for health care professionals helping patients. One nonprofit, Needy Meds, lists patient assistance programs and the application forms related to the 970 drugs available to those who can't afford the medicines. Needy Meds is not a program; it's a source of information. 
AARP: http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/departments/2002/money/0510_money_1.html
Needy Meds: http://www.needymeds.com/Index.html


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WHY IS THE INCIDENCE OF BRAIN CANCER INCREASING?
The number of brain cancers has increased nearly 2 percent each year since 1973, according to the National Brain Tumor Foundation. Are there environmental factors causing this increase? That's the theme of the current newsletter of the National Brain Tumor Foundation featuring an interview with Dr. Gina Solomon, MD, PhD. She points out that when researchers are studying drugs to treat brain tumors, they need mice with brain tumors, so "nitrosoureas are often used experimentally to induce brain tumors in laboratory animals for research purposes." What are nitrosoureas? Nitrosoureas are found in cigarette smoke and also seem to be a byproduct of eating red meats. Find out more from the newsletter in which Dr. Solomon discusses the difficulty of scientifically proving environmental causation in cancer diseases. See the National Brain Tumor Foundation's website and click on What's New. http://www.braintumor.org


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WEBCAST ON THE LATEST MULTIPLE MYELOMA RESEARCH
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation is presenting a synopsis of current discoveries and the future of cancer research as presented during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida. The webcast includes information on clinical trials, as well as audio summaries, key slides, and transcripts of interviews. See the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation website. www.multiplemyeloma.org