Melancholynoma

This list is maintained manually. Last Updated: 2012/05/17

Melanoma-specific

• Indications & Detection

  • Hiding Melanoma in your Sock? . (2008/06)
  • A new device to help identify skin cancer. (2009/11)
  • Ultrasound Used to distinguish Cancerous and Benign Skin Conditions. (2009/12)
  • Ultrasound helps pinpoint melanoma. (2010/02)
  • Infrared system helps pinpoint melanoma. (2010/02)
  • A new 3D test for skin cancer is being developed. (2010/05)
  • An imaging technique accurate enough to guide melanoma surgery. (2010/08)
  • PET and CT scans may or may not detect melanoma. (2011/08)
  • 25 years on the ABCD rules are still valuable. (2010/07)
  • A video about living and dying with melanoma. (2011/05)
  • A new gizmo for detecting melanoma on the skin surface. (2011/11)

• Research, Causes & Risk Factors

  • Regional Lymph Nodes, US National Cancer Institute
  • Melanoma Cripples Lymph Node Immune Function. (2006/10)
  • Malignant melanoma in a 7-year-old child
  • 21 year old student gets melanoma. (2009/07)
  • Are tanning beds worth the risk?
  • There may be an addictive component to tanning bed use.  (2010/04)
  • Frequent tanners exhibit addictive symptoms. (2011/08)
  • Nova Scotia bans teens from tanning salons. (2011/08)
  • Mother accused of taking 5-year old to tanning bed. (2012/05)
  • MRF article: Teaching our Kids Right from Wrong. (2012/05)
  • Scientists Crack Cancer DNA: from BBC News and from CBC News (2009/12)
  • Immune system evasion tactics. (2010/01)
  • Studying melanoma chemo resistance. (2011/06)
  • Aging factors related to melanoma. (2009/12)
  • Melanoma Transcriptome reveals … . (2010/02)
  • Sunshine does not cause melanoma.  (2010/05)
  • On the other hand indoor tanning does.  (2010/05) … and again. (2011/11)
  • On the third hand, UVA radiation can damage melanocyte DNA and thus get melanoma started. (2010/07)
  • Melanocytes may come from Schwann cell precursors. This is news.  (2009/10)
  • Dynamic stemness may explain melanoma’s persistence.  (2010/05)
  • Melanoma initiating cells (kind of cancer stem cells) have been found.  (2010/07)
  • MicroRNA dysregulation may contribute to melanoma development.  (2010/05)
  • Adding MicroRNA 193b may slow the progression of melanoma.  (2010/07)
  • Blocking Interleukin-10 production may improve the efficacy of other drugs. (2010/06)
  • Adding sorafenib to carboplatin and paclitaxel does not seem to
    improve matters. (2010/06)
  • An enzyme hPNPase^old-35 and the IKKβ signaling molecule both look like promising melanoma targets.  (2010/06)
  • Armed lymphocytes attack cancer cells: read all about it! (2010/07)
  • Co-Conspirator Cells aid and abet melanoma in its aggressive attack. (2010/08)
  • Melanoma co-opts the immune system to invade the lungs.  (2010/09)
  • More research on how melanoma spreads. (2011/08)
  • BRAF gene mutation and melanoma. (2010/09)
  • More evidence that melanoma does not have stem cells. (2010/11)
  • An oncogene for uveal melanoma. (2010/11)
  • Blocking enzymes and blocking genes can be effective at stopping metastasis. (2011/04)
  • How ultraviolet light affects skin cancer (2010/12)
  • Another possible therapeutic target has been unearthed: the Neuropilin-2 molecule (2011/04)
  • A new RNA-based diagnostic marker. (2011/05)
  • Whole-exome sequencing completed. (2011/05)
  • Blood test may predict metastasis risk. (2011/05)
  • Parkinson’s Disease connected to melanoma. (2011/06)
  • Heart transplant patients at increased risk of skin cancer. (2011/08)
  • Powerful X-rays help find new treatments. (2011/08)
  • Proteins can help (P-Rex1) or hinder (CXCL 12)  the spread of melanoma. (2011/11)
  • Skin cancer relies on VEGF for its survival. (2011/11)
  • Melanoma relies on P-Rex1 gene for metastasis. (2011/12)
  • Males get more melanoma due to lower antioxidant levels. (2012/12)
  • Cloaking protein hides melanoma from immune system. (2012/05)
  • Five facts on tanning beds. (2012/05)
  • Young adults at increased risk for melanoma. (2012/05)
  • Eye Color may indicate risk for serious skin conditions. (2012/05)
  • Genetic test predicts uveal melanomas likely to spread. (2012/05)
  • Skin cancer warnings ignored. (2012/05)
  • Skin cancer increasingly common in teens and young adults. (2012/05)
  • Discovery in cell signaling could help fight against melanoma. (2012/05)
  • Recurrent Genetic Mutations in Melanoma. (2012/05)

• Trials & Treatments

  • Interferon Therapy:
    • Pros and Cons of Adjuvant Interferon in the Treatment of Melanoma. (2003/06)
    • How successful are the interferon trials for melanoma? (2009/09)
    • Another melanoma treatment, a kind of immune system booster – Proleukin
    • And this is a real twist: blocking interferon-ÿ prevents melanoma from growing tumours in mice. (2011/04)
  • Sentinel Node Biopsy Helps Some Melanoma Patients Live Longer. (2006)
  • Melanomas gone in just seven days using Rose Bengal. (2008/05)
  • Clinical trials for PV-10, a Rose Bengal-based drug. (2012/02)
  • Immunotherapy for melanoma Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle. (2008/06)
  • Researchers cure melanoma Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle. (2008/06)
  • Patient-specific vaccine works Really Well. (2010/09)
  • This personalized therapy too, apparently. (2011/04)
  • Using your own cells to cure melanoma. (2011/06)
  • Adoptive immunotherapy using induced pluripotent stem cells. (2011/09)
  • Diagram of isolated limb perfusion
  • Isolated liver perfusion also seems to work fairly well. (2010/07)
  • Liver perfusion extends melanoma survival. (2011/09)
  • Keeping cancer out of the brain by inhibiting integrin. (2009/07)
    
  • Melanoma vaccine. (2008/06)
  • U of Alberta scientists synthesize Palmerolide A, which appears to be an effective melanoma treatment. (2009/10)
  • Genetic mutations identified in melanoma may allow existing drugs to be used in treatment. (2009/09)
  • Laser treatments may aggravate skin cancer (2009/11)
  • PLX4032 (aka RG7204, Vemurafenib):
    • Drug Hope for Advanced Melanoma. (2009/06)
    • Hope over New Skin Cancer Therapy. (2009/09)
    • Melanoma succumbs but only if you have the B-RAF gene mutation. (2010/02)
    • Phase I clinical trial study. (2009/05)
    • Clinical trials show great results. (2009/11)
    • B-RAF gene is a new target for melanoma treatments. (2002/07)
    • PLX4032 is a promising example of this approach. (2010/05)
    • PLX4032 shows promising pre-clinical activity. (2010/07)
    • Not quite PLX4032, but still: Combined BRAF-targeted and immunotherapy shows promise. (2010/06)
    • More successful results from the PLX4032 drug. (2010/08)
    • The good news and the bad news, In the Pipeline (2010/11/24)
    • Drug Resistance Mechanisms Identified (2010/12)
    • How Some Melanoma Tumours Evade Drug Treatment (2010/12)
    • Studies Show How Skin Cancer Evades Promising Drug (2010/12)
    • For better results combine other drugs with PLX4032 (2011/01)
    • For example, an arthritis drug, leflunomide (2011/04)
    • More combo therapy. (2011/08)
    • Vemurafenib (aka Zelboraf, aka PLX 4032) gets FDA approval. (2011/08)
    • Potential solution to melanoma’s resistance to vemurafenib. (2012/03)
    • Zelboraf nearly doubles median survival. (2012/03)
  • BBI608, a first-in-class cancer cell stemness inhibitor drug. (2010/04)
  • OncoVEX, a vaccine for melanoma phase III clinical trial. (2010/04)
  • SCIB1 vaccine testing looks promising. (2010/05)
  • Ipilimumab (aka Yervoy):
    • Ipilimumab hailed as miracle cure; almost. (2010/06)
    • A large clinical trial of Ipilimumab seems to bode well in spite of the side effects. (2010/06)
    • Ipilimumab on FDA fast track. (2010/09)
    • The FDA has approved Yervoy (Ipilimumab). (2011/04)
    • Ipilimumab + Vemurafenib (PLX4032) combo: Al Jazeera and BBC reports (2011/06)
    • Ipilimumap + anti-angiogenic combo. (2011/06)
    • Combo with radiation works well. (2012/03)
    • A Yervoy anecdote. (2012/05)
  • Using the herpes virus to cure cancer. Amazing. (2010/08)
  • Another new drug: GSK2118436. (2010/10)
  • Another B-RAF drug (RG7204) treatment, at least in the UK. (2011/04)
  • Gene therapy for melanoma produces complete remission. (2010/11/24)
  • More gene therapy (2011/04)
  • Not melanoma but still very nasty skin cancer: cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma gene found. (2010/10)
  • New drug (Nilotnib) trial (2010/12)
  • Another tumour marker protein found – Piwil2-like or PL2L (2010/12)
  • Lowering MIC-1 protein level helps kill tumours (2011/01)
  • Raising macroH2A level helps kill tumours (2011/01)
  • An artificial plasmid coding for the replicase genes of Sindbis virus causes regression and destruction of lung cancer, or melanoma, cells in mice. Can anyone interpret that for me? (2011/04)
  • Giving killer T-cells a memory boost – and again. (2011/05)
  • Giving killer T-cells a functional boost. (2011/05)
  • Leucine deprivation starves melanoma in mice. (2011/06)
  • Older drug Interleukin-2 still useful. (2011/06)
  • Sentinel node biopsy safe and effective around head and neck. (2011/08)
  • 4 things you may not know about sunscreen. (2011/08)
  • Caffeine helps prevent melanoma. (2011/08)
  • General health predicts better outcomes. (2011/08)
  • Blood pressure drugs prolong melanoma survival. (2011/09)
  • Blood stem cells engineered to produce killer T-cells. (2011/12)
  • … and again. (2012/01)
  • Seizure medication slows spread of uveal melanoma. (2011/12)
  • Hereditary predisposition of uveal melanoma discovered. (2012/01)
  • Viagra fights melanoma. (2012/02)
  • Researchers building melanoma vaccine. (2012/03)
  • Sunitinib: another promising new drug. (2012/03)

Cancer in general

• Cancer and Metaphysics
• How survival statistics work. (2011/08)
• 50/50: a movie about coping with cancer. (2011/08)
• A life in 3 years – video. (2011/08)

• Research, Causes & Risk Factors

  • Living with Cancer: Eight Things You Need to Know
  • Hannah’s story
  • University, a career – and chemo
  • Cancer ‘danger receptor’ found
  • Enzyme behind cancer spread found
  • Cancer and the ‘C’ word
  • Those with Down’s Syndrome may have a lower risk of certain types of cancer
  • Discovery could ease cancer pain
  • Master gene that helps mobilize the immune system
  • Key Cancer Spread Gene Found – NRG1
  • Breast cancer is more likely to recur in ‘dense’ breasts
  • Males can get breast cancer? News to me.
  • Four year old girls can, apparently.
  • Two genes get blame for nasty brain cancer
  • CT scans promote cancer – you can’t win, can you?
  • Targeting cancer stem cells in the lab
  • Coping with breast cancer
  • Ovarian cancer ‘eureka moment‘.
  • Male hormone loss due to cancer treatments
  • You can do everything right and still be stricken. Bummer.
  • Two CBC Ideas programs on screening tests: You Are Pre-Diseased.
  • Nanoparticles may help to reduce radiotherapy damage.
  • Dogs and cats help cancer research.
  • Study shows that palliative care needs improvement.
  • Canada is ranked 13 / 14 countries studied for the availability of newer cancer drugs.
  • Nutritionist: Drinking too much milk promotes cancer growth
  • Drinking too much soda pop promotes pancreatic cancer
  • More evils of fructose: cancer promoter.
  • Daniel Hillis on Cancering: Listening In On The Body’s Proteomic Conversation.
  • The Emperor of All Maladies (2010/11/24)
  • Stem cells and their evil twins (2010/11/24)
  • Pancreatic cancer may grow for decades (2010/11/24)
  • Stromal cells associated with cancer cells inhibit vaccines (2010/11/24)
  • Antibody reverses final throes of cancer in mice (2010/11)
  • 90% of medical studies are useless – Sturgeon’s Revelation strikes again (2010/12)
  • Current publication practices distort science – (PDF) (2011/01)
  • Clinical trials & placebo use (2011/01)
  • Pain killers may only work if you believe. (2011/04)
  • Doctors recommend placebo use. (2011/04)
  • Tracing cancer back to its source. (2011/05)
  • Novel link between Parkinson’s and cancer. (2011/05)
  • Burzynski’s theory of antineoplastons and an opinion of it. (2011/06)
  • New theories on cancer mechanisms. (2011/08)
  • Survival statistics explained by xkcd. (2011/08)
  • Tumours give genetic hints about metastasizing. (2011/08)
  • Cancer cells “elbow” their way out of tumours. (2011/08)
  • MicroRNAs and nutrient absorption pathways help cancer spread. (2011/08)
  • A better understanding of chemo resistance. (2011/08)
  • Contact allergies help immune system recognise cancer. (2011/08)
  • Fatty acids interfere with chemotherapy. (2012/01)
  • There will be an app for that. (2012/02)
  • The Germ Theory of Cancer. (2012/03)
  • Gene critical to lung cancer spreading. (2012/05)
  • CD47 antibodies: One Drug to Shrink All Tumors? (2012/05)

• Trials & Treatments

  • Gene-altering lifestyle slows cancer
  • The Gift of Frankincense
  • Changes in prostate gene expression in men undergoing an intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention (PDF)
  • Vitamin C: Cancer patients’ friend or foe?
  • The right time for cancer treatment
  • A Nose for Cancer Surgery
  • Eat healthily to ward off cancer
  • Psychologic intervention improves survival for breast cancer patients
  • Nano-treatment to torpedo cancer
  • PSA test studies
  • Pancreatic cancer therapy ‘hope’
  • Statins link to healthy prostate
  • More evidence in favour of statins for your prostate.
  • Over-40s may benefit from aspirin
  • Animal fats and pancreatic cancer
  • Grill Healthy to reduce cancer risk
  • Hospital offers same-day cancer diagnosis
  • Quick test for prostate cancer
  • A new, improved prostate cancer test (2011/04)
  • Cancer: shock breakthrough – ipilimumab drug
  • New cancer drug ‘shows promise’ – olaparib drug
  • Drug enhances power of vaccines – rapamycin
  • Virus connected with prostate cancer
  • BC Breast Cancer Breakthrough, BC Research…, Canadian Uncover the Cancer Map
  • Paxil inhibits tamoxifen in breast cancer treatments
  • Vitamin D - (see also Health in General section, below)
  • Vitamin D again – doctors start to include it in their treatment programs
  • Yet more vitamin D – you need about 1,100 IU daily to fight cancer
  • Vitamin D fights breast cancer. (2011/08)
  • Folic acid (vitamin B) may increase cancer risk
  • Another promising approach to reducing tumours – in mice
  • Wild mushroom cancer drug – cordycepin
  • Beta-blockers cut cancer spread (see also: Low Stress Diet)
  • Gene error can disrupt tamoxifen treatment of breast cancer
  • A gene has been discovered that may trigger an aggressive form of breast cancer.
  • A single dose of radiation during breast cancer surgery is just as effective as a longer course of radiotherapy.
  • Potential therapeutic target for brain cancer
  • Radiotherapy may be more effective if the POLQ gene is suppressed
  • lincRNAs may turn off tumour suppressing genes
  • In the UK patients are being offered cancer treatment guided by genetic tests
  • A new way to destroy cancer cells: the chemotherapy bomb.
  • Generic drug dichloroacetate (aka DCA) stunts brain tumours
  • More on DCA: cancer’s sweet tooth.
  • Generic drug metformin hydrochloride seem to be quite effective against some cancers.
  • Urine test for prostate cancer getting close.
  • One-off prostate cancer test proposed for 60-year-olds.
  • Radiation + hormone therapy helps prostate cancer survival, BBC (2010/11/24)
  • Radiation pill effective against prostate cancer. (2011/09)
  • Long term statin use does not raise cancer risk, Science Daily (2010/11/24)
  • Delivering drugs to the brain is getting easier with nanoparticles, BBC health (2010/11/24)
  • Aspirin link to lower cancer rates (2010/12)
  • Aspririn again…. (2011/08)
  • The right dose of Vitamin D (2010/12)
  • Alkaline diets are useless. (2011/04)
  • Malaria drug helps control advanced cancer. (2011/05)
  • Anti-angiogenics work better with BH3 mimetics. (2011/06)
  • Human vaccine cures prostate cancer in mice. (2011/08)
  • Treatment for intractable advanced prostate cancer. (2011/08)
  • Exercise improves cancer outcomes. (2011/08)
  • Anti-cancer virus shows promise, also noted here. (2011/08)
  • Another anti-cancer virus. (2011/09)
  • Soil bacterium fights cancer. (2011/09)
  • Autumn Crocus fights cancer. (2011/09)
  • This year’s report on progress in cancer treatment. (2011/12)
  • Alternative therapy: PDT. (2011/12)
  • A Swiss Army Knife for cancer treatment? (2011/12)
  • Avastin prolongs lives of ovarian cancer patients. (2012/01)
  • Nanotubes take aim at breast cancer stem cells. (2012/03)
  • Radiation treatment make generate breast cancer stem cells. (2012/03)
  • Dandelion tea as a cancer treatment? (2012/03)
  • DiChloroAcetate (DCA) may be useful cancer treatment. (2012/03)
  • Cancer stem cell vaccine shows promise. (2012/05)
  • Dandelion tea vs. cancer (2012/05)

It’s All In the Mind

• Coping with Life

  • Prayer definitely works
  • Prayer definitely does not work
  • Prayer study overview
  • The placebo effect
  • Head fake: How Prozac sent the science of depression in the wrong direction
  • Study: Breast Cancer and Positive Thinking
  • Blogging – It’s good for you
  • Don’t worry, Woody: anxiety is in the genes, study finds
  • Online mindfulness workshop
  • If you’re happy and you know it…
  • Keep your head
  • This is Your Brain on Bliss
  • Stress and Immunity
  • Relax and live longer
  • Using your mind to slow the ageing process
  • Are bad sleeping habits driving us mad?
  • Many programmers have bad sleep habits, The Register (2010/11/24)
  • Tumours may actively contribute to depression
  • Anxiety sufferers may require help
  • Depression reduces your chances of surviving cancer
  • Social Isolation may worsen cancer
  • When mind attacks body
  • Processed Food linked to depression
  • Christmas Stress can make you sick
  • SSRIs may Not be the Best Treatment
  • Depression’s Upside – it’s just possible rumination may have survival value
  • Positive thinking myths
  • Stress hormones can promote cancer growth: please remain calm….
  • Stress: public enemy #1?, Globe & Mail (2010/11/24)
  • OTOH, mice under stress fight off cancer better.
  • An interview with the author of Manufacturing Depression
  • A new protein target (MKP-1) for antidepressants may make them more effective, New Scientist (2010/11/24)
  • Antidepressants give you a soft heart, New Scientist (2010/11/24)
  • Depression may predict dementia.
  • Having good friends and good relationships promotes better health and longevity.
  • Magic mushrooms may ease cancer anxiety.
  • Prof. Ellen Langer and the Mindfulness Chronicles.
  • MAP kinase signaling in behavioral models of depression US NIH (2010/11/24)
  • A wandering mind is an unhappy one, Globe & Mail (2010/11/24)
  • We spend so much time daydreaming, BBC (2010/11/24)
  • Six ways to boost your brain including mindful meditation, New Scientist (2010/11/24)
  • High self-esteem is good for you, New Scientist (2010/11/24)
  • An inspiring video about Alice (2010/11/24)
  • An inspiring video about Donna (2010/12)
  • Mindfulness helps cope with stress (2011/01)
  • Try something quietly profound (2011/01)
  • More evidence in favour of meditation and a related, short Beeb video (2011/04)
  • Bad advice: “Don’t think about it” (2011/01)
  • Practicing self-restraint is not always a good thing. (2011/04)
  • Brains of Buddhist monks scanned. (2011/05)
  • Natural optimism or willful ignorance? (2011/11)
  • Understanding mindfulness. (2011/11)
  • Pain reduction through meditation. (2011/11)
  • MBSR helps breast cancer survivors. (2012/01)
  • Why some people don’t get depressed. (2012/02)
  • Meditation Improves Emotional Behaviors in Teachers. (2012/03)
  • Evidence builds that meditation strengthens the brain. (2012/03)

• Coping with Death

  • Facing a diagnosis of terminal cancer
  • Plan for a good death.
  • Gently into the good night
  • Assisted Suicide Debate
  • The continuing Assisted Suicide Debate.
  • Give Up Hope and feel better
  • We want to choose when and how we go (2010/12)
  • Palliative care video; also covered in CBC’s  Public Health, Private Lives article (2010/12)
  • Losing cancer friends (2011/05)

Humour

• Lab reports and CAT scans
• Sex ed. in fin de siecle Britain
• Has breast cancer awareness got a bit weird?
• A teen’s reaction to her cancer (2010/12)
• Positive attitude (2010/12)

Health in general

• Best in small doses – optimal dosages are not always maximum dosages
• Something for the pain – outdated drugs laws are hurting people
• Condition Critical – the crisis facing American health care
• Aubrey de Grey – TED talk on extreme longevity
• Complete Retirement – it may not be such a good idea
• Green Spaces – they may improve health
• Aspirin – only for the sick
• Widespread Vitamin-D deficiency – among Canadians, anyway
• Vitamin-D efficacy studies – does it live up to the hype?
• Chocolate helps the heart – but a little goes a long way
• Your heart may benefit from a little dark chocolate. Not too much, mind.
• Happiness helps the heart
• Beware of choco-therapy for depression
• Grumpy people get more heart attacks than the more mellow among us.
• Moderate wine consumption may make you smarter.
• Comics put patients in the picture.
• We should still be checking on the drugs after they are approved, Globe & Mail (2010/11/24)
• Finally, some progress on a cure for the common cold, BBC health (2010/11/24)
• Apparently zinc works quite well for colds, too. (2011/04)
• Top 25 foods for longevity – no burgers, but no beets either (2011/01)
• Doctors are inclined to gamble on their own treatments (2011/05)
• Foods to boost your immune system. (2011/08)
• Normal: rapid heartbeat in the morning. (2011/12)
• MacLeans talks about The End of Illness. (2012/02)
• Exercise can  lead to female orgasm…. (2012/03)
• Optimism called “heart healthy”. (2012/05)
• Nanostars vs. cancer. (2012/05)

Books

• Batchelor, Stephen. Buddhism Without Beliefs. ISBN 978-1-57322-656-1
• Brach, Tara. Radical Acceptance. ISBN 0-553-38099-0
• Bolte Taylor, Jill. My Stroke of Insight. ISBN 978-0-452-29554-4
• Buckman, Rob. Cancer is a Word, Not a Sentence. ISBN 978-1-554-07234-7
• Henepola Gunaratana, Bhante. Mindfulness in Plain English. ISBN 978-0-8617-1321-9
• Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Full Catastrophe Living. ISBN 978-0-385-30312-5
• Lief, Judith L. Making Friends with Death. ISBN 1-57062-332-5
• Maguire, Jack. Essential Buddhism. ISBN 0-671-04188-6
• Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. ISBN 978-0-8021-3031-0
• Williams, Teasdale, Segal & Kabat-Zinn. The Mindful Way through Depression. ISBN 978-1-59385-128-6
• Harris, Russel. The Happiness Trap. ISBN 9781590305843
• Servan-Schreiber, David. Anticancer. ISBN 9781554682225