On Wednesday, researchers concluded that a new method of extracting lung cancer cells from blood samples can determine in real-time whether treatments are effective. 

In Massachusetts, doctors removed cancer cells from patients with non-small cell lung cancers that had spread to the bloodstream.  The researchers discovered that fluctuations in the concentration of cancer cells in the blood reflect how well current therapy is working.  Furthermore, the cancer samples also helped the doctors monitor changes in the genetic composition of the malignant tumors. 

This new ability to track cancer in the blood allows doctors to administer individualized therapy plans to patients.  They can quickly assess the content and make-up of a single patient's tumor and then establish a treatment regime accordingly. 

In December, the same group of researchers announced their ability to extract cancer cells--circulating tumor cells, or CTC-- from the blood using a specialized chip.  They now say that examining the collected cells can help guide therapy. 

"If there were a way of measuring an earlier response, that would be fantastic. The CTC chip offers the promise of non-invasive continuous monitoring," one researcher stated.  The chip is 100 times more sensitive than a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved technique that uses magnetic beads to try to extract cancer cells.  The system requires only two teaspoons of blood, which are then filtered through a series of 80,000 tiny tubes that search for the presence of certain proteins.  The process takes only eight hours.

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Last week, the first vaccine to extend the lives of lung cancer patients was approved in Cuba.  Though other similar vaccines are being tested around the world, the drug CimaVax EGF is the first to receive official endorsement; it is expected that CimaVax will be approved next in Peru, where it could be publicly accessible by the end of the year.

Unlike chemotherapy, CimaVax causes very few side effects.  It uses a modified protein that attacks only the cancer cells, causing minimal adverse reaction in patients.  Development for the vaccine began in 1992.

The cost of the treatment has not yet been determined.  Cuban officials, however, have stated that they will welcome foreigners who seek vaccine administration.  "It's possible to provide this vaccine to any patient, because it's available in Cuba, it's approved by the Cuban drug agency so we can market the vaccine in Cuba and we can receive patients from outside," said director of clinical investigations at Havana's molecular immunology center.

Americans, however, will have difficulty accessing CimaVax.  The trade embargo enacted in 1962 restricts travel to Cuba and will serious impede Americans' ability to try this new therapy.  In the US, CimaVax is in clinical trials and is not slated to finish for another two to three years.

Other cancer vaccines under development elsewhere include one made by Antigenics Inc against melanoma, and another made by Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc and licensed by drug giant Pfizer Inc that attacks deadly brain tumors.  For the full story, click here.

For many mesothelioma patients, end-of-life treatment is a primary concern.  While some opt to maintain aggressive therapy, others elect to enter hospice care.  In the UK, one man took matters into his own hands: he arranged a wake-like gathering for family and friends before his death.

Nigel Phillips worked on docks for over 20 years.  The 61-year-old was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma and given only 12 months to live.  Upon receiving the news, he organized a small get-together with some friends for drinks.  A fellow dock-worker, however, spread the news of Nigel's party and his diagnosis.  What started out as a handful of guests turned into a group of 100 colleagues, coworkers, and friends who came to pay Nigel respect.

The part was gratifying for Nigel, who is unsure how the disease will progress.  Though he has been treated in Cambridge at excellent facilities, he knows mesothelioma can be unpredictable.  In seeing all his friends, Nigel was equipped with the emotional support and security needed to handle the cancer.

To read more about Nigel's story, click here.

Asbestos exposure has long been a concern for firefighters, as working with crumbling buildings puts them at a high risk of inhaling fibers.  In Portage, Michigan, one fire department is rallying around a fellow worker recently diagnosed with stage three mesothelioma. 

It is likely that Brad Wilson was exposed to asbestos while on the job.  Though he has been given only between 6 and 18 months to live, Brad holds his head high and is focusing on how to handle his disease rather than pinpoint its cause.

Brad has accepted that asbestos exposure is "part of the job" he loves; his wife Cinda said that being away from firefighting is making Brad restless.  "The hardest part is knowing how much he misses coming into work, it just kills him," she said.  The Portage Fire Department is feeling his absence just as much.  They bring Brad's helmet with them on all calls, so he remains part of the team, even from home.  The members of the PFD are covering Brad's shifts in turns, so that he may maintain long-term disability benefits through September.

The support Brad is receiving is particularly gratifying for members of the Portage Fire Department, who say they are excited to repay Brad's selfless help from over the years.  "If someone had to switch days, had an emergency or if someone was down on their luck, Brad would be the first guy to offer to work a shift for them or organize some effort to help," said Rick Nason, a firefighter and president of the Portage Professional Firefighters Union.  Brad's 25-year career with the PFD was full of kind and generous acts such as these, and co-workers are honored to return the favor.  The department has even solicited the help of the public and will hold a fundraiser to cover some of Brad's medical and travel expenses.

Brad, his wife, and his mother will journey to Houston's M.D. Anderson Cancer Center soon for expert advice on treatment plans and ccomplementary medicine.  Brad expects to return at least once, most likely for lung surgery. 

Even in the face of terminal illness, Brad has not compromised his integrity.  "[He] has a character that you don't see in everybody," Nason said. "Who he is as a person, it's a credit to the city and the profession."

The FDA is cracking down on companies who are selling fraudulent cancer "cures."  Official warning letters have been sent to 23 domestic and 2 foreign companies who are marketing a variety of products on the internet, claiming they cure cancer.  These products have not been tested, may be unsafe, and are in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Deceptive and fraudulent cancer "cures" have always been on the market, but the internet has created a medium for sales to explode.  The FDA is fighting to combat these products, which include tablets, teas, tonics, black salves, and creams.  Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission sent out warning letters to 112 websites who were falsely promoting cancer "treatments."

The FDA is urging patients who have used these "cures" to contact health care providers immediately.  The products may cause adverse health effects, as they contain untested ingredients such as bloodroot, shark cartilage, coral calcium, cesium, ellagic acid, Cat's Claw, an herbal tea called Essiac, and mushroom varieties such as Agaricus Blazeii, Shitake, Maitake, and Reishi.

These products are marketed under slogans such as "80% more effective than the world's number one cancer drug," "Causes cancer cells to commit suicide!" and "Shrinks malignant tumors."

Visit the FDA warning site for more details.