What's new

This page tells you about updates and recent information added to CancerHelp UK. There is information about

• Our new site
• New information
• Reviews of sections on different cancer types
• Reviews of other information sections
• Clinical trials
• NICE, SIGN, SMC and AWMSG recommendations
• Answering your questions

Over the past months, we've been working on developing our new site.  All the content is still here.  We've just reorganised it so that you can find it more easily.  We had to do this because the amount of content we have has grown by at least 4 times since we last redesigned in 2000.

All the development was done alongside consultation with our main groups of visitors - people who have cancer, relatives and friends and health professionals.  There is a guide to our new site in the help section.  Please do send us your feedback, telling us what you like and what you don't.

In November 2009 we added a page about biological therapy for nasal and sinus cancer. We also added pages about the combination treatments R-CVP and R-DHAP.

In August 2009 we added pages about what's new in unknown primary cancer, types of unknown primary cancer and biological therapy for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer.

In July 2009 we added pages about biological therapy for lung cancer, radiofrequency ablation for lung cancer and photodynamic therapy for lung cancer.

In May we added pages about the combination chemotherapy EOX.

In April 2009 we added a section about cancer surgery and a page about the chemotherapy combination, RICE.

In March 2009 we added pages about the chemotherapy drug, pemetrexed, and the biological therapy, dasatinib. We also added pages about the following combination chemotherapies

• BEACOPP
• De Gramont
• Doxifos
• FEC-T
• ICE
• VIDE
• CVP
• GC

We are currently preparing further information about specific new cancer drugs. We are also preparing more information about the many combination treatments used in the UK.

If there are any major developments, publications of NICE guidance or clinical guidelines, we amend the relevant sections on different types of cancer, and other relevant sections, at the time. As well as this ad hoc updating, CancerHelp UK sections are routinely reviewed and updated yearly.

In November 2009, we updated the 

• Nasal and sinus cancer section
• Skin cancer (non melanoma) section
• Myeloma section

In October 2009, we updated the

• Mouth and oropharyngeal cancer section

In August 2009, we updated the

• Gestational trophoblastic tumour section
• Mesothelioma section
• Unknown primary cancer section
• Gallbladder cancer section

In July 2009, we updated the

• Cervical cancer section
• Lung cancer section

In May 2009, we updated the

• Penile cancer section
• Breast cancer section

In April 2009, we updated the

• Hairy cell leukaemia section
• Radiotherapy section

In March 2009, we updated the

• Prostate cancer section
• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) section
• Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML )section
• Anal cancer section
• Ovarian cancer section

In November 2009, we updated the 

• Bowel problems section

In August 2009, we updated the sections on

• Skin problems with cancer
• Coping emotionally with cancer
• Coming to the UK from overseas

In May 2009, we updated the

• Dying with cancer section

In April 2009, we updated the

• Diet problems with cancer section

In March 2009, we updated the

• Worried about cancer section

We are making every effort to extend and maintain our clinical trials database. This work is ongoing and by the end of October 2009 we had 323 trials listed that are open to patients in the UK. We aim to provide as comprehensive a listing of UK clinical trials in cancer care as we can. We would welcome your feeback on the clinical trials database. Click on 'feedback' at the top of any page and send us your views.

In October 2009 the following trials were added to our clinical trials database

• A study to see what people think of the treatments in the ZICE trial for breast cancer that has spread to the bones
• A trial of ASA404 and docetaxel for non small cell lung cancer that has continued to grow during chemotherapy or has come back after treatment
• A trial looking at cisplatin, gemcitabine and sunitinib for advanced transitional cell cancer of the urinary system (SUCCINCT)

 

Below is a list of the most recent NHS guidance we have added to the site. NICE stands for National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. NICE look at the evidence on new treatments and procedures and publish guidelines for use on the NHS in England.  The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) are the equivalent bodies for advising the NHS in Scotland and Wales.

There is a 'question and answer' on NICE and what they do in our cancer treatment QandA section.

In November 2009, we added SMC guidance on

• Sunitinib for GIST when imatinib is not working
• Bortezomib (Velcade) for the treatment of recurrent myeloma

In October 2009, we added NICE guidance on

• Topotecan for the treatment of recurrent carcinoma of the cervix
• The treatment and management of depression in adults with chronic physical health problems
• Depression: the treatment and management of depression in adults (update)

In September 2009, we added NICE guidance on

• Cisplatin and topotecan chemotherapy for cervical cancer which has come back after radiotherapy treatment or is stage 4B
• Sorafenib for advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular cancer) - this was initial guidance, NICE will make a final decision in October 2009
• Sunitinib for GIST when imatinib is not working

In August 2009, we added NICE guidance on

• Pemetrexed (Alimta) as first line treatment for adenocarcinoma and large cell non small cell lung cancer
• Bevacizumab, sorafenib and temsirolimus as first line and Sorafenib and sunitinib as second line treatment for advanced kidney cancer
• Cetuximab in combination with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI as a first treatment for advanced bowel cancer

In July 2009, we added NICE and SMC guidance on rituximab as a first treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and SMC guidance on histrelin (Vantas) for restricted use in advanced prostate cancer.

In June 2009, we added SMC guidance on pemetrexed (Alimta) for the first line treatment of squamous cell non small cell lung cancer and NICE guidance on

• Cetuximab for metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
• Lenalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma in people who have had at least one prior therapy.

In April 2009, we added SMC guidance on cetuximab (Erbitux), with chemotherapy, for advanced bowel cancer.

We are able to answer your questions about cancer. You can ring Cancer Research UK's team of experienced cancer information nurses on 020 7061 8355 or freephone 0808 800 4040. If you prefer, you can send them a question about cancer by using our question form.  Please note, we cannot answer enquiries from overseas.

You can send us your views about our website via our feedback form.

Remember to include your email address in these forms. We have set up our feedback forms so that you can contact us anonymously, but if you want a personal reply you must type in your email address.

You can now search our questions and answers section.  There are over 700 'questions and answers' to choose from..