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APRIL / MAY 2014

BURNS –WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Most minor burns will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms and promote healing. But if you suspect you may have a more severe injury, use first-aid measures while you arrange for an evaluation by your health advisor.

First, stop the burning to prevent a more severe burn.  Cold temperature burns: Try first aid measures to warm the areas. Small areas of your body (ears, face, nose, fingers, toes) that are really cold or frozen can be warmed by blowing warm air on them, tucking them inside your clothing or putting them in warm water.  Liquid scald burns (thermal burns): Run cool tap water over the burn for 10 to 20 minutes. Do not use ice.  Tar or hot plastic burns: Immediately run cold water over the hot tar or hot plastic to cool the tar or plastic.  Remove any jewellery or clothing at the site of the burn. If clothing is stuck to the burn, do not remove it. Carefully cut around the stuck fabric to remove loose fabric.

For home treatment of first-degree burns and sunburns:  Use cool cloths on burned areas.  Take frequent cool showers or baths.  Apply soothing lotions that contain aloe vera to burned areas to relieve pain and swelling.  Applying 0.5% hydrocortisone cream to the burned area also may help.  There isn't much you can do to stop skin from peeling after a sunburn - it is part of the healing process.  Other home treatment measures, such as chamomile, may help relieve your sunburn symptoms.

Taffy & Staff

It’s Still Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Vaccine Meant to get vaccinated in autumn to ward off the flu, but somehow didn’t get around to it? Think it’s too late to get vaccinated now? Not so. Vaccinations can be protective as long as flu viruses are circulating. And while seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as May, flu activity usually peaks in August, or September, and can last well into November. FDA plays a key role in ensuring that safe and effective influenza vaccines are available every flu season. In fact, the task of producing a new vaccine for the next flu season starts well before the current flu season ends. For FDA, it's a year-round initiative. There are several reasons that new vaccines must be manufactured each year. “Influenza viruses can change from year to year, due to different subtypes and strains that circulate each year.” A vaccine is needed that includes virus strains that most closely match those in circulation, and the

protection provided by the previous year’s vaccine will diminish over time. “The closer the match between the circulating strains causing disease and the virus strains in the vaccine, the better the protection against influenza.” Children and seniors are most at risk for influenza, but occasionally a flu virus will circulate that disproportionately affects young and middle-aged adults. “Influenza seasons and severity are often unpredictable. Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza among people 6 months of age and older. However, taking such practical measures as washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick can also help to decrease the spread and minimize the effects of flu.” In addition, while antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccine, they can help to treat influenza. Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is an approved influenza antiviral drug for use against circulating influenza viruses.

Ward Off Dry Skin Run a humidifier at home The parched air during the winter months can take a toll on skin, leaving it dry and itchy. The Harvard Medical School offers these suggestions to help ward off dry skin during winter:  Run a humidifier that's set to about 60 percent. 2

 Bathe only once daily for up to 10 minutes, using lukewarm (not hot) water.  Use moisturizing cleanser over plain soap.  Allow shave gel or cream to soak into your skin before you begin shaving.  Don't use a washcloth, sponge or scrub brush on your skin.  Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing or washing hands.  If you have an itch, don't scratch. Instead, apply a cold compress or moisturizer.

Sout maak SuidAfrikaners dood Talle sogenaamde “gesondheidsvoedsels” se natriuminhoud is baie hoog. Die meeste van die sout in ons dieet word in geprosesseerde voedsels aangetref. Brood is die hoogste enkele bydraer tot die totale soutinname van Suid-Afrikaners. Die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie reken dat hipertensie ’n groter gesondheidsrisiko is as rook. ’n Hoësoutdieet is ’n belangrike oorsaak van hoë bloeddruk, en hoë bloeddruk is die enkele vernaamste risikofaktor ten opsigte van beroertes. ’n Verlaging van soutinname met 2 gram per dag, verminder kardiovaskulêre voorvalle met 20%. Met 6,3 miljoen mense wat aan hoë bloeddruk ly, het Suid-Afrika een van die hoogste koerse van hipertensie wêreldwyd. Dit maak Suid-Afrikaners meer vatbaar vir lewensbedreigende siektes soos beroerte en hartsiektes. Statistiek toon dat ongeveer 130 hartaanvalle en 240 beroertes daagliks in Suid-Afrika voorkom. Dit beteken dat daar elke uur 10 mense ’n beroerte en vyf mense ’n hartaanval sal ervaar. ’n Verstommende 80% van hierdie kardiovaskulêre siektes kan voorkom word deur aangepaste gedrag – soos om soutinname te verlaag. Die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie beveel aan dat volwassenes minder as 5 g sout (een teelepelvol) per dag inneem, maar sommige kundiges in Suid-Afrika skat dat die soutinname van SuidAfrikaners so veel as 40 g sout per dag kan wees. Die probleem is dat tot 60% van hierdie sout in produkte verskans is en ingeneem word deur mense wat onbewus is van die hoë soutinhoud van hulle kos. Die model wat internasionaal deur die meeste lande gevolg word, is op vrywillige vermindering van sout gegrond. ’n Lang en gesonde lewe, vry van siektes, is die reg van nie slegs Suid-Afrikaners nie, maar van almal in die wêreld. Dit is tyd dat Westerse regerings ophou om hulle deur die tabak- en voedselbedryf te laat voorskryf, en Suid-Afrika se voorbeeld volg deur spesifieke

mikpunte te stel vir die vermindering van nie-oordraagbare siektes, insluitend soutvermindering tot minder as 5 g per dag, veral in ontwikkelende lande waar die grootste getal nie-oordraagbare siektes voorkom. Opvoeding van die publiek is deurslaggewend vir die sukses van die soutverminderingsprogram. Die verband tussen sout en hoë bloeddruk is goed gedokumenteer en word as ’n mediese feit aanvaar. Wat egter minder bekend is, is dat Suid-Afrikaanse voedsels vol sout – of natrium – is. Internasionaal-erkende riglyne bepaal dat enige voedsel met meer as 600 mg natrium per 100 g as ongesond beskou kan word. Talle produkte in Suid-Afrika oorskry hierdie perk. Die grootste sondebok hier is brood, met margarien, bottersmere, aftrekselblokkies, soppoeier, ontbytgraan en southappies kort op die hakke. ’n Ander bekommernis is dat Suid-Afrikaners baie hoog op die lys is vir eie byvoeging van sout by hulle kos – tot 40% van die sout word deur individue by hulle kos gevoeg. Dit toon ’n gebrek aan bewustheid van die gevare wat sout vir die gesondheid inhou, veral vir dié wat aan hoë bloeddruk ly. ’n Deel van die bedryf se beswaar (teen die beoogde wetgewing) is dat hulle meen dat indien sout in geprosesseerde voedsels verminder word, mense die verlore smaak sal aanvul met sout wat hulle self byvoeg. Daar sal dus ’n opvoedingsveldtog moet wees wat die wetgewing vergesel. Die beste manier vir verbruikers om hulle soutinname te verminder, is om etikette noukeurig te lees en bewus te word van die soutinhoud, en hulle inkopies so aan te pas dat voedsels met ’n laer soutinhoud gekoop word. Dit is tyd dat mense bewus word dat sout SuidAfrikaners doodmaak, en dat hulle daadwerklik begin optree. 3

Keep the Weight Off? - Try Weekday Meals Study found most people weighed more after weekend, but those who cut back during week were thinner People trying to lose weight should pay close attention to what they eat during the week, and not worry as much about enjoying themselves during the weekend, a new study suggests. Nearly everyone gradually loses weight during the week and then gains it back over the weekend, a team of American and Finnish researchers reported. "Almost to a person, we weigh the most Sunday night and we weigh the least Friday morning." But people who successfully lose weight and keep it off are those who maintain healthy eating habits during the

week, the researchers found. Those who consistently lost weight in the study tended to compensate more strictly during the week for their weekend weight gain, the researchers said. Their weight began decreasing immediately on Monday and continued downward until Friday, while people who tended to gain weight showed a weaker weekday compensation for the weekend's indulgences. "The ones who are big winners are those who lose a little bit of weight from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday to Thursday."

Feeding Cats Smaller, More Frequent Meals Might Make Them Friskier Changing dietary patterns to increase activity could help curb feline obesity Feeding obese cats more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day could increase their level of physical activity and help them lose weight. Offering meals with water added to the food also spurred adult cats to become more active, scientists found in their study of 10 lean, neutered cats. "When cats are allowed to feed [freely], it's difficult to prevent obesity. It is important to identify the right diet. Many owners are accustomed to dumping a pile of food out for multiple cats, just once per day." Cat owners must play an active role in helping their pets maintain a healthy weight. "It all comes down to energy in and energy out. It's very simple on paper, but it's not that easy in real life, especially in a household where there is more than one pet. That can be difficult, but I think these 4

two strategies are very practical ideas that people can use." The researchers assessed the cats' activity two hours before they ate. In the first part of the experiment, cats were more active before mealtime, particularly those who were fed four times per day and those fed a random number of meals each day. Cats were even more physically active when they ate food with added water, the researchers found. The biggest spike in activity occurred after the cats ate. Although it is unclear why the cats had this surge in activity after eating, the researchers suggested use of the litter box could have played a role. One way owners can help their cats lose weight is to add water to their dry food to give them a greater sense of fullness. Another option is to alternate between wet and dry meals.

Fungal infections – 10 Questions to Protect Your Health Have you wondered about your risk for fungal infection? The more you know about fungal diseases and your potential risk, the better prepared you are to protect your health. Knowing some of the things that put you at risk and mentioning them to your healthcare provider may help recognize symptoms and prevent serious illness. It is important to remember that anyone can get a fungal infection. Six questions that could help you find out your risk for fungal infection: 1. What types of activities are you doing? Disease-causing fungi can be found in air, dust, and soil, especially soil that contains bird or bat droppings. Activities like gardening, can cause you to inhale more fungi that may cause infection. 2. Are you taking any medications that affect the immune system? Medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis or lupus may

weaken your immune system and put you at risk for fungal infection. 3. Are you receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatments? Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation weaken your immune system and may put you at risk for fungal infections. 4. Will you be staying in the hospital? If you are hospitalized for an injury or illness, you may be at risk for fungal infections such as invasive candidiasis.7 Your risk increases if you are very ill or have a weak immune system.8 5. Do you have flu-like symptoms that are not responding to medications? Fungal infections, especially fungal lung infections, can look like bacterial or lung infections. 6. Have you asked your healthcare provider about the possibility of a fungal infection?

Immune-Boosting Foods May Add to Flu Defense As health officials recommend flu shots and frequent hand washing for protection during this season's influenza outbreak, dietitians point to another significant defense weapon: healthy foods. Immune-boosting foods can improve your ability to ward off the flu and other health problems. Even a small nutritional deficiency can affect the body's ability to stay healthy: "A strong immune system doesn't guarantee your body can fight off every flu bug, but it is a powerful defense. Good nutrition is essential to a strong immune response."  Protein is an essential part of your body's defense system. Sources of protein include seafood, lean meat, poultry, eggs, beans and peas, soy products and unsalted nuts and seeds.  Vitamin A helps prevent infections by keeping the skin and tissues in the mouth, stomach, lungs and intestines

healthy. This nutrient, found in sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, spinach and red bell peppers, also helps the body regulate the immune system.  Vitamin C triggers the production of immune-boosting antibodies. Oranges, grapefruit, strawberries and tangerines are among the foods rich in vitamin C.  Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may provide a boost to the immune system. People who want to get more vitamin E in their diet should eat sunflower seeds, almonds, sunflower or safflower oil, hazelnuts, peanut butter or spinach.  Zinc, a nutrient found in lean beef, wheat germ, crab, wheat bran, sunflower seeds, black-eyed peas, almonds, milk and tofu, may also improve functioning of the immune system. 5

Hake Fish Cakes Makes 16

INGREDIENTS ½ cup (125 ml) milk 1 kg hake (stock fish) filleted and defrosted if frozen Ina Paarman's Seasoned Sea Salt 3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes to speed up cooking 2 T (30 ml) butter 1 T (15 ml) Ina Paarman's Potato Spice 1 large onion grated or very finely chopped 2 T (30 ml) finely chopped parsley 1 t (5 ml) finely chopped fresh lemon thyme (optional) 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 t (10 ml) fresh lemon juice 2 t (10 ml) baking powder 1 extra large egg lightly beaten flour for dipping fish cakes oil for shallow pan frying METHOD Pour the milk into a frying pan. Add the fish, skin side down and season well with Seasoned Sea Salt. Cover with a lid and poach gently for 5 minutes only. Switch off the heat, keep fish covered with the lid and leave to stand for 20 minutes to complete the cooking. In the meantime cook the potatoes, drain and mash with butter and Potato Spice. Add the onion, parsley, thyme, garlic and lemon juice. Flake the fish and add to the mash together with the baking powder and beaten egg. Shape fish cakes (smallish ones are easier to handle). We used a level ¼ cup of mixture at a time. The mixture is quite soft. Roll into balls and re-roll in flour. Flatten to form patties. 6

If time permits leave them in the freezer, on a baking sheet, for ± 30 minutes to firm. Shallow fry in ½ cm deep oil (about 3 minutes on each side) turning only once, using a spatula and a fork, Cook until golden brown. Drain on brown or kitchen paper. Serve warm with our Sweet Chilli Chutney. Delicious served at room temperature with a salad the next day.

JOK E There was a girl who wanted to go on a diet. She went to the doctor and asked for his advice. He said that she was going to go on a diet for three days "Eat anything and everything you want for the first two days of your diet. Then skip the third day." So the girl went home and ate anything and everything she wanted for the first two days, then she skipped the third day.

The next day she went back to the doctor and he asked her, "How is your diet?" She said, "Well, the first two days were easy but that third day was hard. Doing all that skipping made me really tired."

KIDZ FUN PAGE

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JOU DAAGLIKSE KOFFIE KAN DALK NET JOU GEHEUE AANHELP Navorsers het gekyk na die impak wat kafeïen op geheue het, terwyl ander faktore daarvan wat die brein stimuleer, buite rekening gelaat is. Die studie het getoon dat kafeïen sekere geheueprosesse verbeter tot 24 uur nadat dit ingeneem is. Die bevinding dat kafeïen ’n uitwerking op hierdie proses by mense het – die proses dat die inhoud wat onthou word meer permanent is en minder maklik vergeet word – was een van die groot nuwighede. Die studie het meer as 100 deelnemers ingesluit wat “kafeïen-naïef” was – met ander woorde wat nie groot koffie-, teeof koladrinkers was nie. Mense is gekies wat minder as 500 mg kafeïen per week inneem. Die meeste was nie koffiedrinkers nie. Die meeste het slegs een of twee keer per week ’n kola gedrink. Die meeste gemiddelde koppies koffie bevat ongeveer 160 mg kafeïen, maar ’n 400 ml-koppie koffie van Starbucks bevat 330 mg kafeïen. ’n Dosis van ten minste

200 mg kafeïen was nodig om geheuevaslegging te bevorder. Die navorsers het aan die deelnemers gevra om na honderde gewone, alledaagse prente op ’n rekenaarskerm te kyk: skoene, ’n stoel, ’n rubbereendjie, ens. Vyf minute nadat die deelnemers na die prente gekyk het, het die helfte van hulle 200 mg kafeïen gekry en die helfte ’n plasebo. Hulle het 24 uur later teruggekeer, nadat die kafeïen uit hulle stelsels was, en na nog prente van voorwerpe gekyk. Hulle is gevra om die prente te merk óf as oud, as nuut of as dieselfde as die oorspronklike prente wat hulle gesien het. Mense wat die kafeïen ingeneem het, kon die ooreenstemmende prente makliker van die oorspronklikes onderskei, en dié wat die plasebo ontvang het, was meer geneig om die ooreenstemmende prente as die ou prente te identifiseer, het die navorsers gesê.

Staying Healthy Is a Family Affair Don't let the children go it alone Staying healthy is a family affair, and by working together you can meet your exercise and diet goals. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers these suggestions to help families stick to their healthy goals:  Prepare nutritious snacks and wellbalanced meals, and make sure everyone starts the day with a healthy breakfast.  Make sure that at each meal, your plate is half filled with fruits and veggies. Also make sure that at least half of your grains are whole. 8

 Eat dinner together every night, if

possible.  Avoid talking about weight in a negative way in front of your children.  Be active together as a family. Examples may include taking a walk together after dinner, or going to the gym.  Keep a positive attitude, and set a good example for your children about following a healthy lifestyle.

Eardrops for Child re n Wi th Rec u rrent Ea r Infec tion An eardrop that combines antibiotics and steroids might be the best ear infection treatment for children who already have ear tubes because of recurrent infections, a new study finds. "Children treated with eardrops had a shorter duration of the initial episode, and a lower total number of days of ear discharge, and a lower number of recurrences during six months of follow-up than children treated with oral antibiotics or initial observation." Most children experience at least one ear infection during childhood, but for some children ear infections are a near-constant problem. For these kids, small tubes - known as tympanostomy tubes - inserted into the eardrum help preserve or restore a child's hearing. The tubes help fluid drain and allow air in the middle ear so that it can function properly. A condition called acute

tympanostomy tube otorrhea is a common complication after the procedure. It means fluid is draining from the tube, and it may be accompanied by a foul odor, pain and fever. The combination eardrops were significantly more effective. Eardrops worked better than oral antibiotics for the painful condition known as swimmer's ear. Because the children in the study have ear tubes, it allows the eardrops to travel right to the source of the infection, In kids without ear tubes, this isn't the case. "We would recommend parents to contact a physician when otorrhea occurs . . . so that children can be treated with eardrops shortly after the onset of ear discharge, and improve more quickly and have fewer recurrences in following months,"

Sleep Apnea Might Raise Pneumonia Risk Disrupted nighttime breathing makes getting fluid into the lungs more likely People with sleep apnea may be at greater risk for developing pneumonia, according to a new study. And the more severe the sleep apnea, the greater the risk The sleep disorder causes the upper airway to become blocked, cutting off oxygen during sleep. This increases the risk for aspiration, or inhaling contents or fluid from the throat into the lungs and can put people at greater risk for pneumonia. The 11-year study involved 34,100 patients. Close to 7,000 of these participants had sleep apnea, and about 27,000 did not.

The researchers found that more than 9 percent of the sleep apnea group developed pneumonia, compared to less than 8 percent of those without the sleep disorder. The risk was higher among patients using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, considered the gold standard for treating sleep apnea. However, those who developed pneumonia were older and had other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia. 9

Diet to Reduce Blood Pressure May Also Stave Off Kidney Stones The DASH diet could be just as effective, less limiting, than traditional eating plan A diet based on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan (rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, moderate in low-fat dairy and low in animal proteins, refined grains and sweets), is more practical and less restrictive for people who must watch what they eat for the prevention and treatment of kidney stones. The diet typically recommended to prevent kidney stones is low in "oxalate." Most kidney stones are formed when oxalate binds to calcium while the kidneys make urine. However, high levels of oxalate are found in many nutritious foods, such as beets, navy beans, bulgur, kale, almonds, sweet potatoes, rice bran, rhubarb and spinach. On average, participants on the DASH diet reduced their risk for kidney stones by 35 percent. Meanwhile, those who ate a lowoxalate diet reduced their risk by 14 percent. Combining calcium and oxalate-rich foods in a meal could be more effective than limiting oxalate in preventing kidney stones. When

consumed together, oxalate and calcium are more likely to bind in the stomach and intestines. Since this occurs before the kidneys start processing, it's less likely that kidney stones will form. A practical diet plan for kidney stone prevention should be based on the cumulative effects of foods and the impact overall dietary patterns have on risk for stone formation rather than single nutrients. Experts from the National Kidney Foundation offered the following tips to help prevent the formation of kidney stones: • Drink plenty of fluids. Ideally, consume at least 68 ounces daily. • Choose water. Although water is best, water mixed with sugar-free lemon or lime juice is another good option. • Eat fruits and vegetables. It's also important to limit high-fat dairy, salt and animal protein. • Follow through on treatment.

Cut Down on Sugar

Watch how much you eat and drink Too much sugar in your diet can lead to a host of health problems, from rotting your teeth to bulging your waistline. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests how to cut down on sugar: • Avoid baked goodies, candy and other sweets. • Stick to heart-healthy meals and snacks, 10

focusing on whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. • Drink water instead of sugary beverages. • Avoid processed foods, which tend to be high in sugar, salt and fat. • Look for recipes that use less sugar, or use unsweetened applesauce or sugar substitutes.

TYDSBEREKENING VAN HARTAANVAL HOU VERBAND MET RISIKO VAN STERFTE Volgens ’n groot nuwe navorsingsprojek is daar ’n groter moontlikheid dat hartaanvalpasiënte wat saans of oor ’n naweek by die hospitaal aankom, sal sterf. Die verslag het ook gesê dat hierdie vergrote risiko kan veroorsaak dat duisende bykomende hartaanvalpasiënte elke jaar sterf. Die Mayo-kliniek in Amerika se navorsers het 48 studies ontleed, wat ’n totaal van amper 1,9 miljoen pasiënte ingesluit het. Hulle het bepaal watter invloed die tyd (aande en naweke) wanneer hartaanvalpasiënte by hospitale aanmeld op die pasiënte se risiko om te sterf, het. Die studies is in Kanada, Europa en die Verenigde State uitgevoer. Die ondersoekers se gevolgtrekking was dat hartaanvalpasiënte wat naure by ’n hospitaal aanmeld, ’n 5% hoër risiko gehad het om te sterf terwyl hulle in die hospitaal is, sowel as 30 dae na ontslag, as dié wat tydens gewone ure opgedaag het. Die Mayo-kliniek het ook geraam dat daar by pasiënte wat ’n tipe hartaanval genaamd ST-elevasie miokardiale

infarksie (STEMI) ervaar het, en wat na ure by die hospitaal opgedaag het, ’n tydperk van amper 15 minute verloop het tussen hulle aankoms by die hospitaal en die ondergaan van ballonangioplastie om ’n verstopte kroonslagaar oop te maak. Dit het dus die risiko van ’n sterfte met so veel as 10 tot 15% verhoog. Die navorsers sê dat verdere studies nodig is om faktore te ondersoek wat die verskil in die vlakke van sorg gedurende gewone ure en na ure veroorsaak, soos die getal personeellede en hulle vlakke van kundigheid. Pasiënte wat na ure opdaag, ervaar ’n vertraging in dringende sorg en ervaar swakker uitkomste, en dit wil voorkom of die gaping oor tyd toeneem. Hospitale wat hulle sorg ten opsigte van hartaanvalpasiënte wil verbeter, moet daarop fokus om hulle na uurse sorg te verbeter, met die doel om deurgaans hoëgehaltesorg 24 uur per dag, sewe dae per week te lewer.

Depression and Heart Disease Exercise will help brighten your day

The term "broken heart" usually describes a person who has lost a great love. Truth be told, feeling depressed can take a toll on the heart, especially if you have heart disease. Here is some advice if you've been diagnosed with heart disease and are feeling blue: • Try to get some physical activity. Be sure to follow your health provider’s recommendations for exercise. • Learn and practice relaxation techniques. • Engage in activities that make you happy. Avoid unhealthy coping habits such as smoking, drinking or overeating. • Seek support from family, friends or clergy. Join a support group for people with heart disease. • Eat a nutritious, balanced diet and commit to getting plenty of sleep

DISCLAIMER: Please note that KK Publishers, it’s contributors and/or associates cannot be held liable in any way for errors that may occur in any of the articles printed in this newsletter. Information and articles published in this newsletter do not constitute medical advice or a medical claim for any product of any nature whatsoever on behalf of the publisher, the pharmacy or the distributor. Consult a qualified health care practitioner for diagnosis or treatment of any diseases or medical condition. Designed and published by KK PUBLISHERS - THE NEWSLETTER FACTORY CC, Cape Town Tel.: (021) 418 6708; Fax: (021) 418 6707 E-Mail: [email protected]; Website: www.newsletterfactory.co.za COPYRIGHT OF ALL ARTICLES AND EDITORIAL APPEARING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS OWNED BY KK PUBLISHERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 11

The New Urine Prostate Test New cancer check is twice as accurate no need for that embarrassing examination

T

his new UK urine test is twice as reliable as the existing blood test for the disease. It also tells doctors how serious it is - and no need for rectal examination. Prostate cancer kills nearly 11,000 British men every year. The new test – described as potentially the biggest breakthrough in prostate cancer diagnosis in 25 years – does not involve a rectal examination. In the UK it is likely to cost as little as £10 a patient, and the price tag, combined with its accuracy and simplicity, could even lead to all older men being screened for the disease, as women are for breast cancer. It could be available in the UK within the next few months. Studies show the new urine test to be twice as reliable as the existing blood test for detecting the disease – the most common cancer among British men. It also tells doctors how serious the cancer is. This means it should not only save lives but also spare men painful, embarrassing and unnecessary tests and treatments. Inventor Doctor Hardev Pandha, a professor of medical oncology, said: ‘This new test could lead to faster detection that could save hundreds of lives and also offers the potential for huge cost savings.’ At present the blood test routinely used measures levels 12

of a protein called prostate specific antigen, or PSA, but it is wrong more often than it is right. This means many men are subjected to the pain, worry and embarrassment of unnecessary biopsies. In other cases, fledgling cancers are missed until they have spread elsewhere in the body and are harder to treat. The new test uses a urine sample, dispensing with the need for needles. It searches the urine for a protein called EN2, which is not made by healthy people but is pumped out by tumours. In trials, it detected about 70 per cent of prostate cancers, making it twice as accurate as the

PSA test. The amount of EN2 in urine corresponds with the size of the tumour. This is important because prostate cancer is not always lifethreatening. It often grows slowly and does not always need to be treated straight away.

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