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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans and Zofran, Decadron,
Benadryl, Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Bleomycin (blenoxane),
Vinblastine (velban, velsar, velbe) and Dacarbazine (DTIC, DTIC-Dome)
at liquidchaos.
See 2005 July 11th, and 2005 July 28th .
ZOFRAN is administered to those who feel sick
during two days following chemotherapy.
Sloan Kettering offers PDX and SAHA treatments for Alese Coco (journal).
Many of those who exercise so intensively like to expend their
energies for charity. Mr. Lemle says he recently completed a
bike ride to benefit the Hudson Valley and the Westchester
Association.
Next month, he plans on traveling to Massachusetts for the
Pan-Mass Challenge, which raises money for cancer research.
Many triathletes raise money for causes when they compete.
For instance John Steigerwald of Larchmont, a veteran of rigorous
Ironman triathlons, will compete this year in the Westchester
Triathlon, among others, and raise money for the Association.
But in addition to medical charities, he has raised thousands
for the renovation of a local Larchmont park.
If I can do it, a lot of people can, Mr. Steigerwald said it's just
about committing yourself.
For those interested in charity sports events, free training is
available from the Team in Training, which is sponsored by
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. According to Ms. Bull,
a mentor in the program, even novice athletes can join the
Team in Training if they raise the minimum contribution.
In return, the group provides free triathlon training as
well as two mentors like Ms. Bull to monitor progress.
"We try to get them well prepared and give them a lot of encouragement",
she said, adding that the shared interest of a good cause gives athletes
"a great sense of being on a team".
[NYT]
Vinblastine is a Vinca alkaloid work by inhibiting mitosis (cell division) in
metaphase. Alkaloids bind to tubulin, thus preventing the cell from making
the spindles it needs to be able to move its chromosomes around as it
divides. The alkaloids also seem to interfere with cells' ability to synthesize
DNA and RNA. Administered intravenously in their sulfate form the solution
is fatal if administered any other way, and can cause a lot of tissue irritation
if they leak out of the vein.
Vinblastine is typically administered at a dose of 6 milligrams per square
meter of body surface. Marketed as Velban by Eli Lilly and has a half-life
in the bloodstream of 24 hours. Vinblastine is mainly useful for treating
Hodgkin's disease, lymphocytic lymphoma, histiocytic lymphoma,
advanced testicular cancer, advanced breast cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma,
and Letterer-Siwe disease.
It also seems to fight cancer by interfering with glutamic acid metabolism
(specifically, the pathways leading from glutamic acid to the Krebs cycle
and to urea formation). People with bacterial infections should not be
given this drug, nor should pregnant women, since it caused severe birth
defects in animal studies. Side effects include hair loss, nausea, lowered
blood cell counts, headache, stomach pain, numbness, constipation and
mouth sores. Bone marrow damage is the typical dose-limiting factor.
An antineoplastic used a treatment for some types of cancer, commonly
used to treat melanoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and soft tissue sarcomas.
NIH page
Another NIH page
Cancer BACUP page