Category Archives: MS Treatment

A British High Court judge has ruled that a seven-year-old boy can receive radiotherapy for a cancerous brain tumour against the wishes of his mother - whose judgment, he says, had "gone awry". Mr Justice Bodey dismissed Sally Roberts' attempt to prevent radiotherapy treatment being given to her son, Neon - and expressed concern over her decision-making regarding the child's welfare. Ms Roberts, who had earlier failed in a similar legal bid to prevent surgeons performing a follow-up operation on Neon, said she feared that radiotherapy would cause long-term harm. Mr Justice Bodey, who had been told by doctors that Neon could die within months without radiotherapy treatment, said he sympathised with the "nightmare" confronting Ms Roberts. But he said he was worried that she had not grasped the seriousness of Neon's situation. "The mother has been through a terrible time. This sort of thing is every parent's nightmare and I have sympathy for her," said the judge, following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London. "But I am worried that her judgment has gone awry on the question of the seriousness of the threat which Neon faces." He said the operation Ms Roberts had … Continue reading →

A seven-year-old boy should have radiotherapy treatment for cancer against his mother's wishes, a High Court judge has ruled. Mr Justice Bodey dismissed Sally Roberts' attempt to prevent the treatment being given to her son, Neon - and expressed concern over her decision-making regarding the child's welfare. Ms Roberts, 37, told the court she believed radiotherapy would cause Neon long-term harm and argued in favour of alternative treatment. However, doctors have said Neon could die within months if he does not get the radiotherapy. Mr Justice Bodey ruled that such treatment could now start. "The mother has been through a terrible time. This sort of thing is every parent's nightmare," said the judge. "But I am worried that her judgement has gone awry on the question of the seriousness of the threat which Neon faces." Ms Roberts, a New Zealander who lives in Brighton, East Sussex, had told the court she was not a "bonkers mother" and insisted on alternative treatment. She said she feared that radiotherapy would reduce Neon's IQ, shorten his life, put him at risk of having strokes and make him infertile. But Mr Justice Bodey said he had to balance risk against benefit and said of … Continue reading →

A woman who wants to stop doctors giving radiotherapy treatment to her seven-year-old son following surgery on a brain tumour is acting merely out of love, a High Court judge has heard. Mr Justice Bodey is set to rule later today. Sally Roberts, 37, says she fears radiotherapy will cause her son, Neon, long-term harm and is locked in a court battle for alternative treatment. Doctors have said Neon could die within months if he does not get the radiotherapy. "Her stance merely reflects the love that she has for him," Ian Peddie QC, for Ms Roberts, told the judge in a last-ditch plea. "The mother, having considered the pros and cons of radiotherapy, does not believe it is in his best interests because of the significant and long-term consequences of this dramatic, powerful brain-altering treatment." The judge has been hearing arguments about the pros and cons of radiotherapy. Ms Roberts, a New Zealander who lives in Brighton, East Sussex, has previously told the proceedings she is not a "bonkers mother". She fears radiotherapy will reduce Neon's IQ, shorten his life, put him at risk of having strokes and make him infertile. Ms Roberts said she would agree to Neon … Continue reading →

Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza may have been motivated by anger at his mother because of plans to have him committed for treatment, Fox News reported Thursday, citing comments from the son of an area church pastor and an unnamed neighborhood source. Fox also cited an unnamed senior law enforcement official saying anger at plans for his future mental-health treatment were being investigated as a possible motive. While the Fox reports are still uncorroborated, other media reports paint a general picture that suggests Ms. Lanza was growing increasingly concerned about the mental health of her son. These reports are bringing to light a debate over where to set the bar when it comes to forcing an individual into treatment and whether those caring for people with mental-health issues have enough resources available to head off potential crises before they happen. Recommended: Second Amendment Quiz On one hand, warning signs are often apparent, so making it easier to commit someone for involuntary treatment could save lives. The young adult men who end up being violent often have others in their lives who are trying desperately to get help before something bad happens. They can see it coming down the pike, says … Continue reading →

A new drug for the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) called MIS416, developed by New Zealand biopharmaceutical company Innate Immunotherapeutics, has been granted a patent in the United States. Innates chief executive Simon Wilkinson says the US patent is a significant milestone as the US market represents around 70% of the worldwide MS market by revenue. He says currently there are no drugs approved to effectively treat SPMS. The granting of the patent comes ahead of the worlds largest annual gathering of the healthcare/pharmaceutical investment sector in early January. The JP Morgan conference in San Francisco attracts major investors and pharmaceutical companies. While big listed companies take centre stage with their plans for the coming 12 months at the conference, Mr Wilkinson says companies like Innate will also be there talking with potential investors. "Following the success of our Phase 2A trials, where the data showed 80% of the patients had at least a 30% (or greater) improvement in at least one measure of MS related clinical status, we have attracted interest from both pharmas and investors," he says. Innate is now looking to convert this interest into funding for a larger randomized Phase 2B clinical trial. Meanwhile … Continue reading →

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Dec 18, 2012) - Event 360 is proud to announce the launch of its newest event series, MuckFest MS, in partnership with the National MS Society. In 2013, thousands of women and men from all over the country will rise to the dirty challenge and to take part in one of 18 MuckFest MS events around the country this year, benefitting the National MS Society. This year, the steel obstacles of MuckFest MS will be traveling to: MuckFest MS is so much more than an obstacle course with mud. In the weeks before MuckFest MS, the course is dug out with heavy machinery and a whole lot of water is added. Twenty steel-constructed obstacles are then assembled and placed among the mud-filled trenches, slip-n-slide pits and moon-sized craters. We're not talking rinky-dink barricades made out of two-by-fours that you find on some mud runs out there. These obstacles are solid-steel behemoths that are transported by semi-trailers and require days, not hours, of prep and construction at each event site. A spectacular highlight reel and Pulitzer-worthy photo opportunities await as muckers run, slip, slide, climb, swing and slosh (and laugh and curse) their way through a diabolically hilarious … Continue reading →

A new rapid test for HIV will increase the number of people being tested for the disease and reduce the risk of transmission, Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says. Ms Plibersek on Monday announced the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had approved for marketing the Alere Determine Combo HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab test, which will give people a preliminary result within 30 minutes. Ms Plibersek said the pin prick test would mean people newly infected with HIV can quickly access treatment, while the risk of infecting others would also be decreased. "This test doesn't replace the importance of safe sex practices and other harm reduction strategies in Australia," Ms Plibersek told reporters in Sydney. "What it does though is increase the likelihood that people will come in for a test, and increase the likelihood they'll be tested frequently. "Early diagnosis of any illness, means earlier treatment. "It is also very important for people to know their HIV status because we also reduce the risk of transmission." The current antibody tests can take between two weeks and three months. Ms Plibersek said TGA approval had come with strict accreditation conditions to ensure clinics carrying out the tests were trained to not only offer … Continue reading →

A Christchurch neurologist is leading part of the worlds first clinical trial into whether oral vitamin D may prevent multiple sclerosis (MS). The trial is being conducted in both Australia and New Zealand and will include 240 people with early MS. Dr Deborah Mason will oversee the New Zealanders taking part in the study while Professor Bruce Taylor, a former Christchurch neurologist now based in Hobart, Australia, is one of the principal researchers heading the trial in Australia. Dr Mason says MS prevalence in New Zealand is high compared to many other parts of the world and appears to be increasing particularly in females. Researchers believe New Zealanders may be particularly susceptible to MS because of our low latitude which results in low levels of vitamin D. "This is particularly true for people living in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. We are uniquely placed to perform this research here and it has particular relevance given our high MS rates," Dr Mason says. "It will be the worlds first randomised controlled interventional study using vitamin D in people with MS to see how it might influence this disease." MS Research Australia has pledged $3.5 million towards the study. "This trial may not … Continue reading →

MS Fundraiser contemporary for Hannah Webb Kristen Holleyman's class to donate funds for Hannah Webb's MS treatment. Donate at http://www.giveforward.com/ Space donated by Joey Decker Kristen Holleyman, Ashley Mouw, Angela Kavenaugh, Robyn O'Dell, Cedric DoddFrom:Kristen HyoungchampionsViews:0 0ratingsTime:01:26More inEntertainment Go here to read the rest: MS Fundraiser contemporary for Hannah Webb - Video … Continue reading →

A woman who ran away with her seven-year-old son to stop him having cancer treatment said she will agree to radiotherapy if doctors find his brain tumour has returned. Sally Roberts, 37, disappeared with Neon after a dispute with her estranged husband Ben over the boy's condition and treatment. But doctors said Neon could die within months without radiotherapy and Ms Roberts has now backed down, saying her son will have to have the treatment if irregularities on a recent scan prove to be sinister. "After Neon's operation six weeks ago, when the tumour was taken out, they had another operation booked in immediately because they thought there was something else there," Ms Roberts told The Times. "Thankfully they were wrong and I'm just hoping it's the same this time." If doctors find Neon's medulloblastoma has returned, she will consent to radiotherapy despite fears that it will cause him long-term harm. "I don't think I will have a choice," she said. "I was so hopeful that we could just get on with other less harmful treatments. But I will be backed into a corner." Her apparent change of heart came after Neon's case was brought before the High Court in … Continue reading →