MELBOURNE, March 30 (UPI) — Officials of the Australian drug maker Biota Holdings ltd. said a Phase II clinical trial of an antiviral treated colds in people with asthma.

Peter Cook, chief executive officer of Biota, said the successful completion of the Phase II trial delivered a major milestone in the development of BTA798, or vapendavir, for the treatment of naturally acquired human rhinovirus — the predominant cause of the common cold — infection in asthmatics.

Drug treatment resulted in a statistically significant reduction in cold symptoms compared to a placebo, Cook said.

Cook said the next phase is to design appropriate Phase III studies.

The Phase II multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in asthmatic adults with symptomatic, naturally acquired human rhinovirus infection was conducted over two consecutive seasons in 48 centers in the United States. Subjects received either 400 milligrams of BTA798 or placebo twice daily for six days.

“This trial not only represents a valuable step in the successful delivery of one of Biota’s key programs but it is also a unique accomplishment in the field of antiviral development,” Cook said in a statement. “While the clinical link between human rhinovirus infection and loss of asthma control is now widely accepted, Biota is the first company to evaluate the use of an anti-viral to treat the infection in asthmatics. This has the potential to be of considerable benefit to sufferers through better control of their asthma.”

a Fallbrook woman whose Christian faith has played out in print is now using that medium to detail her battle against a life-threatening disease.

For years, Marcy Burge shared her Christian faith in newspaper and church newsletter columns. as her clipping file grew, she also won friends with her character and cookies as she helped build a bridge between a pair of Fallbrook churches.

Fast forward to today, and Burge is back at the keyboard as she marks the one-year milestone in her battle against ovarian cancer. But she has an edge over other Christian writers who scatter their words like seeds across Southern California. she is likely the sole scribe to claim she was visited by a trio of angels during a particularly painful moment.

The visit came after a 15-hour hospital ordeal that ended with Burge coughing up blood as she arrived home and was anxious to bring a close to a distressing day. Burge said the translucent “images” briefly appeared in the tiny house that she rents from Fallbrook Presbyterian Church, the place she has worked at as a secretary for nearly 16 years.

The experience has prompted members of Fallbrook Presbyterian, as well as a nearby Catholic church, to ponder angels. it has not, however, overshadowed Burge?s medical challenges and the cadre of supporters that has showered her with prayer, food and other help.

“It?s my opinion that God sends you what you need at the moment,” said Rev. Greg Coppock, assistant pastor at Fallbrook Presbyterian. “It (angelic visitors) is an interesting issue, as you know. I think too often we put God in a box. God can do anything.”

Coppock and others say Burge, 54, has frequently been cited as an inspiration for others as her public fight against cancer unfolds.

For more than a decade, Burge served as a popular and prayerful secretary at Fallbrook Presbyterian and a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, which is a short distance away. For many of those years, Burge edited the Fallbrook Christian Network?s interdenominational newsletter. The publication was distributed at many area churches while the Fallbrook Christian Council was active in the region.

In early 2007, Burge helped launch the Faith Matters section of the Village News, a weekly newspaper that circulates in the Fallbrook, Rainbow and Bonsall areas. she wrote steadily for the newspaper for about two years, at which time local church pastors and ministers began to cycle in as contributing writers.

In those newspaper columns, Burge sometimes touched on her personal difficulties that included the death of her husband about 17 years ago, financial problems, the loss of her home, depression, shattered dreams and thoughts. she also told how prayer, faith and fellowship enabled her to emerge from darkness.

Burge?s columns struck a chord among some newspaper readers and alienated others.

“One of your features that I find most uplifting these days is the Faith Matters column by Marcy Burge,” Pete Swenson, a 15-year resident of the Fallbrook area, wrote in a September 2008 letter to the editor. “While my church attendance is rather spotty, my faith is solid and I always feel a boost when I finish with her message.”

Conversely, a reader who identified himself as “Brian T” responded sharply to a may 2008 column by Burge. The critic, who described himself on an Internet posting as “wholly satisfied with my choice to be an atheist,” described the column as “one of many articles you?ve written with a smug, elitist prejudice that I find quite disappointing.”

Burge transitioned from the newspaper columns to similar pieces for The Chimes, a monthly newsletter printed by Fallbrook Presbyterian. she also wrote a book titled “Finding Lavender” and is working on two other books about spirituality.

A daunting diagnosis

About a year ago, Burge was diagnosed with bronchitis after she complained of wheezing and other breathing difficulties. three rounds of antibiotic treatments failed to ease the symptoms, and Burge began to suffer severe abdominal pains. Coppock recommended that Burge seek treatment at a San Diego hospital, and within hours she was diagnosed as having stage three ovarian cancer.

That diagnosis shocked Burge, in part because her father had undergone “an enormous struggle” with pancreatic cancer before he died in her presence. Burge said the emotional jolt of her cancer diagnosis felt like being “drop-kicked across a football field.”

Nearly 22,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer a year, according to the American Cancer Society. About 14,000 American women die annually from the disease.

At stage three, tumor cells have been detected in one or both ovaries as well as outside the pelvis.

The survival rate of the disease can be high if it is detected early. Unfortunately, early detection is rare and no effective screening strategies have been developed.

More than 90 percent of women survive five years or more if their cancers are found before they spread beyond the ovaries. But fewer than 20 percent of the cancers are diagnosed in the early stages before it has spread outside the ovaries.

Burge has received chemotherapy and other treatments, and the procedures have weakened her at times and compromised her immune system. she has difficulty sleeping in a prone position. she was forced to limit contact with people and adhere to a special diet. she is on disability leave at Fallbrook Presbyterian.

Her diagnosis and subsequent difficulties have sparked an outpouring of support. Cards and meals have flowed in, a nutrition expert gave her diet recommendations and members of Advertisement[ Christ the King Lutheran Church ] the Fallbrook Presbyterian and Catholic churches pooled donations to her buy a reclining chair that makes it easier to sleep.

Friends and church members have prayed alongside the chain-link fence that separates her rental home from the Fallbrook Presbyterian parking lot. they have also decorated the fence with hundreds of pink bows and ribbons.

“She has touched many, many people and I think it?s time to return some of the love to her,” said Jean Tiffany, a Fallbrook Presbyterian elder who has attended the church for more than 40 years. she describes Burge as like “a daughter” to her.

The Rev. Pat Crowley, a Catholic priest based in Hemet, and some friends of Burge held a healing prayer session with her after a cancer treatment. Crowley is active with the Virginia-based Association of Christian Therapists.

“Marcy is very much in touch with the reality of her own situation,” Crowley said in a recent email interview. “She is a person of deep faith and trust in God. Marcy is a ?heart? person. Her life is not about herself. it is greater than she is. she not only creates life, she gives life even in her suffering. what a tremendous example of comfort and strength. she ministers in her own woundedness.”

Burge credits the outpouring of care and concern for much of her resiliency.

“The support and prayers received from my faith communities has been overwhelming and have lifted my mind and soul in such a way that is phenomenal on so many levels,” Burge said in an email interview. “People have prayed long and hard for my recovery, and those prayers have been heard.”

Burge said the angels visited her after a particularly grueling day that she endured in preparation for chemotherapy treatments. Burge was driven to the hospital by Chris, her 24-year-old son. Coppock greeted them when they returned home. she described the angelic visit as follows:

“I hungered for rest and to put an end to this most disturbing day. it was then that I saw them. in the darkened living room three figures sitting across from me as if in chairs. The one on the right and left with head bowed in prayer, the one in the middle looking straight at me.

“I yelled out to Chris, who was just walking in the door from carrying in some of my stuff. he caught a glimpse of the one on my left and in a second these images disappeared. they appeared to me to be angels sent from God to comfort and pray for me. to let me know he saw our distress, that we were not alone in any of it. that the Lord himself sent his messengers to fill us with awe and hope.”

News of the angelic visit began to circulate at Fallbrook Presbyterian, and Pastor Jerome Marroquin mentioned it in a subsequent sermon.

Although angels are mentioned periodically in the Bible and the Koran, their appearance is not an everyday occurrence in the Christian or Muslim faiths.

Even internationally-known evangelist Billy Graham has admitted that he has never seen an angel. in a book on the subject printed in 1986, Graham wrote that he has “heard or read literally thousands” of accounts of angels or angelic interventions. Yet he goes onto caution readers that “?for both the Bible and human experience tell us visible appearances are very rare ?”

The ephemeral beings are mentioned directly or indirectly nearly 300 times in the Old and New Testaments, Graham wrote in his book “Angels, God?s Secret Agents.” many newer books also probe the existence of angels. The book “In The Arms of Angels – true Stories of Heavenly Guardians” details 35 angelic encounters involving one or more people. Most of the accounts in the book, which was published in 2004 by Loyola Press, tell of visits amid or after tragedies, disease or disaster. many of the accounts involve human visitors who mysteriously help people and then seemingly disappear or fade into the background.

There seems to be little doubt among many members of Fallbrook Presbyterian that angels indeed appeared at the little house on church property. Pastor Marroquin said he is not surprised that Burge would be the recipient of such a visit.

“Honestly, if it was going to happen to anyone it would be her,” he said. “She has a deep, contemplative prayer life.”

Tiffany, the church elder, said she doesn?t have a shred of doubt.

“I believe whole-heartedly in it,” she said. “It?s a tremendous sign.”

Tiffany and other members have been thrilled to see Burge resume writing for the church newsletter. she returned to The Chimes in the December edition, and has been a regular contributor since then. Her March column is titled Walkin? the Walk, not just Talkin? the Talk.

Burge attended the March 11 traditional service at Fallbrook Presbyterian and was drawn into a couple of quick hugs before she and Tiffany drove to a restaurant for breakfast.

“It was like the Lord just pulled me here,” Burge told one well-wisher after the church service.

Burge also attended the March 18 service at Fallbrook Presbyterian, and Marroquin gave the congregation an upbeat report on her current condition. Burge seemed to flow from one hug to another as she slowly exited the sanctuary after the service.

Burge?s return to writing and her profound faith and recent service attendance have prompted some Fallbrook Presbyterian members to predict she?ll be back at her desk in the church office before long.

“I have in my heart that Marcy is going to be fine,” Tiffany said.

WINSTON-SALEM — Turning 50 proved to be a milestone for Mike Tyson not just in terms of age.

Tyson, of Winston-Salem, credits the symbolic birthday for saving his life because he chose to undergo a routine prostate-specific antigen test at that time. the test measures a specific protein released by prostate cells.

Because his PSA level was elevated for his age, Tyson underwent a biopsy that revealed prostate cancer. he had surgery in February.

He said his recovery was slow but that in August, he began feeling more like himself, particularly after participating in the Livestrong program for cancer patients and survivors at local YMCAs.

The necessity of the PSA test — and the consequences of what it might reveal — has become a significant topic at local urologist offices since October, when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against it.

For men, prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer in frequency of cancer cases. It also is the second leading cause of death, behind lung cancer.

In 2009, health-care lobbying groups criticized the task force for recommending that most women wait until age 50 to get mammograms and then have one every two years. the American Cancer Society’s longstanding recommendation is annual screening starting at 40.

Opponents of the PSA test say it tends to lead to potential misdiagnosis and unnecessary biopsies and treatment for men, particularly for those 50 and older. they say urologists support PSA testing because it can be a significant revenue source.

After conducting five clinical PSA trials, the task force said, “There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit and that the harms outweigh the benefits.” according to a new York Times report, the task force said the test “cannot tell the difference between cancers that will and will not affect a man during his natural lifetime.”

Proponents point to examples, such as Tyson, as to why the test is pertinent.

Tyson said he’s convinced PSA testing is not only necessary but should be done sooner.

“I had no symptoms of prostate cancer,” Tyson said. “Having my wife die of bone cancer in February 2008 after fighting it valiantly for seven years, and with an 11-year-old daughter to care for, I didn’t consider anything other than surgery.

“If I had gone with the watch-and-wait approach, I might not have been checked for months, if not years, because of being 50. who knows how much the prostate cancer could have spread in that time?”

Urologists affiliated with Forsyth and Wake Forest Baptist medical centers support the stance of the American Urological Association.

“until there is a better widespread test for this potentially devastating disease, the task force — by disparaging the test — is doing a great disservice to the men worldwide who may benefit from the PSA test,” said Dr. Sushil Lacy, president of the association.

“It is our feeling that, when interpreted appropriately, the PSA test provides important information in the diagnosis, pre-treatment staging, or risk assessment and monitoring of prostate cancer patients.”

This issue isn’t one that affects just urologists, said Karen Richardson, a spokeswoman for Wake Forest Baptist. “many men get their prostate cancer screenings from their primary-care physicians,” she said.

Dr. Jeremy Hubbard, a urologist at Carolina Urological Associates, said he disagrees with the task force’s recommendation because it is a sweeping declaration for a decision that is individual in nature.

“We’re concerned that some patients — and some primary physicians — may only consider the task force’s recommendations and not access all the pertinent information they may need,” Hubbard said.

In 2008, the task force recommended against PSA testing in men ages 75 or older, relying instead on the watch-and-wait approach because treating the prostate cancer for men of that age could cause more harm than the disease itself.

Hubbard said that because some prostate cancer is slow to grow, “it requires reasonable active surveillance by physician and patient.”

“Treatment recommendations for someone with prostate cancer are different for someone in their 40s and 50s compared with 60s and 70s,” he said.

The American Council on Science and Health supported the task force’s recommendations because it said tens of thousands of men have had serious complications from unnecessary prostate surgery, ranging from blood in the urine to incontinence and impotence, and even death.

Dr. Gilbert Ross of the council said a more specific test for prostate cancer is needed — one that will identify only cancer cells that are likely to develop into dangerous tumors and metastases.

“the PSA test should not continue to wreak so much havoc on people’s lives,” Ross said.

March 01, 2011 07:47 AM Eastern Time 

Has potential to save millions worldwide

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Institute for OneWorld Health (iOWH) announced a major milestone in the fight against cholera. the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted iOWH permission to begin phase 1 trials for iOWH032, a drug to treat secretory diarrhea. This is the first submission of an Investigational new Drug application for a completely new chemical entity by a non-profit of this size to receive such rapid FDA clearance, and it could be the first synthetic drug of its kind for diarrheal diseases.

“As vital as ORT has been to saving lives, we need to do more to get at the ways diseases, such as cholera, kill. we hope to start phase 1 human trials by April 2011.”

the standard treatment for cholera and other infectious diarrheas characterized by massive loss of fluid is oral rehydration therapy (ORT) to manage life-threatening dehydration. while ORT is highly effective at saving lives, it does nothing to stem the fluid loss, and it must be continued for the duration of the illness. As a result, many do not complete the therapy before the disease has been eliminated and are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This new drug, whose development was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reduces fluid loss and is designed to be used in conjunction with ORT. This treatment would provide faster relief of diarrhea symptoms and encourage wider adoption of ORT resulting in reduction of mortality rate and improvement of quality of life.

“It is hard to overstate the need for this kind of medicine. Diarrheal diseases – such as cholera – kill more children in developing countries than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Nearly five thousand children die every day because of these diseases. For survivors – and children often face repeated bouts with cholera and other diarrheal diseases often in their lives – the threat they pose is ongoing. Of all childhood infectious diseases, these have the greatest effect on growth, by reducing appetite, altering feeding patterns, and decreasing absorption of nutrients. the number of episodes in the first two years of life also affects fitness, cognitive function, and school performance,” said Richard Chin, MD and CEO of iOWH, “As vital as ORT has been to saving lives, we need to do more to get at the ways diseases, such as cholera, kill. We hope to start phase 1 human trials by April 2011.”

the new class of drugs represented by iOWH032 acts by targeting the cells that line the intestines. This prevents the bacteria, such as cholera, from being able to force the body to secrete massive amounts of fluid. A full description of how this occurs can be found here: bit.ly/gfWIAQ. For the past decade iOWH has committed itself to being an agent of change in the area of diarrheal diseases. More information on their programs can be found here: bit.ly/ho4LVF and here: bit.ly/dXK24T.

Headquartered in South San Francisco, the mission of the Institute for OneWorld Health is to develop safe, effective and affordable new medicines for people with infectious diseases in the developing world. More information about iOWH can be found at oneworldhealth.org.

February 23, 2011, 8:44 pm

MBBS(Ceylon), DCH(Ceylon), DCH(England), MD(Paediatrics), FRCP(Edinburgh), FRCP(London), FRCPCH(United Kingdom), FSLCPaed, FCCP, FCGP(Sri Lanka) Consultant Paediatrician

Everyone knows that the teenage years can be difficult, not only for teens but also for their parents and perhaps for everybody around them. All those physical changes during puberty can make adolescents feel awkward and unsure of themselves. This is particularly true for girls when it comes to menstruation. For a girl, getting her first period is a physical milestone and a sign of becoming a woman. But it can also be confusing and scary, particularly if she encounters certain problems like irregular periods or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). most issues teens confront when they start menstruating are completely normal. in fact, many girls and even many women, have had to deal with one or more of them at one time or another.

Young girls go through puberty at different rates. Some reach menarche, which is the medical term for the first period or the beginning of menstruation, as early as 9 or 10 years old and others do not have their first periods until they are well into their teenage years. thus if a girl is a "late bloomer," it does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with her. the time at which girls get their periods actually depends a lot on genetics and to a lesser extent, on environmental influences. Girls often start menstruating at approximately the same age their mothers or grandmothers did. Also, certain ethnic groups, on average, go through puberty earlier than others. For instance, African-American girls, on average, start puberty and get their periods before Caucasian girls do. it is advisable to seek medical attention if a girl has not got her period by age 15 or by 3 years after starting the body changes of puberty and development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Many girls experience abdominal cramps during the first few days of their periods. these are caused by a chemical in the body that makes the smooth muscle in the uterus contract. Pain resulting from these involuntary contractions can be either dull or sharp and intense. the good news is that cramps usually only last a few days. However, a medical opinion may be required if a girl has severe cramps that keep her home from school or from doing her usual activities with her friends.

It can take 2 to 3 years from a girl’s first period for her body to develop a regular cycle. during that time, the body is essentially adjusting to the influx of hormones unleashed by puberty. in fact what is "regular" with reference to periods varies from person to person. the typical cycle of an adult female is 28 days, although some are as short as 21 days and others are as long as 45. Changing hormone levels might make a girl’s period last a short time during one month, may be for just a few days and a longer time the next, perhaps up to a week or more. She may skip months, get two periods almost right after each other or alternate between heavy and light bleeding from one month to another. However, any girl who is sexually active and skips a period should see a doctor to make sure settled into a relatively predictable pattern after 3 years or if she has four or five regular periods and then skips her period or becomes irregular, one needs to get some medical advice on the problem. it is also best to let the doctor know if her cycle is less than 21 days or more than 45 days or if she does not get a period for 3 months at any time after first beginning to menstruate.

The Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) includes both physical and emotional symptoms that many females get right before their periods. these include worsening acne, a feeling of being bloated, fatigue, backaches, sore breasts, headaches, constipation, diarrhoea, food cravings, depression or feeling blue, irritability, problems with concentrating and difficulty handling stress. different girls may have some or all of these symptoms in varying combinations. PMS is usually at its worst during the 7 days before the period starts and it generally disappears soon after the period begins. But girls usually do not develop troublesome symptoms associated with PMS until several years after menstruation starts. Some of them of course are lucky enough not to develop them at all. Although the exact cause of PMS is unknown, it seems to occur because of changing hormone levels and their effect on chemicals in the brain. during the second half of the menstrual cycle, the amount of progesterone in the body increases. then, about 7 days before the period starts, levels of both progesterone and oestrogen drop. Some girls’ bodies seem to be more sensitive to these hormonal changes than others.

Although most period problems are harmless, a few conditions can be more serious and require medical attention. Girls who have not started their periods by the time they are 15 – 16 years old or 3 years after they have shown the first signs of puberty have primary amenorrhea which is usually caused by a genetic abnormality, a hormone imbalance or a structural problem. Hormones are also often responsible for secondary amenorrhea, which is when a girl who has had normal periods suddenly stops menstruating for more than 6 months or three of her usual cycles. since pregnancy is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea, it should always be ruled out when a girl skips periods. in addition to hormone imbalances, other things that can cause both primary and secondary amenorrhea include:

* significant weight loss or gain

* anorexia nervosa (amenorrhea can be a sign that a girl is losing too much weight and may have anorexia)

* stopping birth control pills

* other conditions that can affect hormone levels

Something that can also cause primary and secondary amenorrhea is excessive exercising such as distance running, ballet, figure skating or gymnastics, combined with a poor diet which usually results in inappropriate weight loss or failure to gain weight during growth. But this does not include the usual gym class or school sports team, even those that need girls to practice often. to exercise so much that she delays her period, a girl would have to train vigorously for several hours a day, most days of the week and not get enough calories, vitamins and minerals in the diet.

It is normal for a girl’s period to be heavier on some days than others. But signs of excessively heavy or long periods can include soaking through at least one sanitary napkin or pad an hour for several hours in a row or periods that last longer than 7 days. Girls with this condition known as menorrhagia, sometimes stay home from school or social functions because they are worried they would not be able to control the bleeding in public. the most frequent cause of menorrhagia is an imbalance between the levels of oestrogen and progesterone in the body, which allows the lining of the womb to keep building up. when the lining is finally shed during menstruation, the resulting bleeding is particularly heavy.

Because many adolescents have slight hormone imbalances during puberty, menorrhagia is not uncommon in teens. But in some cases, heavy menstrual bleeding can be caused by problems such as:

* fibroids (benign growths) or polyps in the uterus

* inflammation or infection in the vagina or cervix

Painful periods are referred to as dysmenorrhoea There are two types of such painful periods that can interfere with a girl’s ability to attend school, study, or sleep :-

1. Primary dysmenorrhoea is very common in teens and is not caused by a disease or other condition. Fortunately, these symptoms usually last for only a day or two.

2. Secondary dysmenorrhoea is pain caused by some physical condition like polyps or fibroids in the uterus, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or adenomyosis which is uterine lining tissue growing into the muscular wall of the uterus.

In endometriosis, tissue that is normally found only in the uterus starts to grow outside the uterus, in the ovaries, fallopian tubes or other parts of the pelvic cavity. it can cause abnormal bleeding, dysmenorrhoea and general pelvic pain.

Although most period problems are not really a cause for alarm, certain symptoms do call for a trip to the doctor. This is particularly true if a girl’s normal cycle changes. Medical advice may be sought if a girl :-

* has not started her period by the time she is 15 – 16 or her period has not become regular after 3 years of menstruating. the most likely cause is a hormone imbalance which may need treatment but this also might point to another medical problem.

* stops getting her period or it becomes irregular after it has been regular. Also one neds to let the doctor know if her cycle is less than 21 days or more than 45 days or if she does not get a period for 3 months at any time after first beginning to menstruate.

* has heavy or long periods, especially if she gets her period frequently. in some cases, significant blood loss can cause iron-deficiency anaemia. Also, heavy bleeding could be a sign of a growth in the uterus, a thyroid condition, an infection or a blood clotting problem.

* has very painful periods. having cramps for a couple of days is normal, but if a girl is not able to participate in her normal activities, one needs to get a medical opinion. She might have a medical problem such as endometriosis, causing the pain.

To determine whether a problem requires treatment, the doctor may ask several questions and do a thorough physical examination. the doctor may do a pelvic examination, take specimens for examination and perhaps perform some blood tests. if a structural problem is suspected or some sort of growth, an ultrasound or CT or MRI scan may be necessary. together, these tests can help the doctor determine how a condition should be handled. Growths such as polyps or fibroids can often be removed and endometriosis can be treated with medications or surgery. if a hormone imbalance is to be blamed, the doctor will likely suggest hormone therapy or other hormone-containing medications. For menstrual pain with no underlying medical cause, anti-inflammatory medicines are the most effective treatment. Conditions like clotting disorders or thyroid problems may require treatment with medications as well.

It is very important for parents and very specially the mothers to be aware of the many problems that daughters get before and during their periods. when one’s daughter is experiencing a particularly bad bout of PMS or cramps, the mother can help to make her more comfortable. one may suggest that the child eats a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, reduce the intake of salt which can cause water retention and caffeine which can make her jumpy and anxious. the child should be given foods with calcium, which may reduce the severity of her PMS symptoms and try over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol for cramps, headaches or back pain. For some girls, taking a brisk walk or bike ride may relieve stress and aches and also soaking in a warm bath or a hot water bottle on the abdomen may help to relieve some of the discomfort.

If one notices that a girl’s usual periods are causing her great discomfort and interfering with her life, it may be advisable to talk to a doctor to make sure nothing else is causing the problem and to see if anything can help. Even just reassurance from a doctor may really help in dealing with the problem. Sometimes, hormone treatment can help ease many symptoms associated with uncomfortable periods. However, the most important way in which one could help a daughter feel more at ease about her period is to talk to her and explain that most annoying or uncomfortable conditions that accompany menstruation are normal and may improve over time. Parents need to show greater understanding when she is cranky and unhappy. after all, no one is at their best all the time and that includes all parents too.

= Girls start to menstruate at different ages.

= it is a sign of being a "woman"

= Quite a few of them develop the pre-menstrual syndrome

= Delay in the onset of menstruation beyond the age of 15 to 16 years needs medical attention

= Stoppage of regular periods after it has been established is also a thing to be taken seriously

= Periods associated with severe discomfort, particularly if the pain persists beyond the onset of menstruation, need to be investigated.

The writer would appreciate feedback from the readers. please e-mail him at

Around one in five of these cases involves acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) the type Chris was diagnosed with. AML is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. Abnormal immature white blood cells fill the bone marrow and then spill out into the bloodstream. as a result, production of normal blood cells is disrupted, causing symptoms such as anaemia, bleeding problems and infections.

He was told he had to begin gruelling chemotherapy treatment. ?I felt awful. I lost all of my hair and felt really sick.? The treatment worked and his experience inspired him to later attend medical school and look at leukaemia treatments.

One particular milestone in his treatment had a powerful influence on his cancer research interests. Doctors gave Chris and his parents a choice between a bone marrow transplant or no further treatment.

THE TRANSPLANT could cure him but at the time it carried a 50 per cent mortality rate. Worse still, doctors had no way of identifying which children would benefit and which might not. Chris, his parents and the medical team decided on no further treatment.

?I now believe that was the most important decision of my life. Part of the transplant treatment involved total body radiation which would have been a major risk to my fertility.

?If I had gone ahead with it I might not have my three lovely children. I made the right decision but I made it with little or no information to guide me.?

These days the techniques used in bone marrow transplant are far more advanced and doctors can identify which patients are most likely to benefit before they go ahead with the therapy but the treatment of medulloblastoma lags far behind.

?With leukaemia, we are now 20 years further on than when I was treated,? says Chris. ?Thanks to discoveries in genetics research we can tell the difference between types of disease and individualise treatments better.

?We have not got that far with medulloblastoma but the same approach, of drilling down to the genetic basis of the disease, will take us forward and show us good results.?

Medulloblastomas are malignant tumours formed from poorly developed cells at a very early stage of life.

They are more common in children, particularly between the ages of three and eight.

They make up about 20 per cent of all childhood brain tumours and are more common in boys than girls.

Symptoms include headaches, vomiting (often first thing in the morning) and sight problems.

Children often appear tired, weak and irritable and may experience changes in personality and behaviour.

They may also stumble or walk in an awkward or uncoordinated way. Speech can also be affected and words may be slurred or muddled.

Other symptoms include jerky eye movements, stiffness in the neck and muscle weakness.