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04 June 2015 09:32
Scientists have hailed the potential of the new drug
A new drug could help patients with a devastating form of lung cancer to live longer, it has been suggested.
Nivolumab, an immuno-therapy drug that unshackles the immune system so it can attack cancerous cells, has been shown to double the life expectancy of genetically targeted patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.
One expert has described the results of the major international trial as a "paradigm shift" in the battle against lung cancer.
Lung cancer is one of the UK's most serious forms of the disease.
Advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer accounts for around 85% of all cases of the lung disease, which is diagnosed in 43,463 new patients and is responsible for 35,371 deaths each year in the UK.
Overseas travel
Like other cancers, treatment depends on how far it has spread and how good your general health is.
But whether you are a cancer survivor or are undergoing treatment, cancer travel insurance means you can still enjoy jetting off to sunnier climes around the world with family and friends.
Policies can include cover for replacing lost medication and access to 24/7 emergency assistance.
Longer life expectancy
The new research, led by Dr Luis Paz-Ares, from the Hospital Universitario Virgen Del Rocio in Spain, compared the effectiveness of nivolumab and the standard chemotherapy drug docetaxel in 582 patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.
Nivolumab reduced the risk of dying by 27% compared with docetaxel and increased typical survival time from 9.4 to 12.2 months.
In patients whose cancers produced higher levels of a tumour protein called PD-L1, survival time more than doubled from eight to 19.4 months.
Dr David Chao, consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London, described the findings as a paradigm shift in the treatment of lung cancer.
24 September 2016
Slim people who look physically healthy may still be at increased chance of being diagnosed with bowel cancer if they have raised insulin levels, according new research.
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23 September 2016
Theresa May is being urged to give the go-ahead for flights to resume between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh by the head of the cross-party parliamentary group on Egypt.
22 September 2016
Budget airline Jet2.com is to open its first base in the south of England at Stansted.
21 September 2016
Smoking rates have dropped to the lowest level on record in England, new figures show, suggesting messages about the health effects of cigarettes are hitting home.
20 September 2016
Concerns have been raised over flight disruptions caused by heavy drinking among passengers.
17 September 2016
British Airways' decision to launch direct flights from London to Tehran earlier this month positions Iran as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2017, according to experts.
16 September 2016
More than 100 flights have been cancelled as French air traffic controllers go on strike again.
15 September 2016
Two thirds of MPs would support an expansion at Heathrow.
14 September 2016
TripAdvisor is launching a new homepage, making the booking of holiday activities and tours even easier.
13 September 2016
Travellers are to be charged to use fast lanes to get through passport checks in an attempt to cut queues.
09 September 2016
People travelling to regions affected by the Zika virus outbreak should practise safe sex for at least half a year upon their return, health leaders say.
08 September 2016
British Airways is apologising to passengers for delays after an IT glitch hit check-in systems.