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If only cancer were a simple disease…
Following Roslin’s very
comprehensive talk, club Chairman Pat Koester presented her with a PCEC
‘Certificate of Appreciation’.
If only cancer were a simple disease, finding a cure
might not be so difficult. But cancer is a very complicated disease - an
intricate and potentially lethal collaboration of (a) genes gone awry; (b)
growth inhibitors gone missing; (c) hormones and epigenomes changing; and
(d) rogue cells breaking free. (Epigenomes are chemical compounds that “give
instructions” to the genomes in one’s body).
Dr. Roslin Russell, PhD, is
the daughter of PCEC member David Russell; born in Thailand, she holds both
Thai and British nationality. She is a Senior Computational Biologist at the
Cambridge Research Institute in the UK. Roslin was guest speaker at PCEC
meeting on Sunday, the 20th of April, on the topic of ‘the state of the art
in cancer research & prevention’.
This was one of the themes of a presentation at the
Pattaya City Expats Club’s (PCEC) meeting on April 20 by Dr. Roslin Russell,
PhD. She is the daughter of PCEC member David Russell; born in Thailand, she
holds both Thai and British nationality. She is a Senior Computational
Biologist at the Cambridge Research Institute in the UK.
The Cambridge Research Institute, UK is known by the acronym CRUK and it is
one of the world’s leading cancer research facilities. Dr. Russell has been
there eight years where she and her colleagues use state of the art
techniques to identify molecular markers for different types of cancer.
“Cancer works like great armed forces, attacking by the equivalent of air,
land, sea and stealth,” Dr. Russell said. “Finding a cure will take not one
hero but many. It requires team-based, cross-disciplinary approaches to
research.” Dr. Russell explained that cancer works in many different ways,
and that when we attack one pathway, the cancer finds another one.
Why study cancer? Dr. Russell said that each year, more than 275,000 people
are diagnosed with cancer in the UK. More than one in three people develop
cancer at some stage in their lives. About one in every four deaths in the
UK is attributable to cancer. There are over 200 different types of cancer.
The four most common cancers are breast, lung, prostate and bowel. In
females, breast cancer constitutes 30% of all cancers. In males, prostate
cancer accounts for 25% of all cancers.
Roslin poses with PCEC Members
Polo, Al, & Paul and Les, and her father David Russell (with beard) and
husband Andrew, following the meeting.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the lesser known cancers, but
it is a very deadly one. It is always detected too late. Only 25% of people
with pancreatic cancer manage to live for up to one year after diagnosis.
And yet, pancreatic cancer research receives little funding. Research for
pancreatic cancer is actually down 13% in the past year, Dr. Russell said.
Contrary to what you might expect, cancer is not a modern lifestyle disease.
It has been around since at least 3,000 B.C. In fact, studying very old
cases of cancer and comparing them to modern cases can help advance our
research.
Cancer affects both developed countries and less developed countries. In the
developing world, there are 4.8 million deaths each year from cancer,
compared to 2.1 million from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 1.1 million
from tuberculosis (TB) and 711,000 from malaria. And yet, Dr. Russell said,
funding for cancer research lags far behind funding for HIV, TB and malaria
research. The World Health Organization warns that because we have an aging
population, a “tidal wave” of cancer is on the horizon.
The major sources of preventable cancer are: smoking; infections; alcohol,
obesity and inactivity; radiation, both from the sun and medical scans; air
pollution and other environmental factors; and delayed parenthood, having
fewer children and not breastfeeding.
As well, the human papilloma virus can cause cervical cancer and several
other cancers. Cervical cancer remains a major killer. There is a vaccine
that should be given to pre-pubescent girls, but it has to be a mass
campaign if it going to have any significant effect at a societal level.
In addition, chronic inflammation has been known to cause cancer. This has
to do with how active one’s immune system is. It can be asymptomatic and it
is more of a problem the older a person is.
Certain kinds of bacteria can actually help to prevent cancer. There is at
least 10 times the number of bacteria in the human body than cells, Dr.
Russell explained. There is both good and bad bacteria in our guts. The bad
type is called “bacteroidetes”; these bacteria come from a diet high in fat
and protein. The good type is called “firmicutes.” These bacteria stem from
a plant-based diet, which produces fatty acids beneficial to our body, and
which controls the proliferation of cells in the intestine and is thought to
possess anti-carcinogenic properties.
Dr Russell described the difference between normal, healthy cell division
and the out-of-control cell division that causes cancer. She said that the
physics of cancer are known, and that finding cures - or, more
realistically, finding ways to successfully manage cancer - will require a
massive engineering effort. She compared it to putting a man on the moon 45
years ago.
After David’s presentation, Master of Ceremonies Roy Albiston brought
everyone up to date on upcoming events and called on Jerry Dean to conduct
the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in
Thailand, especially Pattaya.
For more information on the many activities of the PCEC, visit their website
at www.pcecclub.org.
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Nongprue Lions come to aid of severely disabled teen
Nanatnanthanan Phithaksanantakul,
president of the Helping the Disabled project, presents cash to Grandmother
Bunkhoi Niemkarn.
Urasin Khantaraphan
The grandmother of an East Pattaya teenager who suffered severe developmental
disabilities as an infant received some much-needed help from the Lions Club of
Pattaya-Nongprue.
Club President Bunanant Pattanasin and Nanatnanthanan Phithaksanantakul, head of
the Helping the Disabled project visited 14-year-old Jirayu Suwanpratheep and
grandmother Bunkhoi Niemkarn at their Chatkaew Village home on Soi Khao Noi
April 22, bringing both donations of cash and household supplies.
Grandmother Bunkhoi feeds water to
Jirayu Suwanpratheep since he cannot help himself.
As a baby, Jirayu was dropped by his nanny, cracking open his
skull and causing enough brain injuries to leave him completely disabled. He
cannot move and is unable to care for himself. Bunkhoi has cared for him since
the child was 2 years old, surviving on a 600-baht monthly government stipend
and revenue from selling curry.
Siripen Lekdee, a member of the Nongprue council, learned of Bunkhoi’s plight
and asked the Lions Club to help.
The club and Helping the Disabled organization donated 6,000 baht and eight
boxes of diapers. A Pattaya Mail reporter donated another 500 baht.
Bunkhoi said she has become Jirayu’s primary caregiver, as his mother has to
care for two other children and earn money for rent and utilities. She thanked
everyone who donated the much-needed aid.
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BCCT goes yachting
(L to R) Roland Hohmann,
expatriate marketing manager, and Pimyada Urailert, marketing executive, both
from Bumrungrad International Hospital, one of the main sponsors of the evening.
Dr. Iain Corness
The Joint Chambers Networking evening combining the British Chamber of Commerce
(BCCT), American Chamber (AmCham), the Australian Chamber (AustCham), the German
Chamber (GTCC) and the South African Chamber (SATCC), was hosted by the BCCT,
with sponsors being the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Bumrungrad International
Hospital and Lyreco.
The Royal Varuna is one of the more spectacular venues in Pattaya at sunset, and
last Friday was no exception, with the networking being held on the grassy
slopes leading down to the beach bar.
(L to R) George T, Strampp,
Managing Partner of AMS Thailand and Tony Emmett from AusCham.
The official welcome was given by Chris Thatcher who told the
Pattaya Mail that he actually wasn’t a roof thatcher, but he was quite sure he
could turn his hand to anything!
Sponsor Bumrungrad International Hospital was represented by affable German
Roland Hohmann, the expatriate marketing manager, who revealed that his hospital
needed a local presence in Pattaya as a referral point for the main (huge)
hospital in Bangkok.
Lyreco was represented by Pitipong Suanyim, their key account national sales
manager, who obviously enjoyed the evening, telling people just where Lyreco
could assist their organizations with some out-sourcing.
(L to R) Paul Marks,
communications director of the American School of Bangkok, Robert Kawada,
marketing manager of the American School of Bangkok, Dr. Iain Corness and Mark
Butters, director of RSM Advisory Thailand Ltd.
The vice-commodore of Varuna, Tom Whitcraft, is also a
director of RMA, the company that makes ‘bomb-proof’ trucks for areas of unrest.
Still on the automotive scene, Jeffrey Gaudiano, the new MD of BMW manufacturing
at Amata City spoke with enthusiasm about forthcoming developments for BMW in
Thailand, including a test track complete with skid pan. This is a facility
sorely needed in Thailand. The very active Automotive Focus Group (AFG) was
represented by its members George Strampp, Armin Walter, and President Frank
Holzer.
(L to R) Mark Bowling, associate
director, sales & leasing of the Colliers, Pattaya, Russell Winn, managing
director of Achieve Global Thailand and Simon Matthews, chairman of the BCCT.
The BCCT ladies Jina and Laddawan circulated and spoke with
everyone, while an attractive young lady with the violin did Vanessa Mae
impersonations.
Graham MacDonald (MBE) was representing the South African Chamber along with
Allan Riddell, the consultant to the Board of the South African Trade Promotion
while Paul Marks, the Communications Director of the American School of Bangkok
was accompanied by Robert Kawada, their marketing manager.
The big man who moves big ships, Scott Finsten, the harbor master at Ocean
Marina was seen chatting to BCCT President Simon (in a shirt covered in roses)
Matthews (Manpower) and RSM’s Mark Butters were their usual gregarious selves,
while Mark Bowling (Colliers International) was seeking opinions from the
Eastern Seaboard members as to future directions.
This was one of the more popular joint networking evenings, and the BCCT,
Bumrungrad, Lyreco and Royal Varuna are to be congratulated on a perfect evening
for exchanging business cards.
(L to R) Peter Malhotra, managing
director of the Pattaya Mail Media Group, Jeffery Gaudiano, managing director of
BMW Thailand, Irene Schuermann from BMW Thailand, Elfi Seitz, executive editor
of the Pattaya Blatt and Horst Mueller from the Pattaya Blatt.
(L to R) Passaporn
Kongsoontornsin, key account manager, Poraporn Buaboon, key account manager,
Pitipong Suanyim, National sales manager-key account, Pattarapong Wongsanuk,
regional sales manager and Kritsada Akkharaseranee, marketing manager of Lyreco
Office & Work Solutions Thailand, one of the main sponsors of the evening.
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Easter bunnies and eggs at CPDC
Back row (L to R) Siegfried Borchert, Margaret and
Dr. Otmar Deter, Rachada Chomjinda, Elfi Seitz, Trutz Fiddikow, and Horst Muller
pose with the children for the ceremonial handover of funds.
Horst Müller
Easter may be a Christian holiday, but the Easter Bunny showed he’s open to all
faiths when he staged a holiday egg hunt at the Child Protection and Development
Center in Huay Yai.
Started three years ago, the event, sponsored each year with 5,000 baht by
Pattaya Blatt Editor Elfi Seitz, allowed CPDC children and those from outside to
enjoy the fun. This year, they were joined by the Rotary Club of Phoenix-Pattaya
whose president, Otmar Deter, also chipped in 5,000 baht.
Deter, his wife Margret, and Rotarians Trutz Fiddikow and Siegfried Borchert all
played the part of the egg-laying rabbit.
German tourists Esther Sirilak Wenzel and her father Dieter Wenzel also
participated. Esther was adopted from the Pattaya Orphanage by her German
parents about eight years ago and she was happy to visit her old home again.
The hunt is on … and was so much fun, all the
children are hoping there will be another Easter egg hunt next year!
Human Help Network Thailand Director Radchada Chomjinda prepared the scene, with
“Happy Easter” written on the stage backdrop and a huge Easter egg placed there
as well, painted by a teacher and the kids.
Sixty kids from the center and another 40 from other homes joined the fun. After
being welcomed by Radchada and Seitz, they ran around in the huge field to hunt
for Easter eggs and other goodies.
Each child and some adults drew a number and received a gift. After the hunt,
everyone was hungry and plenty of food was prepared for all.
The children thanked their sponsors and many asked if there will be another
Easter egg hunt next year, which of course there will be.
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